Greetings ~ Daughter's car is ~ 4WD ~ there are manual hubs ~ front ~ she'd like Auto Hubs ````

I have a 1994 sidekick out back ~ with ~ looks like Auto~ This printed on the hubs: AUTO FREE WHEEL hUBS```

Do you recognize these ~ from ~ this `` `

Are they worth putting on `

How do they work ~

Are this type trouble  `

What ever you know and think ```

Thank you

Richard

Every thing I have ever heard and read about the auto hubs is that they are junk and should be avoided. I'm not exactly sure how they work but I believe it's some sort of ratcheting pawl that engages when the CV axles turn the wheel rather than the other way around. If you have a good pair of factory manual hubs, all they need is a good cleaning and lubrication with some light grease and they should last decades still. Then at least you KNOW your hubs are locked when you lock them instead of guessing your 4wd works when the big snowstorm hits!

For really light wheeling Auto is fine.  To engage you go from neutral, shift to 4Hi or Lo, then drive forward slowly and you will hear a click meaning engage.  To did-engage you go in reverse until you hear the click.

I have experienced being engaged while going uphill and the "Auto" hubs disengaged when I rolled back down slowly - switched to manual the next week

I recommend staying with manual

Had them for years on my x90 never had a problem and wheeled that car hard. 

It really depends on what she is doing with the ride...does she drive a Sidekick that happens to be 4x4 and will only occasionally be engaged?  The auto would probably be just fine...disassemble them, clean and reassemble, and they will be good to go.I can't speak for a daughter, but if my sidekick was my wife's driver, it would stay with auto hubs, just to be easier for her to use...

Is it the issue of preference or you are lazy enough to get out and move your hubs??

Once again, not from the daughter perspective, but with my wife, I figure me not being able to properly explain and then her execute in a moment of distress the locking of the manual hubs has a higher failure rate than auto hubs ever would!

Once again, not from the daughter perspective, but with my wife, I figure me not being able to properly explain and then her execute in a moment of distress the locking of the manual hubs has a higher failure rate than auto hubs ever would!

Omg yes.  Oops hun we kinda need hubs locked in.  “But it’s a giant hole here and thorns and and”

The difference is some people “go wheeling” but others like myself let the wheeling come to us.   That’s when auto hubs are nice.  If you live on the farm or are out riding trails and getting stuck then you’d prefer manual hubs. 
Hey thanks for reminding me my hubs are locked right now and shouldn’t be. 

To offer another solution/answer to the original poster...NO!!!!!!  NEVER USE THOSE JUNKY MANUAL HUBS!!!!!  In fact, you should dispose of them immediately!  If you send them to me, as a courtesy to a fellow Zuk owner, I will send you in exchange a perfectly fantastic functioning set of auto hubs to have as a back up!