Warn Hubs For Roxor

I was perusing the Roxor website and saw where you can buy Warn Locking Hubs for the Roxor. I think I read where it has floating axles. I recall actually telling my buddy that I thought that's what his new Roxor had.

Can someone help me understand what a "floating" axle is and why you might want locking hubs for it?

I'm making upgrade suggestions to him...spending his hard earned money...but I don't want to suggest something I know nothing about.

Is there a solid benefit to having the locking hubs?

 

Yeah but what does the locking hub do?

 

I honestly don't think I ever really grasped that.

I have locking hubs on my jeep. Heck most jeeps do. I understand that I can shift my jeep into four wheel drive and I'm pretty sure that when in four wheel drive "IF" my hubs are unlocked I'm not turning the front tires.

His jeep doesn't have locking hubs so does that just mean that when he shifts into four wheel drive that he can't disengage his hubs? Is that really a big deal? I mean...if I want to take my jeep out of four wheel drive what's the difference in unlocking the hubs versus simply shifting out of four wheel drive.

Seriously...I don't get it.

 

And it seems like I've seen folks who've converted their rear axle to floating axles but I always thought that had something to do with flat towing the vehicle. But I've seen some with floating axles back there and some who actually have locking hubs on the rear.

Another thing I never really understood the theory behind.

What's the benefits?

Looking for some "let's just pretend you wanted to do this?" type arguments.

 

Benefit for locking hubs on rear means when flat towing you don't put wear and tear on your drive train. On front hubs you don't put wear and tear on the front drive train in 2wd

 

Bad part is rear floating axle is not as strong as the flanged axle.

 

The only part about a rear floating axle that is not as strong as a flanged axle is the locking hub. With a floating axle all the axle has to do is turn the hub/wheel. A flanged axle turns the turns the wheel and supports the vehicles weight. If you remove the locking hub and install a drive flange, a floating axle assembly can take more abuse than a flanged. Both setups are far superior to a factory cj tapered axle.

 

The only true benefits of being able to unluck the hubs and disengage the front axle is to save fuel and wear and tear on the front drive components. Switching your transfer case to 2wd disengages the front driveshaft, but if you don't disconnect the axles from the wheels, the whole front rotating assembly is still being spun by the front tires, adding drag.

Over the years, locking hubs have faded away because the economic benifits don't really outweigh the equipment costs, and creature comforts like "shift on the fly 4wd" aren't possible with locking hubs. Imagine today's SUV crowd having to actually get out of their vehicle to physically turn something to engage 4wd.

 

Like Norcal said, full floating axle assemblies are stronger, all else being equal, due to no chassis weight on the shaft itself. Many (most?) front axle assemblies are full float, as the shaft bears no weight. They ‘float’ on bearings.

Lockable hubs are weaker than drive flanges, but yes, help with towing and load/wear reduction.

I have the standard CJ Warn hubs up front on my Roxor. I got em early on from the flaps. The price has doubled since I got em.

 

The mall would never be the same lol

 

No one mentioned what I think are the two very important reasons for a full float rear axle: 1) you bust the axle shaft the wheel (and hence brakes) are still functional, and 2) if you do break that shaft, all you have to do is pull the drive flanges (or rear hubs to free wheel) and pull the rear drive shaft to drive home in front wheel drive.