Are they saying that your front axle components are not strong enough to constantly rotate like your rear axle, and need to be disconnected if not in use? An often overlooked draw back is that hubs stick out and can get damaged when off-road.
Hub components are usually cast aluminum that break easily. A broken hub could leave you stranded in the back country. So, what should you do? I would recommend that you leave your locking hubs disconnected when there is no need for 4WD in sight. You'll achieve a quieter ride on pavement with less vibrations with hubs unlocked.
Lock them as needed for 4WD operation doesn't matter whether you lock them before you shift into 4WD or right after and unlock them when going back to 2WD again, doesn't matter whether you unlock them before shifting out of 4WD or right after. Leaving them locked while in 2WD will have no negative effects.
I would recommend you leave your hubs locked while in 2WD during bad weather seasons. This will allow you to shift in and out of 4WD whenever the need arises. They work separately, spinning free of each other and allowing the drive from the rear axle to push them wherever you steer them. This is two-wheel-drive mode, just like a rear-wheel-drive car. When they are unlocked, you do not have the ability to put your vehicle into 4WD.
Newer 4x4 vehicles are manufactured with automatic locking hubs. This enables you to be able to "shift on the fly" into 4WD. The process to this is complex, yet simple in explanation. When the shift lever is moved into position, the changing gear creates an inertia that "locks in" the hubs. When you "lock in" your hubs, you are connecting the two half axles to a drive plate that locks them together, making them turn as one unit. They will spin freely together, ready for you to engage the 4x4 which will send drive power to them via a differential from the transfer case.
Modern vehicles have automatic locking hubs that require little to no manual operation from the user. To check engagement, rotate the axle shaft backwards. This should lock the hub. Try turning the wheel by hand again. The axle shaft should now turn with the wheel if the hub is locked. If the hub fails to lock, the hub will have to be disassembled and inspected or replaced. To check release, hold the axle shaft steady and rotate the wheel backwards.
You should hear a click as the locking mechanism slides back out and disengages the hub. Rotate the wheel forward again and it should turn freely. Another way to check the hubs is to raise the vehicle on a frame contact lift so all four wheels are off the ground.
Then start the engine and place the transfer case in four-wheel drive and the transmission in drive. If the front driveshafts are not turning when the transfer case is in four-wheel drive, the problem is inside the differential broken side gears or the transfer case broken chain, shift linkage, etc.
If the driveshaft between the transfer case and differential is turning, the problem is in the differential. If the driveshaft is not turning, the vehicle is going to need repairs to the transfer case.
To service the hub, some disassembly is required. The outer hub cover is usually attached to the hub with five or six Torx screws.
Disassembly and reassembly procedures will vary from one hub design to another, so refer to the OEM service information for the specifics.
0コメント