Automatic Hubs Won't Unlock

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Jan 28, 2004 | 11:17 AM

79redranger

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Joined: Jan 2004

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From: Central Iowa

Automatic Hubs Won't Unlock

Recently My 91 Ranger, has been making some wierd sounds. When the fourwheel drive engages, it kicks, but it's done that since it was my dad's truck. The 4x4 kicks in fine though, but recently after i turn it off and back up, it grinds like grinding gears. I went under it and the hubs weren't unlocked, but the light was off on the dash. Is there something I could do?

Should I just get manual hubs?

Jan 28, 2004 | 02:26 PM

hotrodfeguy

More Turbo

Joined: Mar 2003

Posts: 578

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From: Green Bay Wi

Clean the hubs,take them apart and clean them up you may have a bit of moisture in them.Tends to gum them up in the cold weather.On my bronco i just clean then in solvent blow dry with compressed air and soak in ATF.In cold temps grease sucks in the hubs

Feb 2, 2004 | 08:36 AM

78fordman

Cargo Master

Joined: Oct 2003

Posts: 2,833

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From: Jefferson, Iowa

Might be a little more than dirt though, how long has it been doing this? Been snow bogging latly hose? Put some all purpose synthetic grease, i have some, and it should clear it up, otherwise would be a poor vaccum pump, just not working like it used to.

Feb 2, 2004 | 07:31 PM

79redranger

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Joined: Jan 2004

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From: Central Iowa

Well it was doing it again today out snow boggin down your road. It clicks in and out when i'm driving with it on. I didn't stop to check if they were locked or unlocked, cause i was barreling through 2 feet of snow in some spots. I checked last night and they were locked in while 4x4 was supposed to be disengaged. I'm not going to worry about until i can work on it in less than 3 feet of snow.

After that snow it went through I've got renewed respect for that truck. I had it stuck in snow a while ago, and it ate up all the snow today.

Feb 2, 2004 | 07:57 PM

78fordman

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Joined: Oct 2003

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From: Jefferson, Iowa

Well, i would geuss the seals on the hubs, but i though once they were locked in, they were locked in until you backup, like our diesel.

Feb 18, 2004 | 02:24 PM

dberrett

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Joined: Feb 2004

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From: Newton, MA

This sounds like something I've been seeing lately. How do I double check whether the hubs are locked or not? Can I manually unlock it?

Here's the original post:

Is there any way to manually unlock an "auto-clocking" hub?

I have a '94 Explorer XL. The left front hub isn't disengaging completely. As such, I can hear it "rubbing" - especially when turning tight - and once in a while it tries to lock. This is disconcerting when going fast, as it is only the left-front, so the car seems to lurch/pull a bit.

I've already had the "unlocking motor" replaced a few years ago, and really can't afford to dump that much into it again.

Is there anything I can pry/slide back to manually disengage that side? It locks fine, just the unlocking that is a problem. I wouldn't mind crawling underneath a few times a year to do it manually.

Thanks!
Doug

Quote:

Originally posted by 79redranger
Well it was doing it again today out snow boggin down your road. It clicks in and out when i'm driving with it on. I didn't stop to check if they were locked or unlocked, cause i was barreling through 2 feet of snow in some spots. I checked last night and they were locked in while 4x4 was supposed to be disengaged. I'm not going to worry about until i can work on it in less than 3 feet of snow.

After that snow it went through I've got renewed respect for that truck. I had it stuck in snow a while ago, and it ate up all the snow today.

Feb 18, 2004 | 06:06 PM

78fordman

Cargo Master

Joined: Oct 2003

Posts: 2,833

Likes: 4

From: Jefferson, Iowa

Well, take them off and clean them. There is nothing electric in there, they are vacume activated. Mine got full of mud then dried and mine would not unlock on my diesel, just take them off and clean them with some parts cleaner.