4wd check?
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Freshman User
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4wd check?
I just bought a kind of beat up 88 Bronco II. The guy told me it has been over 5 years since he used the 4wd. How can I tell if it is ok, or safe to use? Is there something I can check myself or do I need to take it to a shop?
I do not know much about it as I have never had a 4wd vehicle before.
Many thanks!
I do not know much about it as I have never had a 4wd vehicle before.
Many thanks!
Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,742
Likes: 2
From: UT
A couple of ideas for testing.
Like Ken00 said, engage the 4WD and see if you get both front and rear pulling.
Alternatively, jack up the truck so at least one front and one rear are off the ground. Engage the 4WD, and see if both the front and rear tires spin. CAUTION: Do this carefully so you don't have your BII jump through the back of your garage!!
You should have indicator lights on the dash that, if they are working, should indicate what position the transfer case is in.
Do you have manual or electric shift? Manual or auto hubs?
Like Ken00 said, engage the 4WD and see if you get both front and rear pulling.
Alternatively, jack up the truck so at least one front and one rear are off the ground. Engage the 4WD, and see if both the front and rear tires spin. CAUTION: Do this carefully so you don't have your BII jump through the back of your garage!!
You should have indicator lights on the dash that, if they are working, should indicate what position the transfer case is in.
Do you have manual or electric shift? Manual or auto hubs?
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,777
Likes: 1
From: Perry,Ga.
Originally Posted by mrshorty
A couple of ideas for testing.
Like Ken00 said, engage the 4WD and see if you get both front and rear pulling.
Alternatively, jack up the truck so at least one front and one rear are off the ground. Engage the 4WD, and see if both the front and rear tires spin. CAUTION: Do this carefully so you don't have your BII jump through the back of your garage!!
You should have indicator lights on the dash that, if they are working, should indicate what position the transfer case is in.
Do you have manual or electric shift? Manual or auto hubs?
Like Ken00 said, engage the 4WD and see if you get both front and rear pulling.
Alternatively, jack up the truck so at least one front and one rear are off the ground. Engage the 4WD, and see if both the front and rear tires spin. CAUTION: Do this carefully so you don't have your BII jump through the back of your garage!!
You should have indicator lights on the dash that, if they are working, should indicate what position the transfer case is in.
Do you have manual or electric shift? Manual or auto hubs?
.
Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,742
Likes: 2
From: UT
You are correct, I was assuming either open differentials or limited slips (My LS's aren't strong enough to jump the trucks off of jack stands). If it had a locker in it, then you would want both wheels on that axle off of the ground.
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Freshman User
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Originally Posted by mrshorty
A couple of ideas for testing.
Like Ken00 said, engage the 4WD and see if you get both front and rear pulling.
Alternatively, jack up the truck so at least one front and one rear are off the ground. Engage the 4WD, and see if both the front and rear tires spin. CAUTION: Do this carefully so you don't have your BII jump through the back of your garage!!
You should have indicator lights on the dash that, if they are working, should indicate what position the transfer case is in.
Do you have manual or electric shift? Manual or auto hubs?
Like Ken00 said, engage the 4WD and see if you get both front and rear pulling.
Alternatively, jack up the truck so at least one front and one rear are off the ground. Engage the 4WD, and see if both the front and rear tires spin. CAUTION: Do this carefully so you don't have your BII jump through the back of your garage!!
You should have indicator lights on the dash that, if they are working, should indicate what position the transfer case is in.
Do you have manual or electric shift? Manual or auto hubs?
Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,742
Likes: 2
From: UT
Then you have manual shift and manual hubs. Odds are good that it works, then; there are very few problems with the manual shift/manual hub combination. Only trouble I've had was binding from running mismatched tires.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 13,873
Likes: 3
From: Atlanta GA
Go into a parking lot when it is pouring rain, lock the hubs, put it into 4H, turn the wheel slightly to the right and give it a little gas. If you stick your head slightly out the window you should see the wheel throw up water. This works best in mud as a test, though a puddle is okay too. Then unlock and see the difference. It will pour off the tire, but, not be thrown up.
Or
Engine off. Set the parking brake, block/chock the rear axle - front and back of both tires, put transmission in N and transfer case in N, lock both hubs, jack up front axle, turn one tire by hand, other should spin (usually backwards from the other one), now turn the front driveshaft by hand, should spin easy. Put transfer case in 4h. Driveshaft should be hard to turn, one front wheel should spin. Put transmission in drive, now front drivehshaft should be impossible to spin.
Or
Engine off. Set the parking brake, block/chock the rear axle - front and back of both tires, put transmission in N and transfer case in N, lock both hubs, jack up front axle, turn one tire by hand, other should spin (usually backwards from the other one), now turn the front driveshaft by hand, should spin easy. Put transfer case in 4h. Driveshaft should be hard to turn, one front wheel should spin. Put transmission in drive, now front drivehshaft should be impossible to spin.
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Joined: Sep 2004
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A similar problem with the hi-low shift on an 87 BII
I am experiencing a similar problem with an 87' Bronco II that someone gave me.
I can't get the the low range gears for the 4wd to engage. ( either 2 or 4 ) 2High and 4High go in just fine.
I can hear the gears just missing eachother when I engage the clutch ( grinding) . My BII is also manual shift w/od and manual locking hubs.
Is there an adjustment for the 4wd gears? What needs to be done?
Thanks
( I hope I posted this in the right place)
Suzie
I can't get the the low range gears for the 4wd to engage. ( either 2 or 4 ) 2High and 4High go in just fine.
I can hear the gears just missing eachother when I engage the clutch ( grinding) . My BII is also manual shift w/od and manual locking hubs.
Is there an adjustment for the 4wd gears? What needs to be done?
Thanks
( I hope I posted this in the right place)
Suzie
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