Remember the days of old 4WD?

**Steve** · 04-28-2005, 11:33 AM

I used to have an old Jeep CJ5 and i remember having to get out and lock the hubs to get into 4WD. How nice is it to just be able to turn a knob or push a button and thats it?

Ahh, the wonders of modern technology!

**99yukon** · 10-21-2005, 04:26 PM

I think I would still like the old technology in mine. The cost to repair the new stuff is rediculous and GM can't seem to make a 4WD switch that lasts....

**Aeropagus** · 11-06-2005, 11:21 PM

Wonder if that is on purpose? SOme of the stuff that is built into the new cars and trucks and SUVs doesn't add much, but it adds the chance that it will break. Like 4- wheel steering.

**ppettit2005** · 08-19-2006, 02:19 PM

yeah, having a switch to turn on your 4X4 system is just too lazy for me... I've got a 1995 Tahoe two door 4X4 and I don't have to get out and turn the switch on the manual hub and then shift into 4 wheel drive, but I don't have to just flip a switch. Instead I have what I beleive is a good compromise of the two systems. I have what looks like a manual transmission shifter on my floor board in palce of a center console, and all that I have to do is shift my transmission into nuetral and then shift the lever in to 4-Low mode and then shift back into drive with my transmission. It's not as much work as getting out and fiddling with manual hubs, but it's more work than flipping a switch. Plus it's really really durable, unless you don't follow the directions on the shift gate and abuse the thing... My year model and the one before are the only ones that I can find so far that have this system though. The model produced 2 years before mine was the Blazer, which had a manual 4 wheel drive hub type of system, and the model after mine had an electric switch mounted on the dash. So I'm quite happy with what I've got, but I also wish that they would go back to this system, because just flipping a switch doesn't even feel like real 4 wheel drive to me.

**Steve** · 09-11-2010, 01:04 PM

Wow, this is an old thread!

**Eddie Z71** · 09-11-2010, 01:14 PM

Yes it is Steve! It does make you think about the old days! lol!

**tbplus10** · 09-11-2010, 01:26 PM

This thread made me think about the last new 4x4 truck I bought in 99.
The dealer told me that manual locking hubs werent available on new trucks, I almost didnt buy the truck because of that reason, 3 days after I bought the truck a friend and I were in the garage installing manual locking hubs on it.
Manufacturers shoulda just left things alone I think they'd be surprised how many consumers prefer manual locking hubs over automatic hubs or how many consumers would be willing to take the manual locking hubs rather than pay for auto hubs because they know they'll never put the truck in 4wd.

**murdog94** · 09-11-2010, 03:46 PM

Ive had both systems and they for sure both have their ups and downs. Like when i drove from northern IL, to Duluth MN, in 4wd with over a foot of unplowed snow on the road. I simply put my 02 Z-71 in 4Hi at 70mph and let her Rip... But i had a 91Chevy that the 4wd wouldnt engage with out a massive amount of time fiddling and even then you werent sure. But my 95 F-150 had manual Hubs, and Shifter i knew i had 4wd when i wanted it!

**KidHauler** · 09-11-2010, 11:41 PM

Yea, somebody pushed the 'way-back' button.

My '75 Jimmy had full time hubs and a floor shift - it was nice for just heading to the field when you wanted to. The '99 is a floor shift, too, but I just know theres some electronic do-dad underneath waiting to fail.