should hubs be locked or unlocked??

[alaskakid]

Hello I was wondering and would like everyones opinion on whether my hubs should be locked all the time on my 78 cherokee?? just being used to drive around the roads until winter ...not sure if that matters

[addicted]

If you have a part time case such as a Dana 20 or a Quadratrac that has been converted then having the hubs unlocked will save you a small amount of fuel mileage and wear on the front axle components. If you still have the full time QT then you will want them locked all the time to avoid damage to the t-case.

[grand_wag_85]

X2 on that.

[smogdredd]

If you have the correct axle for You're t case laevng them unlocked is fine and locking them every couple of months for a few niles will keep the front diff well lubed.

[Schlagger]

If he still has the QT then why would there be manual hubs on the rig?

[joe]

Originally Posted by Schlagger

If he still has the QT then why would there be manual hubs on the rig?

Owner installed. Lotsa folks think just adding manual hubs to a fulltime case magically converts it to parttime hoping to get better mpgs. Unfortunately you won't drive far enough to realize enough fuel cost savings before the tcase burns up. Folks that add unlocking hubs and then burn up the QT are usually the same ones yelling the loudest as to what a POS the Jeep QT is.
Adding manual hubs to a QT rig is a total waste of money since they have to remain locked all the time anyway. Kinda like spending a hundred bucks for a 160 mph speedometer thinking your rig is now going to go faster.

[austinaubinoe]

Originally Posted by joe

Kinda like spending a hundred bucks for a 160 mph speedometer thinking your rig is now going to go faster.

[Blake]

I drive around both my FSJ's with the hubs unlocked and the atlas in 2 hi.

[alaskakid]

haha well thank you for the repliesI bought the cherokee like that..it has the q-trac but has warn hubs on it...but the t-case doesnt work as of now for the low range...but was just confused

[fulsizjeep]

Call me an odd ball but we run Phoebe with stock QT and manual hubs. We drive her on the road during fair weather with Edrive on and hubs unlocked. It is basically 2wd but the front driveline still turns (out to the hubs). No burn outs are attempted in this mode of driving. There is an advantage to this as well. We can get home on just the rear drive shaft with the QT switched to Edrive if we have to. This has come in handy at least once.

AK - You need to find out if that QT has part time conversion in it. Until then, I suggest you leave the hubs locked.

[serehill]

Originally Posted by fulsizjeep

Call me an odd ball but we run Phoebe with stock QT and manual hubs. We drive her on the road during fair weather with Edrive on and hubs unlocked. It is basically 2wd but the front driveline still turns (out to the hubs). No burn outs are attempted in this mode of driving. There is an advantage to this as well. We can get home on just the rear drive shaft with the QT switched to Edrive if we have to. This has come in handy at least once.

AK - You need to find out if that QT has part time conversion in it. Until then, I suggest you leave the hubs locked.

This does hint at a conversion doesn't it.

[alaskakid]

how do I find out if its part time?or where too look?

[Heavy_Metal_Thunder_81]

Q/Ts don't have V/Cs. The only way to really know for sure is to open it up and look.

[Billygoat]

Originally Posted by alaskakid

how do I find out if its part time?or where too look?

with the hubs locked in, and in normal drive mode, jack up the front end, start it up and put it in gear, if the front wheels spin - full time, if not part time

[novacayne75]

Originally Posted by Billygoat

with the hubs locked in, and in normal drive mode, jack up the front end, start it up and put it in gear, if the front wheels spin - full time, if not part time

boy that sound's really safe

[alaskakid]

haha thanks I might actaully try that today

[RussellS]

you might want to jack up both ends of the car on to jack stands to make it a tad bit safer. and dont slam on the gas pedal or push on it too hard or you might case the truck to come off of the jack stands.

[fulsizjeep]

As Jon pointed out, the only way to be SURE is to look inside.

Easy way to get a good guess at it. Better than running the Jeep on jack stands... It requires the Edrive vacuum shifter to be functional.

Engine must be running to get proper vacuum to shift. When a QT has been converted to part time and the Edrive switch is in normal mode, you are in 2wd. The front drive shaft should turn freely by hand when the hubs are unlocked. Switching to Edrive puts it in 4wd. Then the front drive shaft should be locked with the rear drive shaft.

I have seen two QTs fool me with this test so the best way to know for sure is to open it up.

[alaskakid]

well took it too a couple shops in town and they were not too sure and said to leave them unlocked if it was them..so im not sure what to do..wouldnt there be some kind of switch to go to 2wheel drive mode if there was a conversion?

[joe]

Originally Posted by alaskakid

well took it too a couple shops in town and they were not too sure and said to leave them unlocked if it was them..so im not sure what to do..wouldnt there be some kind of switch to go to 2wheel drive mode if there was a conversion?

If it has been converted to part time it'd still use the same vac switch in the glove box except instead of switching from normal drive to E-drive it'd now switch between 2WD/4WD. If the installer bothered to add it, the MM conversion kit comes with a switch plate for the original switch designating switch positions. I believe the RED side is 4WD and the GREEN 2WD. The converted QT in my 73 didn't have it so not sure on the labeling. Mine had a dash mount vac switch and no labels. Same switch same function though. I think the link in Flint's sig file has a pic of the new MM label.
edit: on a side note I know your shop means well but until you are sure it's been converted leave the hubs locked. If you unlock them and the QT has not been converted to part time you WILL burn up the clutch pak(the QT's differential) and they are not being made anymore so you'll be shopping for a used tcase.