hub lock question

[glenn]

This is a really basic 4wd question. I know the harm that can be done driving in 4wd on dry roads - well documented on other posts. My question is: what happens when you are driving in 2wd and the hubs are still locked?

This happens when driving on roads in the snow - when I get to the arteries and don't need the 4wd anymore I switch it back to 2wd when I stop. It's often not practical to back up a few feet to disengage the hubs while on public roads. Is there any harm in driving around a few kms with the hubs still engaged, or does this have to be done ASAP?

Thanks for the info

[Chewy]

To render this info completely useless, I'm not positive but I'm pretty sure this is it... when you drop to 2wd it will disengage the t-case, but not the hubs unless you back up, so it shouldn't harm anything but your mileage with the extra rotating mass.

[jessef]

Is there any harm in driving around a few kms with the hubs still engaged, or does this have to be done ASAP?

Thanks for the info

None at all.

In fact, some of the 2nd Generation Pajero/Delica's come with flanges which permanently lock the hub instead of the auto hubs on Gen I Delica's.

Leaving the hubs locked 'Wheel lock light' on just keeps the hub -> cv -> axle shaft rotating.

[konadog]

In fact, some of the 2nd Generation Pajero/Delica's come with flanges which permanently lock the hub instead of the auto hubs on Gen I Delica's.

Our 1992 GLX delica came that way. They look different - check the picture. Didn't know they were called "flanges" I just called them perma-lockers. A little more wear on the bits and pieces down there, and no option to use the low range grears in 2wd, but hey, ya can't do that with the auto-lockers either - Made the switch to maunal hubs and was hoping for a fuel savings, but as ccautos Glen predicted, it made no measurable difference in fuel economy. Love my manual hubs all the same though.

[glenn]

That's what I was assuming, thanks for the replies. While driving around with the wheel lock light on, I kept visualizing those twisted, broken driveshaft images, and so it's nice to confirm that no harm will be done.