I have always had a clicking noise, almost like the clicking noise of a ratchet spinning backwards, coming from the drivers side front hub since I have had it. It is a 2000 excursion v10. It has gotten worse after a trip to obx, nc. It almost got stuck in some sand and i noticed that the drivers tire wasn't turning. I got that tire on to pavement and it didn't do a thing. the passenger side was spinning and started violently vibrating the whole front end and now my power windows don't work until the truck idles down after start-up. The hub won't turn all the way to lock manually. New hub? New lockouts? or both? if it's lockouts how does that work with the shift on the fly? I wish I had the good old shifter on the floor like on my 88' f250.

 

Take off your hub locks first and see if they spin freely, or if that is where the noise is coming from. Sounds like you might have a hub with bad insides - I have the same issue. There is a good video on youtube detailing how to take these hubs apart and inspect them, re-grease them etc. If you have damage inside the hub it might be easier to get a new one...I just went through this, and there were several available on ebay.

 

Here are instructions for removing, cleaning and inspecting your hubs.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/9...ml#post8885979

 

start by disassembling and cleaning like reford said, but if that doesn't work it may time for some manual hubs.... warn and milemarker are good choices.

 

WARN premiums all the way

 

cough..... mile markers..... cough

 

Have a look at this. Welcome to guzzle's 4x4 Autolock Hub Lubrication Maintenance Web Page

 

Fixing the oem hubs will keep your "shift on the fly" feature...If that is important to you.

 

dont listen to Dennis, mile marker only last 1 mile! Just kidding Dennis, i had them for like three months and they sucked! They always clicked when i used 4wd, installed Warn premiums and never had a problem for five years

 

lol it's all good man yeah so far so good with mine.... time will tell

 

i dont know but i installed new retaining clips, called MM and had a new set sent out and evertime i would go from D to R you would hear the stub shaft clunk against the hub! So i gave them to my cousin for his 77 K30 and i bought the Warn P's. Needless to say he blew them apart and bought the Warn's now too

 

Had two sets of warns on two different trucks. Love them. Easy and confident. I need that when plowing.

 

can you leave them locked and then turn the switch when you want 4X4, not on the fly but like the old school way? where is the best place to buy warns? can you buy junk yard originals and rebuild or just buy warns for reliability? if i have to replace the wheel hub assembly, does it have to be a timiken hub? sorry for 20 questions but, this is a lot of loot for me. this X was an inner city rescue, really low miles (67000) with high mileage issues. all locks not functioning, airbag clockspring, broken pass locking hub dial( that wheel still turns in 4x4), slight rough idle, intermitent tach operation. but it's a 2000 X limited with 67,000 for $7k.

 

Yes you can. I leave mine locked all winter.

 

if i have to replace the wheel hub assembly, does it have to be a timken hub?