What causes the hub to lock in four wheel drive?
When torque is applied by the driveshaft, it forces the hub to slide in and lock. The hub then remains in the locked position as long as the transfer case remains in four-wheel drive.
What causes cyclic vibration on a FWD drive?
On some FWD driveshafts, a “vibration damper” weight is used to control torsional vibrations. If the weight has been removed or lost, it may cause cyclic vibrations to occur at certain speeds. Worn U-joints on RWD driveshafts can cause vibrations at any speed as can an incorrectly installed U-joint.
What kind of noise does a good locking hub make?
Noises. You may hear a grinding or slipping noise when the hub fails to properly engage. Often it is actually the good hub that starts making the noise after the other one does not kick in.
How to diagnose an automatic locking hub problem?
Diagnosing an automatic locking hub problem may require test driving the vehicle or raising a front wheel to see if the hub is engaging and disengaging properly. Put the transmission in park, set the parking brake and raise the chassis so one of the front wheels is off the ground while the other is still on the ground.
When torque is applied by the driveshaft, it forces the hub to slide in and lock. The hub then remains in the locked position as long as the transfer case remains in four-wheel drive.
Is it safe to leave the locking hubs locked?
Could you leave them locked? Locking hub were invented to engage/disengage the front wheels from the front axle shafts. Idea was to keep parts that were not needed in 2WD mode from rotating in order to reduce mechanical drag and thus save gas. Good idea but the savings are extremely minimal.
What happens in 4WD with hubs disengaged?
In 4WD with hubs disengaged front drive shaft, front diff and front axle, rear drive shaft, rear diff and rear axle are rotating. Front tires are rolling along (the transfer case makes the front drive line parts rotate, but since the wheels are disconnected the power flow does not reach the tires) – rear tires are pulling.
Why are front axles locked in 2WD mode?
Idea was to keep parts that were not needed in 2WD mode from rotating in order to reduce mechanical drag and thus save gas. Good idea but the savings are extremely minimal. A proposed additional benefit of locking hubs is less wear and tear of front axle parts.