How to Improve Mileage With Manual Locking Hubs
Locking hubs are found on four-wheel-drive trucks and some SUVs. The locking hub refers to a device that locks and unlocks the front wheel axles. When the driver wants to engage four-wheel drive, he must lock the axles together. This provides better traction in situations where four-wheel drive is desired. Unlocking the hubs disconnects the wheels from the half-shaft axles. This means the wheels will turn independently of the axles. The benefit to this is reported increases in fuel economy by some drivers, though there is no hard proof that improved fuel economy is the result of unlocking the wheel hubs.
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Instructions
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1
Locate the locking hub on your vehicle. The locking hub is located in the center of the wheel. It looks almost like a cap that covers the center of the wheel.
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2
Unlock the manual locking hub. On some vehicles, there is a small switch that must be slid over to one side to unlock the hubs. On other vehicles, there is a special tool placed over the hub and turned to unlock the hub.
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3
Turn the lock to the unlock position. Normally, this means turning the hub lock counterclockwise.
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4
Lock the hub in the "unlock" position. You'll need to reverse the process in Step 2 to lock the hub in the "unlocked" position. If you drive your vehicle from here on out, your wheels will turn independently of the drive-train and axles, which theoretically would improve gas mileage by decreasing the load on the engine.
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Tips & Warnings
For specific information on how to unlock your truck or SUV's manual locking hubs, consult the particular vehicle's manual (see Resources).
