Since this is a "General" 4x4 question, I feel it would be BEST answered in this forum.

I just picked up an 85 F150 w/manual lockout hubs.

I had my first chance to "really" use the 4 wheel drive tonight during this heavy snow we just got.

Anyways, when I locked in the hubs and engauged the transfer case to 4 wheel High, everything "seems" to feel/sound OK.

However, when I went into an unplowed parking lot to test it, the rear wheels spun and the truck fish-tailed like it was still in 2WD mode. It DID kinda "feel" like the front wheels were pulling, but I'm NOT certain.

How can I verify if my front axle/hubs/transfer case ARE WORKING right while in 4WD mode ??


TIA!

ERIC

 

put it on a hoist, put it into 4wd and put it in gear (park with an auto trans) with the engine off, spin the tires and make sure everything spins.

 

On dry pavement find a 90 degree corner (residential street is fine), engage 4x4, and take the corner at about 10mph. If 4X is working, you will feel the truck "buck".

 

This is how to make your four wheel drive not work.

 

Go back to the umplowed lot and hit the gas in reverse, while having someone watch for front wheelspin if possible.

 

I second bcjim, have someone watch as you gun it from a stop. Then you will know if your wheels are spinning.

 

I didn't notice the front tires spinning at all.

Does this mean the hubs are shot ?? If so, wouldn't there be some kind of noise(s) if they were bad ??

 

I found out my 4x4 was working on my '86 Dodge by backing into a hole left from where a tree stump had been dug out (not on purpose). Put it in 4x and it pulled itself out. I could then assume it worked.

What I noticed on my Dodges was that they'd spin one rear tire and the opposite front. Didn't have limited-slip or anything. You might have two people watch, one on each side.

 

A few rare times in the life of a vehicle isn't going to hurt a thing, especially with low speed, minimal torque applied to the drivetrain, and on a moderate corner (ie, use basic common sense rather than a blantent desire to destroy it). Good grief .

 

I'd say you have a problem but I cant help much with that particular truck, sorry. I guess if they are manual hubs, I'd suspect the TC but Im just guessing.

 

Here's what I've always done to check if the 4wd engages. Engage the 4wd and go foward a couple feet until you think it engaged or should have engaged. Crank the wheel to one side and give the truck a little gas. If it "crabs" forward then its working. As far as I know it's not harmful. I've always done it to check my Jeep before trail-riding.

 

i checked mine by puttin it up on jack stands, makein sure the hubs were locked in firein it up puttin it in 4 wheel and puttin it in gear and lookin at tha front wheels out of the window. i also have an 86 F-150 and mi passenger side hub the screw that holds the handle on it had come out a little bit and would just keep spinning, check to make sure the screw in the center of the handle is tight.

 

get it in the air in four wheel drive with trans in neutral, not gear or park, and turn a tire, wathcing front wheel, driveshaft, etc. to see if all moves, if so check that po hasn't replaced rear or front end which may give you mismatched gears, front should match or be just a couple hundreds off

that would explain front feeling like its in but fishtailling like in 2wd

 

Take the rear driveshaft out and drive it. If the transfer case and hubs are engaging, the truck will move. You can drive it that way around the block or in a dirt lot, try both hi and lo range. It's kind of a PITA, but it eliminates any guesswork.

 

Make sure the gears in the hubs are not in backwards. I had an 86 f-150 and the 4 wheel would lock in but under pressure it would slip out of 4 wheel drive.