Early Bronco Locking Hubs

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How to Choose the Right Locking Hubs for Your Early Bronco

Manual locking hubs are a simple but crucial part of any early Bronco drivetrain. They let you mechanically connect the front wheels to the front axle when you need traction, and disconnect them when you don’t — reducing driveline drag and wear during regular road use.

At Wild Horses 4x4, our sales and customer support team helps Bronco builders pick the right hubs for their goals every day. Our Early Bronco locking hubs selection includes top-tier options from Yukon, Mile Marker, and Warn for both Dana 30 and Dana 44 front ends. Below we walk through the key styles and what situations each serves best.

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Yukon Hardcore Locking Hubs

Best for: Heavy-duty off-road use and serious trail rigs

If you’re planning deep-mud runs, rock crawling, or otherwise frequent off-road adventures, Yukon Hardcore locking hubs are the heavy hitters in our lineup. These hubs feature all-steel construction and chromoly internals designed to resist breakage under high torque and repeated engagement.

Strength & Reliability
Yukon builds these hubs with rugged materials that stay locked under load and resist wear and tear from repeated trail use. The extreme duty internals and low-profile design help them withstand impacts that would damage weaker hubs.

Ease of Use
A simple 1/3-turn engagement makes them fast and predictable to lock or unlock, an important trait when you’re gearing up for a difficult trail section.

Use Case
Ideal for Broncos with lifted suspensions, larger tires, and those that see lots of off-road use where reliable engagement is mission-critical. These are also a great choice for high-end restorations where a more refined appearance is desired.

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Mile Marker Locking Hubs

Best Overall for Balance of Value & Performance

Mile Marker locking hubs strike a balance between durability, price, and performance. Available in stainless steel and chrome styles, these hubs offer solid construction and smooth engagement suitable for both restoration projects and weekend trail rigs.

Durability & Finish
Their stainless and chrome finishes add corrosion resistance and visual appeal, which is especially useful on Broncos that see mixed use from street to trail.

Performance
Mile Marker hubs offer reliable mechanical engagement and positive lockup without the premium price tag of alternative options — making them a great choice for daily drivers or trail riders who aren’t pushing extreme terrain.

Use Case
Perfect for Broncos that spend significant time on pavement but want dependable 4WD when the trail calls.

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Warn Premium Locking Hubs

Best Premium Option for Everyday Drivers & Moderate Trail Broncos

Warn Premium locking hubs give you tried-and-true performance from a brand with decades of 4WD heritage. Often recognized for their distinctive knobs and dependable engagement feel, Warn hubs are a reliable choice for classic Ford Broncos.

Balance of Features
While not as heavy-duty as Yukon Hardcore hubs, Warn Premium hubs still offer more durability and cleaner engagement than many stock or budget replacement alternatives.

Use Case
A solid option for classic restorations, modest trail rigs, and Broncos where premium materials and reliable 4WD performance is important.

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Hub Selection Tips from the Wild Horses Team

When choosing locking hubs, consider how your Bronco will be used:

• Frequent off-road use with big tires and lockers: Go with Yukon Hardcore locking hubs for the added durability and rugged construction.

• High end restomod builds where style is everything: The Yukon Hardcore locking hubs win this one too with their clean finish and enhanced styling.

• Daily driving with occasional trail days: Mile Marker locking hubs offer smooth engagement and solid long-term performance at a sensible price.

• Classic restoration requiring premium quality: Warn Premium locking hubs give a dependable feel and authentic look with dependable components.

Always match hub selection to your front end’s spline count and axle style to ensure proper fit and performance. Factory Dana 30 and Dana 44 front ends are 19-spline. RCV Axles and some other extreme duty axle shafts require 30-spline hubs.

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When to Select the RCV Warn Locking Hub 300M Gear Upgrade Kit

The RCV Warn Locking Hub 300M Gear Upgrade Kit is designed specifically for use with RCV Dana 44 30-spline axle shafts and should only be selected if your Bronco is already equipped with, or being upgraded to, RCV 30-spline front axles. This kit is not compatible with factory or standard aftermarket 19-spline axle shafts.

This upgrade replaces the internal hub gears with 300M steel components, significantly increasing strength and durability compared to standard hub internals. It is intended for Broncos that see extreme off-road use, high torque loads, and repeated engagement under hard conditions.

Select this kit if:

• You are running RCV Dana 44 30-spline front axle shafts

• Your Bronco is built for hardcore trail use or rock crawling

• You want locking hubs that match the strength level of RCV CV axles

• You are experiencing or trying to prevent hub gear failures under heavy load

This upgrade is not recommended for street-driven or moderate trail Broncos and should be considered only when the rest of the front axle is built to support extreme use.

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Choosing the right locking hubs for your Early Bronco helps maximize traction when you need it and reduces unnecessary driveline wear when you don’t. From the rugged strength of Yukon Hardcore hubs to the reliable everyday performance of Mile Marker and Warn, there’s an option to match every build.

If you’re unsure which hubs fit your project’s goals, our sales and tech support team is ready to help you sort through fitment, performance expectations, and off-road demands — just reach out.