Hubs Locked Mileage....

[Jspafford]

I locked in the front hubs last Sunday when I filled up. My commute is now 35 miles a day and it is mostly freeway, I don't want to have to worry about needing 4WD in a hurry with the hubs unlocked.

I was up in the air about what the expect for mileage with them locked. I get around 21-22 in the summer. It's went down slightly since winter.

Anyway, I just tallied it up.

14.122Gal
Divided By
266.6Miles
Equals
18.878mpg.

Not that bad! I think they will stay locked until spring.

 

[86ford]

as long as you realize running them locked will wear out the bearings faster along with making any bad seals in the front drive train leak. if the seals in your front diff are original most likely they are not in the best of shape. you could destroy whats left of one or more factory seal up front. as long as you know the risks, run em locked and carry a spare hub!

86

 

[Jspafford]

as long as you realize running them locked will wear out the bearings faster along with making any bad seals in the front drive train leak. if the seals in your front diff are original most likely they are not in the best of shape. you could destroy whats left of one or more factory seal up front. as long as you know the risks, run em locked and carry a spare hub!

86

Well, 266 miles straight nothing is leaking. I've replaced the whole front end when I got nailed by the somolian. The bearings in the differential are a moot point. The rear end has 157K on it with the original bearings, the front end has probably less than 20K of spinning life on them. The spindle bearings actually stop spinning when the hubs are locked, and they are the smallest bearings in the front axle.


I have a spare set of OEM ford hubs in the attic of the garage.

 

[86ford]

fair enough. usually the 4wd gets used so little in these things the seals are junk but it sounds like you already had to take care of that. i cant run with my hubs locked or i always would! damn beat motor wont hold speed on the freeway with 33s already, no sense in adding more resistance but running it with the hubs locked. not to mention my front pig needs attention due to sucking in water every time i go out.

86