The explorer i'm looking at, has manual Hub Locks, this is normal?

[fabianoliver]

Hi!, i'm new on 4x4, and on explorers.
I was taking a look on one explorer 1993 truck, and it has manual hub locks.
To show me that the 4x4 is working, he stops the truck, he press the 4x4 button and then he switch the manual hubs.
All went ok, seemed to work.
Then he pressed the low gear, he needed to press it 3 times, the last one was with the clutch engaged ( it's a manual transmission one).
All went ok, but it seemed to be noisier, i guess this is normal, or not?

The question is, the 1st gen has an automatic transmission 4x4 engagement?, why some people uses manual hubs? to compensate for a faulty automation i guess ( after reading another threads seemed that)

How should be the order of actions:
1 press 4x4
2 engage manually hubs
3 with pressed clutch press Low gear?

Thanks for your answers.

 

[410Fortune]

totally normal
the GEn I (91-94) had automatic hubs and they suck
So we run manual hubs

The hub simply locks the wheel to the axleshaft so that 4wd will engage the wheel
You can lock the hubs in October and unlock them in March if you wanted to, you can drive around in rear wheel drive with the hubs locked.
Then use the dash button to switch in and out of 4wd
To get the 4wd low shift you must be stopped and push the clutch in, then you can shift in or out of low range

hope that helps!

 

[fabianoliver]

totally normal
the GEn I (91-94) had automatic hubs and they suck
So we run manual hubs

The hub simply locks the wheel to the axleshaft so that 4wd will engage the wheel
You can lock the hubs in October and unlock them in March if you wanted to, you can drive around in rear wheel drive with the hubs locked.
Then use the dash button to switch in and out of 4wd
To get the 4wd low shift you must be stopped and push the clutch in, then you can shift in or out of low range

hope that helps!

Thanks 410!, perfect explanation. Helps a lot!

 

[Fix4Dirt]

manual hubs iirc were an option, and imo are much better than auto hubs!!!!! though i cant confirm they were an option couldve sworn they were but been having some brain recall issues as of late, specifically with transfer cases

 

[410Fortune]

yes some trucks had manual hubs factory
Most explorers however were "touch drive" 4wd with auto hubs

 

[allmyEXes]

I noticed that on my '91 4wd, with one-inch spacers installed on the hubs before the wheels, the thumb knob doesn't stick out past the center cap. Apparently, I picked up some 2WD center caps. The 4WD caps were missing.
@410Fortune I suppose that my '91 4WD hubs are factory? Neither me nor the PO installed them..