2018 F-350 Lock-out hubs

[toylandcruiser]

LOL. Depends on how far back you want to go for this "new" idea. Starting in the early 60s hubs were pretty common. My dad bought a new Ford in 1963 and it had the hubs stock. I can't remember any of the pickups I drove in the mid-60s through the early 80s that didn't have the hubs stock. Some of the units that had "full-time" 4wd starting in the mid-70s came without hubs but it seems they were troublesome and soon there were aftermarket conversions to change the transfer cases to part-time and hubs were part of the conversion. I had a GMC I did that conversion on.

In the 40s and 50s they were an aftermarket thing

 

[marshal]

the 2014+ Ram's now use a disconnect on the passenger side axle shaft. Previous to that people have said that free-spin hub conversions to the rams only netted .5mpg. A tough sell for return, but could mean the world on reduced wear and tear in the event of catastrophic failure

 

[Buliwyf]

the 2014+ Ram's now use a disconnect on the passenger side axle shaft. Previous to that people have said that free-spin hub conversions to the rams only netted .5mpg. A tough sell for return, but could mean the world on reduced wear and tear in the event of catastrophic failure

Aaaargh. I had that junk on my YJ. It makes it steer nice like unlocked hubs would, but would constantly spin the front end wearing out the CV's and universals.

I didn't make it under the Dodge during my last test drive. Even if it doesn't wear as quickly as a YJ, it's just wrong. Why can't Dodge do better than this?

 

[marshal]

Aaaargh. I had that junk on my YJ. It makes it steer nice like unlocked hubs would, but would constantly spin the front end wearing out the CV's and universals.

I didn't make it under the Dodge during my last test drive. Even if it doesn't wear as quickly as a YJ, it's just wrong. Why can't Dodge do better than this?

Another issue is that they also went to a larger U-joint size and axle shaft diameter, so there isn't a junk yard drop in - but you can get full length replacement parts from aftermarket manufacturers

 

[ChinaLakePW]

Aaaargh. I had that junk on my YJ. It makes it steer nice like unlocked hubs would, but would constantly spin the front end wearing out the CV's and universals.

I didn't make it under the Dodge during my last test drive. Even if it doesn't wear as quickly as a YJ, it's just wrong. Why can't Dodge do better than this?

At least on the 2500s, the RAMs now have the split axle CAD to reduce wear on the front components and return slightly better mileage. The flip side, is people worry that the CAD is a potential failure point.

P.S. Edited to add: the current CAD for RAM trucks is electronic, not vacuum.

 

[Buliwyf]

Still, no thanks. I don't want anything to spin in 2wd on long trips. Had the CAD before, never again.