Hello everyone.. I've been reading the forums here and this site is filled with excellent information.

I've got a problem though. I have a 2000 F250 7.3L diesel 4X4 with manual shift and when I turn the hubs from free to lock, only the passanger side pulls. I've been stuck twice in the last year and I can't ever get the left front wheel to engage or turn. The 4x4 light is coming on in the cab and the stock hubs turns easily. They use to be hard to turn but I had my local mechanic grease them and now they are easy. Could it be that one of my hubs has gone bad? I don't think my truck has vacum lines since it's manual and it says free or lock on the stock hubs.

I'm going to replace them with some of the premium warn hubs. Do I need to buy the spindle nut kit when purchasing the hubs? I think the part # I need is 38826.

Thx for your help...

 

May have too much grease and it is sticking. I don't think you need the spindle nut. I didn't. The warns call for a LIGHT coat of grease.

 

Welcome to FTE.

Our front end is an open design. You will get only 1 tire spinning most of the time. The rear is likely a limited slip design, and if it is working right, both rear tires will spin. I don't think you have a problem.

 

I agree the front is an open Diff. But one side alwys hookong up and not the other could be a sticking hub, possibly too much grease.

Yes the stock hubs are vacuum operated, in auto.

 

I think he has manual hubs Neal. He said he turns the hub to free or lock. The auto hubs are Auto or lock.

 

Sounds like an open diff tire fire to me

One tire will spin and the other will spin even if the hubs are locked unless he has added a locker of some sort to the front end

 

Welcome to FTE. If you want to check to see if your hubs are locking like they should, turn both of them to lock, reach around the wheels and grab the u-joint knuckle. If the axle still spins free and your hub is in lock, then your hub isn't working.

Yes, that is the part number for the Warn Premiums hub kit. You do not need the spindle nut kit. I have those hubs on mine, it's a 20 minute swap out.

 

Thank you all for your replies. The info you gave me is very benificial and I will use it this weekend to work on my SD. I'm going to replace the hubs with the premium warn. For some reason I was thinking if you locked in both sides, then both wheels would turn. I guess I forgot about it being limited slip. For some reason, the driver side never kicks in now so I will check it out and see if the hub is the problem.

 

I have had the Warn Premiums for about a year now and never have had an issue. Great choice!

 

Ok, I did as Ponyboychris said and the passenger side knuckle in "free" would spin by hand and would not in "lock." The driver side would not spin by hand in free or lock so I jacked up the front end and when I would spin the driver side tire, the whole front shaft would spin. I guess that tire has stayed locked in. First of all, would this cause damage over time because not for sure how long this has been going on. Secondly, if it's locked in, then why doesn't this wheel ever spin? I'm ordering my new warn hubs tomorrow.

 

Does this cause any type of damage?

 

I would first get the new hubs on the truck first to ensure that they are working properly. It still sounds like they are the only problem you have. I would also have one hub that would not disengage. I would have to rotate the **** from free to lock while turning the axle by hand and it would eventually unlock. Once I got the Warn's no more issues.

 

I just installed my warn hubs but then noticed the beauty ring on the wheel doesn't fit flush with the hub and leaves approx 1/2 inch of open space between the ring and hub. Not too crazy about this because dirt, etc will start to build up over time. Any beauty rings that will fit better? I know that ford makes about 6 different types and wasn't for sure which one would work the best.

 

If you have the stock steel chrome wheels, then the ring fits right to the Warn Hub. If you have the stock aluminum wheels, there is a gap - from what I've heard.

This is what the hubs look like with the steel rims on my '02.

 

6 months ago I switched out my auto hubs on my early 99 f350 to the warn premium 38826 hubs. Everything was fine, then 2 months ago left front wasn't engaging. I pulled it out and saw that the locking ring on the back of the hub body assembly(not the front) had come off and the assembly was separated. I called warn and they said to send it back because it was probably defective. After getting the new one and installing it, the same thing is happening. The other side is fine. Any ideas? They said I didnt need the axle retaining ring at warn. I havent called warn back yet but will wednesday.

Thanks for any imput,
Shu