Questions on manual locking hubs

[onestoptakeaway]

Hi,

I don't do alot of off-road but I will still lock my 94 Sidekicks hubs once a month and driving in 2H mode for afew km as recommended in the user manual just to lubricate the machanism.

My question is how far can I lock the hubs and drive in 2H before damaging them? The reason I ask is at times during snowing can I just lock the hubs and drive in 2H and when the traction gets really bad than I will just switch over to 4H while driving or visa-versa instead of getting in and out which will be such a pain. Even some driving route might have afew km of gravel path than flat road and back again kind of thing.

[Bex]

I'm no mechanic and I know that they say you're not supposed to lock your hubs and drive 2wd for any substantial length of time. I'm sure you will get responses with more mechanical info, etc., but I live in farm country and my neighbor (who has 1988 Toyota pickup), locks his hubs in October and drives that way (2wd, 4wd) until April. He's been doing that for 21 years and has never had a problem. But note that he is driving 99% off road (fields, etc.) and not on roads and pavement.

[shackwrrr]

Theres no problem with locking your hubs and driving in 2wd the only drawback is decreased mileage and increased wear on the front axle wear.

Alot of vehicles came this way from the factory and alot of them are still on the road. I say dont worry about it and keep em locked in the winter months. Thats the way I run my 1979 jeep.

[ron the truckie]

Originally Posted by onestoptakeaway

Hi,

I don't do alot of off-road but I will still lock my 94 Sidekicks hubs once a month and driving in 2H mode for afew km as recommended in the user manual just to lubricate the machanism.

My question is how far can I lock the hubs and drive in 2H before damaging them? The reason I ask is at times during snowing can I just lock the hubs and drive in 2H and when the traction gets really bad than I will just switch over to 4H while driving or visa-versa instead of getting in and out which will be such a pain. Even some driving route might have afew km of gravel path than flat road and back again kind of thing.

i aked same question yesterday and wa advised to only lock one axle.to minimise risk of "axle wind up",i checked with suzuki australia and they said same thing......ova

[onestoptakeaway]

Originally Posted by shackwrrr

Theres no problem with locking your hubs and driving in 2wd the only drawback is decreased mileage and increased wear on the front axle wear.

Alot of vehicles came this way from the factory and alot of them are still on the road. I say dont worry about it and keep em locked in the winter months. Thats the way I run my 1979 jeep.

I was thinking of the same thing too and wanted hear more opinion about it. Thanks