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Manual hub question       #: 2307
 Moderated by: NoPower, Mike69, MaDMaXX,
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 Posted: Fri Jan 8th, 2021 08:32 am
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aroundincircles
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So I have a 98 B4000 4x4. The vacuum hub system completely died, so I got manual locking hubs for it. 

They have been great, I live in AZ and the only time I need 4wd, is when I am purposely going off road in the dirt and I lock my hubs.

But in a week or so I will be driving to a state that has snow and possibly ice on the roads. Would it hurt anything to have the hubs locked and be in 2wd so if I need to swap into 4wd I can easily? 

I know later rangers have a live front axle, even my Jeep Wagoneer has one, so my assumption is that it will be fine, but thought I would ask here.



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1998 Mazda B4000
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 Posted: Fri Jan 8th, 2021 09:40 am
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410customs

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It will be fine
I drive my BII with hubs locked from late October to March, switch in and out of 4x4 at will. Where I am from in Colorado this is a must, because the road will be dry for miles and then 2 miles of ice and slush and then dry....so leave the hubs locked and just switch the t case at will. I have been doing this every winter for 25+ years, even at highway speeds like 65-70 mph........
A good smooth running front end you will barely notice they are locked, just like the 2000-2011 Ranger, 95-01 explorer, and others. 
As long as your front end CV axles are good and the front d shaft is good, you will "feel" the front driveshaft spinning under the drivers seat, the steering will be a little more "stiff" otherwise let her rip!!!



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I build custom RBV, specializing in drivetrain conversions, wiring, suspension and complete custom trucks
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 Posted: Fri Jan 8th, 2021 10:22 pm
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aroundincircles
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awesome, that's what I figured. I dropped it off at my mechanic to swap out the wheel bearings and valve cover gaskets. I've been meaning to do those for a hot minute but just haven't had time, and won't before I need to make this trip. He's also going to do just a good once over on it to make sure it's good to go for the trip.



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