Locked front axle
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 178
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From: Noblesville
Locked front axle
So I noticed today that my driver side axle will not free. Not sure how long it has been turning. I the the Warn locking hub completely off and the axle is still turning. I tried to free the axle but it will not. Passenger side is working fine locked and unlocked. Does this mean I have something wrong with my wheel hub?
Need some help.
Need some help.
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,737
Likes: 23
From: Westfield, Indiana
So I noticed today that my driver side axle will not free. Not sure how long it has been turning. I the the Warn locking hub completely off and the axle is still turning. I tried to free the axle but it will not. Passenger side is working fine locked and unlocked. Does this mean I have something wrong with my wheel hub?
Need some help.
Need some help.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 178
Likes: 0
From: Noblesville
I was wondering about the washers. Me and two other guys did the locking hub, new inner seals in the pumpkin, and new outer seals. I didn't put the driver side back together. I did the passenger side. I was thinking the wheel hub assembly was bad but it doesn't engage the axle at all correct?
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,737
Likes: 23
From: Westfield, Indiana
I was wondering about the washers. Me and two other guys did the locking hub, new inner seals in the pumpkin, and new outer seals. I didn't put the driver side back together. I did the passenger side. I was thinking the wheel hub assembly was bad but it doesn't engage the axle at all correct?
Not supposed too no - guess if it was really bad it could cause it to engage the axle but I have never heard that myself. But to check those washer you are going to have to pull the warns which is easy, you can see 3 of the 4 at that point. Last one is between the hub and the axle.
Post Fiend
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 13,710
Likes: 5
From: Manchester, CT
if you pull the warn out, there should be a snap ring and 3 washers. a normal washer, a 6 point type washer, and a normal one behind that. i would think if its not unlocking, it has to be in the differential? if the warn is out i dont see why its not unlocking
what happens if you try to spin the front driveshaft by hand?
what happens if you try to spin the front driveshaft by hand?
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2011
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From: Noblesville
The front driveshaft spins freely. I didn't pay attention to see if the axle was spinning when I spun the driveshaft. The driveshaft was really easy to turn so I am assuming the axle was not spinning with it. Everything else seems to be working properly. The passenger side locks and unlocks as normal. The transfer case is engaging and disengaging like normal. It is just that driver side axle which has me stumped. I see the washers you are talking about and remember them when I had it all apart.
It just doesn't make since why the axle is still turning when the warn locking hub is completely off.
It just doesn't make since why the axle is still turning when the warn locking hub is completely off.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 11,798
Likes: 14
From: Mt. Shasta California
The front driveshaft spins freely. I didn't pay attention to see if the axle was spinning when I spun the driveshaft. The driveshaft was really easy to turn so I am assuming the axle was not spinning with it. Everything else seems to be working properly. The passenger side locks and unlocks as normal. The transfer case is engaging and disengaging like normal. It is just that driver side axle which has me stumped. I see the washers you are talking about and remember them when I had it all apart.
It just doesn't make since why the axle is still turning when the warn locking hub is completely off.
It just doesn't make since why the axle is still turning when the warn locking hub is completely off.
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Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2011
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From: Noblesville
I jacked the driver side off the ground because I was going to change my sway bar end links. I took the tire off and turned the rotor and noticed the axle turning. I then proceeded to take the Warn locking hub off thinking that was the problem. I turned the rotor again and the axle still turned. I shoved a crowbar in the axle double knuckle to wedge it and then I turned the rotor again and could not get the axle to free up. At this point I am perplexed.
I then raised the entire front end to check the passenger side and it works like it should. The rotor/wheel assembly turns freely around axle when Warn hub is unlocked.
I then raised the entire front end to check the passenger side and it works like it should. The rotor/wheel assembly turns freely around axle when Warn hub is unlocked.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 11,798
Likes: 14
From: Mt. Shasta California
I jacked the driver side off the ground because I was going to change my sway bar end links. I took the tire off and turned the rotor and noticed the axle turning. I then proceeded to take the Warn locking hub off thinking that was the problem. I turned the rotor again and the axle still turned. I shoved a crowbar in the axle double knuckle to wedge it and then I turned the rotor again and could not get the axle to free up. At this point I am perplexed.
I then raised the entire front end to check the passenger side and it works like it should. The rotor/wheel assembly turns freely around axle when Warn hub is unlocked.
I then raised the entire front end to check the passenger side and it works like it should. The rotor/wheel assembly turns freely around axle when Warn hub is unlocked.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 11,798
Likes: 14
From: Mt. Shasta California
I get it now. With the rotor held still see if you can turn the axle with a bar or something in the u-joint. Also, try locking the pass wheel, engage t-case, jack up one rear wheel (with non lsd ), block other wheels, put in gear, give it a little gas and see if it spins then. Have somebody watch it (from off to one side).
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 11,798
Likes: 14
From: Mt. Shasta California
Limited slip diff but it will probably just spin one wheel when just jacked up on one side anyway. You can test first by jacking up one rear wheel and give it a little gas with other wheels blocked. Let's see if you can get the axle to spin before getting into any diagnosing. I'm assuming the locking hub is completely out. If it still won't turn it's probably bad needle bearings or washers in the wrong place. At that point you will need to remove the 4 nuts holding the hub on, tap the hub off, and take a look.
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2011
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From: Noblesville
I got this fixed. My cousin put one of the washers in wrong. The washer that goes between the wheel bearing assembly and the axle was put on after the wheel bearing was installed. I got it all back together and it is working like it should.
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,737
Likes: 23
From: Westfield, Indiana
Makes you wonder that's two this month, how many people with locking hub washers who have had theirs apart or someone else have just have washers in the wrong place.