Warn Hub Info . Need Help!!!!!

[MYKINGCRAB]

My hubs work fine. They replaced the unreliable but wife friendly auto's.

Problem is that Lovie is not very mechanicallly inclined. with the ice storms on thier way in 2 days,im worried about her being able to get around.
I can buy 4 studded tires for $350.00, Run them on the Explorer now,and put them on her Windstar next winter.

The trans is out on her van,that thing with 4 studed tires was easy,safe and unstopable on snow/ice ROADS.

Here is the question.......... can I have her drive around with the WARN hubs locked IN for periods of time in 2WD without damaging my drivetrain?

Its easy,and understandable for her to put it in (N) and push 4wd,and go to town. OR is this a NO-NO??????????????
I called the tech line at WARN and they told me it would not harm anything, But your opinions will decide.
thanks for your help.....

 

[Tbars4]

...there are a few people here who live in snow for months and they do leave the manual hubs locked on the first gen's with no problems...
...as for 4wd, yours should be 4 on the fly with 4 hi so no need to put it in neutral unless you stop and go into 4 lo...i hope this helps...

 

[MYKINGCRAB]

thnx

sounds great, Ill lock em/leave em.
I see your out west.
p.s. Im born in orange,and grew up in oldtown Murrieta/De Luz/Tenaja. 1974-1994.. I know damn near all of so.cal outback very very well.......My brother still lives on meats/cambridge.

Thnx for the the quick response. Im kind of an older generation subaru guy. and hang out on ultimatesubaru.net. I know them inside and out.
but the explorer has proven itself as a strong reliable family wagon work horse.and we love her. the forum her seems great for info. thnx

 

[Exploderpilot]

I live about 5 minutes from murrieta

 

[Tbars4]

...first, welcome here...there are quite a few sammy owners on here too...

....and i go by meats/cambridge pretty regular...

...be sure to check out the other thread's here on driving in snow, etc...i am sure you will need to do some maintenance on your hubs due to moisture but other than that you should be fine...

 

[warbaby67]

Never Had a problem leaving hubs locked..

Matter of fact, have replaced Ford autohubs with manual Warn hubs just for this purpose..

 

[MYKINGCRAB]

can IU leave them locked all the time?

 

[Glen4X4]

Yes you can, I do when there is snow on the ground, a good bit, then you can lock the 4X4 in while driving, you shouldn't have any problems with it as Tbars stated

 

[scottmi]

locked all the time?

well IF we can leave them locked all the time, why unlock them ever..? just want to make sure there is some clarity here..

does this apply to dry roads too? or just locked when plenty wet and/or snow? my understadning is that keeping them locked, ties the front wheels together, so rotate at same speeds, which if no slip is availalbe via slick surface, will both wear your tires something fierce and seriously torque and wear your axle/gearing... plus i notice much more limited turn radius when in 4wd and all is locked.

but again, not a problem to leave locked?

 

[Glen4X4]

Well the thing with leaving it locked in all the time will effect your gas mileage some because it will be pushing extra parts the don't need to be pushed. I have mine locked in usually for days at a time when snow fall occurs

 

[DeRocha]

As mentioned by others manual hubs can be locked it all the time. The cost of doing so is slightly less gas mileage (~1mpg or so) as the front axles will still be connected to the wheels causing a slight drag on the drive train. Locking HUBs allow you to completely disengage the front axles from the wheels saving some gas.

 

[scottmi]

thanks..! i had thought this was a much more ..particular.. issue than it appears to be. nice not to have to jump in and out of the car now when we get our occasional big snows. wife will be delighted!

 

[Tony H]

One other thing, When Wifey turns the steering wheel hard, she will feel a bit of a kick- back as the Axle 'U' joints slightly bind. It's more prevelent in my old Jeep the the 'X'. just mention it to her