Leaking auto hub
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Elder User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 887
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From: MN
Leaking auto hub
For a while, I have heard a slight ticking coming from the front end. Never could identify what it was. Yesterday I was driving home from hunting and all of a sudden the truck started to steer itself one way (Can't remember which because of the exitement of the moment!). When I tried to straghten the steering it felt unresponsive and very sluggish. I pulled over and inspected the front end. The only thing that is not normal is oil dripping from the driver side auto hub and being slung onto the wheel. I also have not heard that clicking noise since the incident. My hypothesis is that there was a problem with the hub that caused it to lock up and the resistance pulling the truck into a turn. Has anyone had a problem like this? Is a leak in the hub repairable, or should I plann on replacing them with warns? Thanks guys.
Super Moderator
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 8,547
Likes: 6
From: MA
Leaking auto hub
Auto hubs are crap! They are notorious for failing. I swapped mine out of my 96 with some Warn premiums and have never looked back. It cost me about 120 plus a few hours in the driveway for a lot more sense of security. Mine failed in a snow storm with my family with me. Never again! I would change them before inclement weather rolls in.
Rich
Rich
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,127
Likes: 3
From: (near) Denver USA
Leaking auto hub
I've blown manual hubs too (Warn, as a matter of fact).
If you really don't want to get stuck, always carry a spare hub and be prepared to swap it out. Once you get the hang of it (and make yourself a special tool to grab that outer snap ring), you can swap one out in 5 minutes.
Nice thing about Warn hubs is everytime I've blown one, they replaced it free (shipping and everything), with no questions asked.
Seems like the best way to learn what kind of spare part you really need to carry is to get stuck without one. If it's a painful stuck (e.g., a two-day walk through cold rain to the nearest road for help...), that means you should carry two spares.
If you really don't want to get stuck, always carry a spare hub and be prepared to swap it out. Once you get the hang of it (and make yourself a special tool to grab that outer snap ring), you can swap one out in 5 minutes.
Nice thing about Warn hubs is everytime I've blown one, they replaced it free (shipping and everything), with no questions asked.
Seems like the best way to learn what kind of spare part you really need to carry is to get stuck without one. If it's a painful stuck (e.g., a two-day walk through cold rain to the nearest road for help...), that means you should carry two spares.
