Are my auto hubs shot?

CREEPER · #1 07-24-2011, 08:43 AM

Hey guys. Here's whats happening on my 94 4x4 3.0 5 speed

1. I engaged 4lo and found a sandy area
2. I let it crawl about 30 feet giving the auto hubs more than enough time to engage.
3. I lightly popped the clutch while watching the front tire.
4. The rear wheels spun, but the front did not. I repeated this 3 times but they never spun

The dash lights came on for 4x4, and did not blink. I'm assuming the TCase is working properly because I REALLY felt the gear reduction. I drove it 1/2 mile back home and got out. Something told me to touch the hubs. They were both HOT.

Does this mean the hubs are shot? Time to install manual hubs and keep on trucking?

Thanx!

ColinS · #2 07-24-2011, 08:45 AM

take your hubs off and clean the grease off them see if that helps solve the problem first

CREEPER · #3 07-24-2011, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ColinS

take your hubs off and clean the grease off them see if that helps solve the problem first

Ok thanx! I've found links to hub replacement, but no one really ever gives an estimate as to how long it should take. I guess what I'm getting at is this;
If the truck already has 183k miles, and I plan to go with manual hubs in the future anyway, rather than do it twice, should I just go with the manuals anyway, OR are you asking me to clean them out just to make sure that isn't the problem?

With all due respect to this forum and it's members, I love the little ranger, BUT........I bought this truck to "replace" my 95 ISUZU RODEO 4x4, and if it's something more involved and/or more costly than JUST replacing the hubs, I'll prolly sell it and keep my RODEO! I love FORD, but like many of you, and CUSSING this push button 4wd, and I haven't even driven the truck 10 miles yet! What was so wrong with keeping the extra tiny shifter? Lol!

Even ISUZU kno

ws better:

ColinS · #4 07-24-2011, 09:15 AM

i'm saying just clean them out first and see. the auto hubs can get full of grease and it causes them to no longer work.

i myself have never done the converision (i'm lazy i like nothaving to get out lol) but by looking at the kits they dont look like they would take to long to replace.

here is a link i found about the auto hubs

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/...d.php?t=206722

CREEPER · #5 07-24-2011, 09:29 AM

Thanx!

Yeah I'm still thinking it HAS to be the hubs. I'll clean them and dee what happens. It just doesn't seem like they could get that darn hot with just one mile of driving and three brief attempts to make them engage!?!? Could be wheel bearings as well, but kinda strange the front wheels won't spin either! I'm NOT a 4x4 guru, but it seems all symptoms are pointing at the hubs. From what I've read, it seems I do NOT have a TCase issue because I REALLY felt the gear reduction and the lights were not blinking. Does that sound right? Let's just say that If I can rule out the TCase and front diff as culprits, I'll keep the truck!

CREEPER · #6 07-24-2011, 09:46 AM

ColinS, that was a great link! Now I'm left wondering: i don't have any vacuum actuated crap in my hubs? I don't in a 94, right?

ColinS · #7 07-24-2011, 09:51 AM

yes our hubs are not vaccum activated they are cam operated as stated in that link. if you have a jack hand and 2 jack stands. jack up the front of your truck and support it with jack stands. rotate the front drive shaft with your hand and see if you see the wheels start to turn.

it almost sounds like your hubs are so clogged they cannot engage fully and the spindle is just spinning and gettin hot. try the cleaning method and after that see if they will spin.