Warn Hubs – A New Buyer’s Guide to Locking Hubs

For those with a fully-equipped 4-wheel drive vehicle, fuel economy is a factor. With the more aftermarket parts added to a vehicle – both exterior and interior – fuel economy can slowly go down, which will put a damper on a 4-wheeling activity when the driver has to frequently stop to refill. One of the easiest ways to counteract fuel economy issues is to use a locking hub. Since most vehicles come with weak or problem-prone locking hubs from the manufacturer, a driver can severely benefit from upgrading their auto-locking hubs.

How Poor Auto-Locking Hubs Effect Fuel Economy

Auto-locking hubs from the manufacturer do not work properly when they are supposed to and can turn all of the time, which means the vehicle will have poor handling, suffer from premature wear and eventually lower the fuel economy. Warn Industries has created a locking hub that will keep the hub from turning constantly, which will improve handling and boost fuel economy regardless of the upgrades made to the 4-wheel vehicle.

Why Hubs are Important

A 4-wheel drive vehicle’s hubs are extremely important. Not only do they affect fuel economy, but without auto-locking hubs there is no way for a driver to engage their 4-wheel drive properly. Any hub is not enough for an off-roading vehicle. Hubs must be able to lock into place and if they continue to slip, the driver should replace them with a Warn locking hub.

The Two Basic Types of Locking Hubs

The first type of locking hub is a standard, manual hub. This type of hub is perfect for OEM hub replacements. Since it utilizes a 4140 steel clutch standard and an inner drive gear, it provides precision handling. The standard manual hub is available in three styles that include:

·         Internal mount

·         External mount

·         Flange

The second type of locking hub is a premium warn hub. This type of hub is meant for vehicles that use a constant 4-wheel drive and often requires a conversion kit to install on a vehicle.

When purchasing locking hubs, drivers should pay attention to the type of vehicle they are shopping for. Premium locking hubs are meant for full-time 4-wheel drive, while manual hubs are meant for vehicles with part-time 4-wheel drive. Warn hubs have been in the industry for over 30 years and often are the go-to choice for drivers of 4-wheel drive vehicles. By purchasing a high-quality product, a driver can enjoy their 4-wheel drive experience with precision and improved fuel economy.