4wheel drive

[Aaron S]

Hello,
I'm new to the forum and the jeep/4x4 world. Just bought a 79 cj7. Got a couple questions, first off what do the locking hubs actually do,do they lock both wheels as in neither one will slip? 2nd, if your in 2 wheel drive stuck in the mud, can you lock the hubs ect. and go in to 4 wheel drive and pull out of the mud so to speak. or does the jeep have to roll some distance before it locks up?
Thanks for any help

[Trailmaster]

The hubs allow the wheel to spin free with the axles inside not turning, locking them it allows the axles to drive the wheels, as for locking it so both tires spin at the same time all depends on your diff, open only one limited slip both will after a bit, and locked is both at once. If in two wheel and stuck you should be able to lock the hubs put it in 4 and go.

[69jeepcj]

most 4x4,s from the factory had open differentials or limited slips, neither one will lock both wheels together 100%. Usually the front drivers and back passenger tire get most of the power, if you lift a tire off of the ground that tire will not receive any power. As stated above you can get stuck THEN lock the hubs and put it in 4x4, I have done that many times. Every now and then you may need to back up a foot or so to shift it out of 4x4. If you are wanting both front tires to have the same power all the time when in 4x4 (as in neither wheel sliping) you would need to get a locker of some type. That will lock both wheels together 100% and if you lift a tire in the air, that tire will still have power and spin the same speed as the one on the ground.
You can get one for the rear also. Cant beat the traction of a locker, its like night and day.!
With your hubs in free or 4x2 position your axle shafts and driveshaft spin freely, when you lock the hubs in 4x4 or locked, your axle shaft and drive shaft are now engaged to the wheels and will spin with the tires, but you are not in 4x4 until you shift the tcase in 4x4. If you shift the tcase into 4x4, your driveshaft and axle shafts will turn but they are not connected to the wheels via the lock out hubs. So they basicly connect the wheels to the axle shafts.