Hub Caps/Drive Plates

[cult45]

Doing some research on running hub caps. Will a rear hub cap fit on a non free-wheel hub setup, or do you still need the hub cap with the relief hole? If so, what changes when selecting 4WD? I read on here somewhere that free-wheeling hubs were a dealer option, and that cars were delivered with drive plates as standard.

Thx in advance!

 

[Gumby]

I'm running drive flanges on my LV since it's AWD. If you run flanges with 4WD, then you will turn the front axles all the time the vehicle is moving. They will only be driven when the transfer case is in 4wd, but the axles, diff, transfer output and driveshaft will all spin when the tires are turning going down the road. You'll get slightly more wear in the moving parts and slightly less fuel mileage turning all the extra parts, but not a huge deal.

The rear hub caps fit fine.

Slight edit - hardened birfs like longfields don't like high speeds for sustained periods. If you're daily driving with them, it's best to be able to disconnect the axles at the hubs.

 

[cult45]

Ahhhh thanks Gumby, you nailed it mate. That LV looks ace but the way. Looks like I'll go free-wheel hubs for the foreseeable future.