Disconnect 4-wheel drive

[investig8]

Good Afternoon Everyone,
I was reading a day or so ago that the 4-wheel drive can be disconnected to offer a little better gas mileage. If that's true, do I simply remove the front drive shaft or will it require more than that?
Thanks,
Dennis

[John Mc]

Most people accomplish this by installing locking hubs on their front wheels. When unlocked nothing spins but the wheels.

Removing the drive shaft as you mentioned would still leave the front axle and differential spinning. I suspect not much MPG savings there.

[Cal_Gary]

In most opinions, lockout hubs are the best way to go. If you're a purist and want to keep the OEM hubs, some guys grind out the hubcap inner splines. That negates your 4X4 capability but retains the stock look. I run the old Superwinch lockouts myself, so I still have 4WD in Winter, or off-road.
Gary

[ZGjethro]

After searching unsuccessfully for Warn hubs, I bought a set of Selectro manual hubs for a reasonable price. I’m not sure if my gas mileage increased, but the truck is much easier to drive at low speeds and around town

[John Mc]

After searching unsuccessfully for Warn hubs, I bought a set of Selectro manual hubs for a reasonable price. I’m not sure if my gas mileage increased, but the truck is much easier to drive at low speeds and around town

I have Selectro hubs on mine. I track fuel usage - a habit developed from the days when the fuel gauge worked only sporadically. It's hard to know exactly the effect of leaving the hubs locked, since I only do it by accident, and then I'm not generally aware of how long they've been locked, but I'm guessing it's about a 1 MPG savings to have them unlocked.