1994 MAZDA NAVIJO 4X4 (EXPLORER SPORT). I HAD TO REPLACE SHIFT MOTOR TO GET IT TO SHIFT. NOW THE FRONT DRIVE SHAFT TURNS BUT HUB WILL NOT ENGAGE. I CLEANED THEM OUT OF GEASE. WITH TRUCK ON LIFT SO All WHEELS ARE OFF THE GROUND. I NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE AXIL WAS TURNING BUT THE OTHER SIDE DID NOT. WHATS THE PROBLEM? IF I REPLACE THE LOCKING HUBS WILL THIS FIX MY PROBLEM? IS IT IN THE CHUNK? I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK NEW AND I THOUGHT I TOOK GOOD CARE OF IT. I DON'T USE 4 WHEEL DRIVE THAT MUCH BECAUSE WITH A POSSITVE TRACTION REAR END IT GOES REAL GOOD.

 

Sounds like you have one bad hub you can replace it or both or try this i dont know if you already did
http://www.glue.umd.edu/~singletn/web/pages/fourwd.html
And i hate to brake it to you but you could of saved 300 bucks on a new motor by cleaning it, its a very common problem in the first gen explorers heres the link
http://www.glue.umd.edu/~singletn/web/pages/tcase.html

 

thanks for your reply. already cleaned and reinstalled hubs. still won;t work.
motor was bad (shorted).
should both left and right axal turn while truck off the ground? the drivers turn but passager side is free.

 

Not necessarily. You have an open differential in the front (unless someone has installed an LS or locker). One characteristic of an open differential is that it will only spin both axles if they are approximately equally difficult to spin. If one axle is significantly easier to spin then only the side that's easy to spin will spin while the other side remains motionless. For example, say one hub works but the other doesn't. the axleshaft on the side that the hub doesn't work will be significantly easier to spin because the tire doesn't have spin too. In this case, only one axleshaft will spin.

 

Just a word of thanks to all of you who contributed to this forum concerning the 4x4 not working on the Explorers.

I had the same typical scenario on my 92 Explorer (push the button, one click, 4wd wouldn't work, etc.)

I read your links to rebuilding the motor, and after 3 different encounters with the shift motor, I finally got it back up and running last night.

It turned out the problem was two fold (the alignment on the cover plate (3 torx screws) was off, and the brushes were not contacting the armature enough to provide contact.

I used the ohmeter to test for continuity and shifted the circular plate till it met the criteria on drbobs instructions.
After rebuilding, cleaning the motor and coaxing the springs out more, I had good contact and continuity. I rebolted it all up and had "5 for 5 in-and-outs" of the 4wd system.

Just some added comments... I had to notch the torx screws with a dremel tool to create screwdriver slots, use the mini-torch, liquid wrench, and chisel to get those 3 screws off.

Also, it might be helpful to use the dremel tool to notch slots where the spring guides are to help hold the springs in place. (Just be careful not to cut your wires or create burs in the plastic.) Then release the wires before installing.

As with all car work....use the proper tools. Without the ohmeter I could have been pulling my hair out for weeks! In hindsight I should have started with the ohmeter right off the start.

Anyways, once again, thanks for the great info!

92 EB Explorer
92 Mustang