I have a bad front axle u-joint making the truck wander bad. Can you temporarily gut the front locking hub to freewheel the axle until I can get to replacing the u-joint?

 

I would not do that. Not so sure the wheel would stay on the axle.

but..what would that accomplish?

If you are in 2wd and the hubs are in free or auto (ESOF) then the front axle is not turning anyway.

 

No, front axles turn 100% of the time but lock within the hub. They do make true lockout hubs but they do not come stock. I need to disengage the axle within the hub to freewheel it. I dont have time to do this for a couple weeks due to work schedule.

 

No axles turn 100% of the time in our hub. They are not true lockout hubs.

 

year/model of your truck?

 

2008 f250 fx4

 

Maybe i got bad info. I was told the axles were always turning in our 4x4 ststem

 

Nope...not on for fords.

 

So I guess the plot thickens. I have new ball joints and tires (about 5,000 miles ago). Everything feels balanced and no vibrations. Everything else in the front end is tight.

But the truck now has a very noticeable wander. Wander is an understatement. Going straight you can watch the steering wheel move left to right 1-2" and you can feel it for lack of a better term camming over from center back and forth. The steering also does not return to center after turning. Discount tire gave me the idea of the u-joints but if the axles are not turning that does not make sense. Could it be the steering gearbox? But I don't know why it would have a mind of its own just trying to maintain a straight line.

 

You need to go to a suspension place. Not discount tire.

A complete front end diagnosis is in order.

Based upon what you are saying it is hard to tell but the steering gear appears to be suspect.

Possible tie rod issues or the hubs themselves could even be bad.

I'd recommend you consult maybe a local 4x4 shop for a referral of who they take trucks to for alignments.

Someone who works on these type of trucks and knows them.

Not a tire place that works on a bunch of foreign cars.

 

That is just where I got the tires about 5k miles ago and everything has been perfect until last week. I just wanted them to check the tie rod ends when I got my free rotation. I am just having a hard time picturing what can fail so acutely giving these symptoms. And I was wrong, it was Belle Tire, not that it makes a difference.

 

I've had front U joints freeze do the same thing, you really should have it checked out by a reputable shop, it could actually be several things.

 

That is why I was just going to do the u-joints. I can do those cheaper than a diagnostics and i want to do the inner seals anyways. I am 130,000 hard miles. Did yours do that even though the axles were not turning?

 

Here is something simple you can try if you have the tools needed.

Place the whole front end up on jacks. Ideally under the axle so that everything is hanging free.

Then with a crow bar or a lever of some kind place it under each wheel.

With the crow bar under the wheel lift up while watching the tie rods and such. Look for play.

While up on jacks you can rotate the steering and those front u-joints by manually locking in the hubs as well.

 

I have the tools, my dad was a television repairman. I will take a look at it this weekend.