Newby Asks: Free-Wheel Front Hubs

[Joseph Donnelly]

The 2013 up 3500s and iirc 2014 up 2500s have an axle disconnect like second gen's except electrically operated instead of vacuum. That gives us from the factory most of the benefit of free wheeling hubs.

 

[Gordo]

I did put the free wheel kit on my 08 Dodge 3500. It was the best move I made, for my particular towing needs. The major drawback, was the cost, which was around $2800.00, and I did the install myself. The biggest advantage to me has been that I can crawl down a steep incline, with a 18,000# fifth wheel behind me without using brakes.
I am still trying to figure out why Dodge doesn't offer the hubs as an option.

Gordo Fuchs
Cleveland, Ohio

 

[mpaulson]

It would be nice if the aftermarket came out with a kit that electrically keeps the axle disconnect from connecting when the truck is put in 4x4 so that we could do 2 wheel low manoeuvres. Like they did for the vacuum actuators not he 94-01 trucks.

 

[Freidhof]

I have the EMS off Road Kit on my 99, and let me say I love it for the added control, namely backing trailers, plus for me they do add a "cool" factor to the truck. I would have to agree with a previous poster that any gain in mileage would be very slight if any unless all you did was long highway travel in 2wd, and even then I would say 1 mpg would be a stretch. So I would not use MPG as a deciding factor in your purchase. I waited until I had a bearing failure on my truck and put them on at that time. So like others said, it makes much more sense when you need to replace front bearings than to do it just for the fun factor. I want to say it ran around 1500 for the kit, and a 3-400 for install, as I was just starting a new job when it happened and was putting on 2-300 miles/day and couldn't be down long enough to do it my self. Didn't appear to be to difficult, but like I said, I am working on hear say here. This was about april of 2008.

It does reduce highway vibration on my truck, I can definitely tell when they are locked or unlocked going down the highway. I did go with the "Extreme Duty" kit at the time, but would probably not have done that again and instead just gone with the std. duty kit they offer. This kit runs the larger knuckles and more splines on the shafts if I remember right, (going off memory, I didn't fact check). I get much more noticeable knuckle wrap under turning in 4wd than when I didn't have it, plus there can be a grease fitting clearance issue depending on the ball joints you are running. I just had it gone through this summer after about 50000 miles when I put new brakes on it, and my Mechanic said there is not much clearance throughout the system. Other than that it has been incredibly trouble free.

All in all, I love the free spin hubs, and would definitely do it again. Little pricey, but I plan on running this truck till one of us Dies!