Question:

Do manual hubs ( forgive my ignorance) mean those hubs with the big indented round lever in the middle and you have to stop, get out and turn those to engage them?

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> As long as the car was well cared for, you shouldn’t have many problems with > the hubs. However, if they start to give problems, change over to manual > hubs. Warn hubs are the most popular and probably the most reliable. Ford > gets about $286 per auto hub and individual parts like the cam assembly are > not available from ford. The cost for a set of Warn’s is about $150-$180 for > a set of 2, plus about $40 for the conversion kit you need for the wheel hub > lock nut. > Converting is no harder than changing a tire, and takes about an hour or so > for both sides. (includes beer and smoke breaks) > My advice would be to change to manuals, avoid potential problems, because > they will surely fail when you need them. ( doesn’t everything?) I brought > my ‘94 a year ago, had no problems with the hubs until the first snowfall > this year when they went without warning. (no pun intended)

Response:

You do need to get out and turn the selector on the hubs from "free" to "lock" before shifting the transfer case. This is not that big of deal as it may at first seem. When I know that I am going to need 4wd on my way to work, I lock my hubs before starting out, and engage the transfer case as needed. The automatic hubs do not disengage the same time you disengage the transfer case, the autos unlock after you back up 3-10 feet. Driving with the hubs locked does put more wear on the front axle, and decrease your mileage some, but is no different than hitting the 4×4 button for 4wd, then hitting it again to come out of 4wd without stopping and backing up. With the automatic hubs, when you are in 4wd, and shift to reverse, the hubs first unlock, then after a few more feet, lock again. The manual hubs are locked all the time so you have no delay in reverse. They also give you the option of being able to have 2wd low by not locking the hubs and shifting into 4×4low. Problems of difficult engagement and disengagement of manuals due to driveline torque, have been just about completely eliminated. Stopping, getting out and locking your hubs is not as big of a hassle that it may seem at first.

Response:

As long as the car was well cared for, you shouldn’t have many problems with the hubs. However, if they start to give problems, change over to manual hubs. Warn hubs are the most popular and probably the most reliable. Ford gets about $286 per auto hub and individual parts like the cam assembly are not available from ford. The cost for a set of Warn’s is about $150-$180 for a set of 2, plus about $40 for the conversion kit you need for the wheel hub lock nut. Converting is no harder than changing a tire, and takes about an hour or so for both sides. (includes beer and smoke breaks) My advice would be to change to manuals, avoid potential problems, because they will surely fail when you need them. ( doesn’t everything?) I brought my ‘94 a year ago, had no problems with the hubs until the first snowfall this year when they went without warning. (no pun intended)

Response:

>If I were going to do any serious off-roading, I’d get a set of Warn (manual) >hubs. If your definition of "off-roading" is >like mine (off the PAVED road, onto a >gravel road) don’t worry about it. >Good luck with your ‘93. It was one of the better years of the earlier >Explorers. We had one for 7 years. The members of this NG were very helpful >in >keeping it in top >shape. >Dean

Thanks Dean!  I appreciate the tips.  I do have one particular fishing hole at the bottom of a steep bouldern strewn forest trail that also had several ledge drop of spots.  Years ago as a wide eyed teen, I sit my dads bronco on the gas tank (thank GOD for skid plates LOL)  So it is a bit rough but only for 2-3 hundred yards.  I think i will make a check list of things to begin immediate maintanence on things like oil change, lube the U-joints etc.  I mentioned belts and hoses but the guy just replaced them around 75,000 miles as part of his regular care for the Explorer. Thanks again, I love all the help that seems available from this particular newsgroup. Tony

Response:

Just a few things to keep in mind, you’ll probably do just fine. 1/ "Shift-on-the-fly" is somewhat of a misnomer. Do it too much and you’ll have hub problems. There’s some plastic stuff in some sensitive places in the hubs. Hit the 4WD button at low speeds (<15 or 20 mph) if you can. 2/ The hubs require time-to-time maintenance, mainly cleaning and some grease in the right places. If you’re handy, do it yourself. If not, find a guy who KNOWS these hubs. There are a couple of guys here who have posted instructions. 3/ Have your front axle u-joints checked ASAP. They cause a lot of hub problems by allowing the axles too much play, which apparently wears out something in the hubs. If I were going to do any serious off-roading, I’d get a set of Warn (manual) hubs. If your definition of "off-roading" is like mine (off the PAVED road, onto a gravel road) don’t worry about it. Good luck with your ‘93. It was one of the better years of the earlier Explorers. We had one for 7 years. The members of this NG were very helpful in keeping it in top shape. Dean

Response:

For Light Duty  and Snow  travel the Auto hubs will do fine. Rob 2001 Explorer Sport owner

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Well, after years of wanting a nice 4×4 of my own, I am in a financial > situation to buy one.  I am buying a 1993 4-door, 4wd, with Auto trans and > electronic shift 4×4 system.  It is in great shape and well cared for.  My > question has to do with the front auto hubs.  What seems to be the exact > problem with them?  Do they wear out mostly because of high miles?  Or, rather > from tough off-road use?  I have read reports that the auto-locking hubs do not > handle heavy duty abuse, but this should not be a problem since it will only be > off road a couple of times each year and fairly light duty at that; and it will > be used for snow.  (Cant wait!).  Any help in clearing up this issue would be > greatly appreciated. > Tony

Response:

Well, after years of wanting a nice 4×4 of my own, I am in a financial situation to buy one.  I am buying a 1993 4-door, 4wd, with Auto trans and electronic shift 4×4 system.  It is in great shape and well cared for.  My question has to do with the front auto hubs.  What seems to be the exact problem with them?  Do they wear out mostly because of high miles?  Or, rather from tough off-road use?  I have read reports that the auto-locking hubs do not handle heavy duty abuse, but this should not be a problem since it will only be off road a couple of times each year and fairly light duty at that; and it will be used for snow.  (Cant wait!).  Any help in clearing up this issue would be greatly appreciated. Tony

Response: