Front Axle Question
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Senior User
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From: IOWA
Front Axle Question
Hello All,
Is this normal?
I just got a '95 F-150, 351, Automatic Trans, Push Button 4x4, Auto Lock Hubs (I will soon replace).
When I turn the front drive shaft by hand (4x4 not engaged and wheels on ground), the differential freely turns the axle on the driver's side, but it barely turns a little bit and then stops on the passenger's side. Is that normal or is it an indication that something is wrong with the axle/hub?
Thanks for any input. I am just trying to get used to my new truck and not sure what to expect with what may or may not be wrong
Is this normal?
I just got a '95 F-150, 351, Automatic Trans, Push Button 4x4, Auto Lock Hubs (I will soon replace).
When I turn the front drive shaft by hand (4x4 not engaged and wheels on ground), the differential freely turns the axle on the driver's side, but it barely turns a little bit and then stops on the passenger's side. Is that normal or is it an indication that something is wrong with the axle/hub?
Thanks for any input. I am just trying to get used to my new truck and not sure what to expect with what may or may not be wrong
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 7,698
Likes: 4
From: Neenah, Wisconsin
Front Axle Question
perfectly normal, it means that theres less drag on the side that continues to turn. Its due to the fact that you have an open differential which means that the power goes to which ever side has the least drag, or traction.
Ryan
Ryan
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Senior User
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From: IOWA
Front Axle Question
>perfectly normal, it means that theres less drag on the side
>that continues to turn. Its due to the fact that you have
>an open differential which means that the power goes to
>which ever side has the least drag, or traction.
>
>
>Ryan
It makes sense, but I just raised the front end and the same thing happened, the only thing was that neither wheel turned. The passenger side still just "locked" and the driver side kept turning.
Am I missing something?
>that continues to turn. Its due to the fact that you have
>an open differential which means that the power goes to
>which ever side has the least drag, or traction.
>
>
>Ryan
It makes sense, but I just raised the front end and the same thing happened, the only thing was that neither wheel turned. The passenger side still just "locked" and the driver side kept turning.
Am I missing something?
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 7,698
Likes: 4
From: Neenah, Wisconsin
Front Axle Question
take a look again at your front axle...theres 2 ujoints on the pasanger side...only one on the drivers side..
if you hold the drivers side axle while spinning the driveshaft i'd bet you money that the passanger side would spin freely. Its just a matter of which side has more resistance
RYan
if you hold the drivers side axle while spinning the driveshaft i'd bet you money that the passanger side would spin freely. Its just a matter of which side has more resistance
RYan
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 9,987
Likes: 7
From: Memphis, TN
Front Axle Question
>neither wheel
>turned. The passenger side still just "locked" and the
>driver side kept turning.
>
>Am I missing something?
Yep. Your driver's auto hub is blown. Otherwise, it would have locked, too. The rotation of the axleshaft is what locks them, so if the axleshaft just keeps rotating, then the hub lock is broken.
>turned. The passenger side still just "locked" and the
>driver side kept turning.
>
>Am I missing something?
Yep. Your driver's auto hub is blown. Otherwise, it would have locked, too. The rotation of the axleshaft is what locks them, so if the axleshaft just keeps rotating, then the hub lock is broken.
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Thread Starter
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From: IOWA
Front Axle Question
>>neither wheel
>>turned. The passenger side still just "locked" and the
>>driver side kept turning.
>>
>>Am I missing something?
>
>Yep. Your driver's auto hub is blown. Otherwise, it would
>have locked, too. The rotation of the axleshaft is what
>locks them, so if the axleshaft just keeps rotating, then
>the hub lock is broken.
Thanks, I'll see what I can do about it. The Ford dealership (truck is still under warranty) says that nothing is wrong.
>>turned. The passenger side still just "locked" and the
>>driver side kept turning.
>>
>>Am I missing something?
>
>Yep. Your driver's auto hub is blown. Otherwise, it would
>have locked, too. The rotation of the axleshaft is what
>locks them, so if the axleshaft just keeps rotating, then
>the hub lock is broken.
Thanks, I'll see what I can do about it. The Ford dealership (truck is still under warranty) says that nothing is wrong.
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Thread Starter
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From: IOWA
Front Axle Question
Finally, all settled. I called another Ford dealership and they said that if you have to move the driver's side tire to get it to lock, the auto hub is blown. The turning of the axle is supposed to engage it. I took that info (plus the confidence of this board) to the current dealership to make them take off and inspect the hubs. It turns out two things were up. There was a torn axle seal and the teeth were slightly rounded causing the driver's hub to not engage.
Thanks for all of your help.
Thanks for all of your help.
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From: IOWA
Front Axle Question
Now, an added question. Ford finally replaced both auto hubs because one was blown and the other was engaging intermittently.
Now, the question. I asked previously in this thread about turning the front driveshaft by hand (wheels on and off the ground) and the effect it has on the front axle. After getting the truck back from Ford, I am unable to turn the front driveshaft by hand with the wheels on the ground (I did not check with it in the air) and my gas mileage has dropped from 14.5 to 9.5. How is the front driveshaft supposed to act when turned by hand with auto hubs and push button transfer case? The front driveshaft operates properly in 2WD and 4WD. Can the new auto hubs they installed have been put in wrong and be "locked" all the time?
Now, the question. I asked previously in this thread about turning the front driveshaft by hand (wheels on and off the ground) and the effect it has on the front axle. After getting the truck back from Ford, I am unable to turn the front driveshaft by hand with the wheels on the ground (I did not check with it in the air) and my gas mileage has dropped from 14.5 to 9.5. How is the front driveshaft supposed to act when turned by hand with auto hubs and push button transfer case? The front driveshaft operates properly in 2WD and 4WD. Can the new auto hubs they installed have been put in wrong and be "locked" all the time?
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 9,987
Likes: 7
From: Memphis, TN
Front Axle Question
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 01-16-03 AT 07:02 PM (EST)]It's possible, but not likely.
With auto hubs, the front driveshaft should only turn about 3 times before both hubs lock it to the wheels. If you turn it backward from that point, it will turn about double that as it unlocks and then relocks them.
If the d'shaft won't turn at all, then the t-case is probably locked in 4 and they need to fix it.
Lift the front wheels and see if they spin freely, and see if the u-joints inside the steering knuckles turn with the tires - they shouldn't.
With auto hubs, the front driveshaft should only turn about 3 times before both hubs lock it to the wheels. If you turn it backward from that point, it will turn about double that as it unlocks and then relocks them.
If the d'shaft won't turn at all, then the t-case is probably locked in 4 and they need to fix it.
Lift the front wheels and see if they spin freely, and see if the u-joints inside the steering knuckles turn with the tires - they shouldn't.
