Ford F150 - New guy with Auto Lock hub questions.

Hi all. I have a 96 F150 4X4 with, what I believe is, problems with the auto lock on the left side. There are occasional clunking and grinding noises when I start out. Also a rattle or "Clicking" sound from that side when moving. Noise occurs whether in 2 wheel or 4 wheel drive.
I am considering switching to manual locking hubs. Would like to know what others have done and which hubs have been used. Also, what other things should I do while I am making this conversion.
I have never done anything like this, so any tips would also be greatly appreciated. THANKS!!

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Somedays it ain't even worth chewing through the restraints.

I switched over to manual hubs last summer after it started trying to engage by itself. I assumed the hubs were giving out and were locking in on occasion. I went with the warn premium manual locking hubs. I think they were around $85.00. You could get the regular Warn hubs but I went with the premiums mostly because....and I don't like to admit it...but because of the looks. I didn't like the plain jane regular hubs.

Here is the post when I was changing my hubs. If you go to Steve83's signature he will have the instructions of the change in there.

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300 Inline 6, 4x4, 5 speed manual
Six in a Row Makes It Go!!

Click my signature link, scroll to the bottom of the page, go into the TSB & FSA album, and read the TSB about Auto Hub Locks & Motoring Torque. Then go back to the album list & go into Brakes & Hubs.

If you just like the look of the WPs, then that's fine. But MileMarkers have the same warranty, and are just as strong, but they cost a LOT less. I prefer the look of the MMs because their black knob matches the black rear center caps I use.

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. . . '99 CV RIP

Forgive my ignorance. After reading through the TSB about Auto Hub Locks & Motoring Torque I realize that this would be out of my league. Is this a factory recall where I would be able to take the truck to a Ford dealer and they would fix the problem? Thanks.

Any professional shop can do that, but a TSB isn't a recall (FSA). It's just for a technician's information so he doesn't have to waste time troubleshooting something that has already been identified as a problem in other vehicles. If a vehicle is in-warranty, the work described in the TSB is in-warranty. Certain FSAs never expire and are always free, but like I said: that's different.



But you can skip to this step first to see if it clears up.

"...ask the customer to drive the vehicle for 80 km (50 miles) with the hubs locked to "break-in" the modified axle. To break-in the axle, engage four-wheel-drive, drive forward, and then shift out of four-wheel-drive without disengaging the hub locks. If the vehicle is backed up during this time period, the hub locks will disengage and will have to be engaged again by repeating this procedure."

Thank you. I'll do that. Also, KUDOS on the info in your signature.