Locking Hubs: Seeking Reviews

[WrenchWhore]

Hubs are something I can live without. The 82 that got totaled little over a year ago had 311K on it. It would have been lucky if it ran 5000 miles of that with the hubs out. The 94 I am running now I had the hubs apart and cleaned when I did the front rotors right after I got the truck. Hubs have never been run in the free notch. Tell me what it hurts to have the front spinning all the time? I doubt there is much if any fuel savings to be had. Maybe I am missing something!

Spinning an entire differential/axle shafts/and driveshaft just to spin it is definitely wasted energy so you'd pick up some fuel economy for sure. I'll say for sure it's quieter when you don't have the front drive spinning

 

[u2slow]

I find a 'lumpy" feeling when turning, if I drive with hubs locked in 2wd all the time. Driveshaft rubs my exhaust too. Not a fan.

My strategy is to exercise the front end enough that nothing seizes up, but mostly leave them unlocked so i'm not wearing it out faster, and save any mpgs possible.

 

[Cant Write]

The literature I’ve seen mentions 1mpg savings when hubs unlocked. My steering gives more feedback with the hubs locked in, but No vibes and I can drive 65+ as we will get lots of mixed roads here.

If you see more pasture and gravel miles, I vote drive slugs. And a second pickup to take on the highway with locking hubs.

Oh, I live on hillside and I use 2-lo all the time, I love that feature!

 

[Greenie]

The literature I’ve seen mentions 1mpg savings when hubs unlocked. My steering gives more feedback with the hubs locked in, but No vibes and I can drive 65+ as we will get lots of mixed roads here.

If you see more pasture and gravel miles, I vote drive slugs. And a second pickup to take on the highway with locking hubs.

Oh, I live on hillside and I use 2-lo all the time, I love that feature!

It was a long time ago but when I researched my front driveline rumble (hubs locked, transfer case 2H) there was a remedy (expensive out of warranty). It's like driving on a steel grid decked bridge. 2L with the hubs free extends the life of the automatic transmission backing a trailer over soft ground or up hill.

 

[Kizer]

x2 on the warn hubs.

The yukons are real hubs, mostly just copies of the old school spicer stuff. I have used a couple sets, that were difficult to lock and unlock until they wore in a little. The one set probably were locked/unlocked a couple? Hundred times, and several thousand miles of wheeling time on them. So much better than the warn stuff.

After some research (read Rabbit Hole Dive), I believe that I'll go with Warn "Premium" over Yukon or slugs. I really like what I've read about Yukon, the design seems more robust.

There are two factors at play:

1) The Yukon, where I can find them, run over $700. I just spent $$$ on the dually...New clutch (I used a Southbend TOB and LUK clutch kit), TOTAL brake job, axle & hub maintenance, new steering components and I FINALLY got my Bilstein shocks.

2) I'd like to be able to "freewheel", as this truck also serves as my "backup" vehicle. Though she doesn't see pavement often, she has, on occasion, seen 400 mile road trips. I don't think I'd like leaving the front locked up on those occasions.

Maybe I'll be more comfortable spending $700+ next time around (if there is one).

 

[The_Josh_Bear]

I actually had never looked into drive slugs before this post(cause I'll likely never need/want them), but reading up on this website they are removeable for street use. Just a thought.

Though I googled "D50 drive slugs", got zero relevant hits, and I dunno if they would be the same for D60 or not.

 

[Black dawg]

I actually had never looked into drive slugs before this post(cause I'll likely never need/want them), but reading up on this website they are removeable for street use. Just a thought.

Though I googled "D50 drive slugs", got zero relevant hits, and I dunno if they would be the same for D60 or not.

same as d60.

 

[Kizer]

Though I googled "D50 drive slugs", got zero relevant hits, and I dunno if they would be the same for D60 or not.

I believe that they (slugs) are the same 30 spline part as the D60.
The "selectable" hubs are more appealing to me.

 

[IDIBRONCO]

Maybe I'll be more comfortable spending $700+ next time around (if there is one).

With either Warn or Mile Marker, I doubt that there'd be a next time. At least not due to the hubs.

 

[bulletpruf]

I've used Warn in the past, but went with Yukon on my last set.

 

[adrianspeeder]

For the 2024+ superdutys, the front passenger hub is now a fixed slug. On the newer forums we think its to keep the front end turning and lubricated.

Adrianspeeder

 

[u2slow]

My Yukons were $65 each on Amazon when I bought them in 2017.