Have a 1989 Bronco 302 with the auto locking hubs had to go into 4 wheel tonight and just as I started to accelerate had a pop in the right front tire.
Now when I come to a stop have a pop in the right front tire have the auto hubs taken a dump on me? Had no problems before now truck ran great. It might pop once or twice, then some times not at all. Thanks for any info.

 

Hubs are done. Try Warn or Mile Marker Manual Hubs.

 

If I change to warn hubs will I need a conversion kit? I have the 5 screws on mine.

 

Also will it hurt to drive it to work like this (about 10 miles) I heard these auto hubs from ford were plastic inside is this true. Thanks

 

They are all metal inside. I had mine go. At about 45mph they would randomly slam in/out. I first went with Superwinch's manual hubs, but after having the finish become very pitted and the o-rings starting to leak after a year, I upgraded to a set of FORD manual hubs. Got these at a local junk yard for about $75 a piece. Much better than any aftermarket product!!

 

you spent $75 bucks on used ford hubs when you could buy Warn manual hubs for about 150 and get a lifetime warranty?

get warn premium manuals they are the best and stand behind there product. if i didnt have the flange style front hubs i would install these

 

I had a set of warns on a 91 explorer and the warn stickers fell off. I don't know what the ones for the 1/2 tons look like, but i like the large CHROME look of the original FORD hubs

 

the ford design is also superior to the superwinch ones i had. They seal much better, and they have a spring PUSH out the locking gear AWAY from the hub to disengage it. The superwinch use a spring to PULL under tension to disengage the hub, not as reliable. Also the FORD's spring is massive compared the the superwinch. After owning those i decided to stick with the stock parts. Plus they are all CROME. One of the ones i had had a slight scratch on it, and to this day it has not corroded (about 3 years on the truck). My superwinches looked like they were left in a bucket of water and they were pitted to $$$$ after a year!!

 

original ford hubs have plastic ends and are a quarter turn . the warn hubs are metal ends and are a full turn. way better quality.

 

Well I went out and bought a set of Warn Premiums, so how hard are thry to install? Does anyone have some GOOD photos or diagrams of the install.

 

do a search on here and google.

 

my bronco did the same thing it popped about 3 times and it now wont go in to 4x4 low and the front wheels dont respond in 4x4. could this be the prob on my 93 bronco 302 E4OD

and how hard is to replace. like a day job or weekend or a week? as i need 4x4 since the last snow storm we had. and all the others that can come this way. 4x4 is to usefull not to have.

 

Took me about an hour my first time. Now i can R&R them both in under half that time.

 

is it best to get auto lockers or manuals?

how can i tell if the hubs are shot or the front axle it self is shot?

 

If you have a problem going into 4 low i would say it is something in your transfer case causing your problem, not the front hubs.

Put the truck in 2wd and pull forward and back at least 20 feet. Jack up the front of your truck so both tires come off the ground. Crawl under and spin the driveshaft going from the front axle to the transfer case. If it won't turn either both sides on the front axle u-joints are siezed or the transfer case is still in 4wd. If it does spin, look at the front U-joints going to the front steering knuckles (right behind the disc brake backing plates) and these joints should both be spinning. If not then one of the U-joints may be siezed and therefore only the other side is spinning. If so try turning the joint that won't spin by hand to see if it will move. If all is well your axle is fine.

Now you can put the transfer case in 4wd and jack up the rear axle also. Put the trans. in neutral. now spin the shaft from the front axle to the transfer case again. if your transfer case is engaged properly, the rear axle will spin also. if your hubs are working properly your front tires will spin also. If only the front still spins, start up the truck and keeping your foot firmly on the brake shift it into drive. Allow the rear tires to spin slowly for about 10 sec, then stop them and do the same in reverse. now place it back in neutral and spin the front tires by hand in both forward and reverse dirrections, about 20' each way. now turn off the truck and repeat hand spinning of the front shaft.


As a side note, this year I have put 33x9.5" studded snows on my 93 bronco and have never needed the 4wd yet. I've been able to accelerate in 2' of snow from a dead stop in a unplowed parking lot without getting stuck.