I had doubts that the four wheel drive system worked in my 95 Bronco that has auto hubs. So i went to the sandiest dirt road in the county, pushed the 4x4 button(yes, i'm too lazy to move a lever) drove down the road about 1/8 mile, stopped, and spun the tires. Both back tires spun(i have open diffs), but neither fromt tire spun. So, i got home, crawled under the bronco, and put a piece of white tape on the front driveshaft, driver side U-joint and passenger side U-joint. I engaged the 4x4, and backed about 30 feet down our driveway. The driveshaft, and drivers u-jount moved, but the passenger u-joint was in the same place. I drove back up to the carport, and checked again...still no movement from the passenger side, but the other two were in different places from when i started. Does this mean the right side hub is not locking in? Since it is an open diff in the front, and the right hub does not lock in does it get all the power from the diff, because it is the path of least resistance? Does this explain why the front tires don't spin in 2" of sand?

Sorry this post is so long. Wanted to give all revelant info.

Jon

 

Yep, if one hub doesn't work, 4x4 will not work. It just spins
the spider gears in the front diff. I don't know about auto
hubs though.

 

know how to remove the pass side hub cover and see if there are metal frags in there?... from splines..etc...i have the manual xfer case shifter, so, i don't know if you have the 3 torx/screws on the cover

 

yes, i have the 3 torx screws, but i have no experience working on hubs. After looking in my Haynes manual, i think i will just take it to the family mechanic. I have heard that auto hubs are expensive to replace, How expensive are they exactly?
Thanks for all the info so far.

 

if you want to change to manual hubs.the warn prems go for about $130.00 with a "conversion kit" (..carparts.com..or macromotive.com...etc)
and the Super Winch are ~ $100.00 plus 2 spindle nuts from Ford...cheap, oh forgot what year you have...and a spindle socket/wrench

labor is prob only 1 hour total; maybe 40 mins.
how many miles on it?..maybe have him check the wheel bearings and brakes, etc..while he has the bronco on the lift..good luck!

 

I like my manual hubs. I got the cheaper $60.00 ones from
Warn and they have worked good for the past 5years.

 

The bronco is a 95 has roughly 105,000 miles. I priced the premium Warn hubs for $79 pair and conversion kit for $95 at a local Napa. Is this cheaper than replacing the one automatic hub(can you buy just one,or do they come in pairs)?

 

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 21-Jan-01 AT 07:15 AM (EST)[/font][p]yo,
you'll need to replace both sides with the maunaul hubs.And the conversion kit prices seems too high.
macromotive.com
Manual Hub Conversion Kits
"These hub conversion kits are needed when replacing factory automatic hubs to the Warn Standard or Premium manual locking hubs. Made in the USA."

http://www.macromotive.com/shopping/goShopping.cfm?tag=4.0.0.0.2222.3195&retag=3.1&are a=4

Our Price: $43.20
List Price: $48.75 You Save $5.55
Manual Hub Conversion Kits WAR-32720 Next Day
The warn prem hub price is $83.69 here
Manual Locking Hubs-Premium
"A testament to the dominance of Warn Premium Manual hubs can be seen every day in pages of leading off-road publications. In photo after photo, feature after feature, close inspection reveals an overwhelming prevalence of distinctive brass dials and all metal bodies bearing the Warn name. But it's more than a symbol of status or a demonstration of the vehicle owner's off-road prowess. Warn all metal Premium Hubs exhibit a long list of technical advantages no other hub can match. The external hub body is constructed of the practically indestructible ZA27 super alloy. Inside the cap assembly, wave spring technology is used to enhance reliability. Longer clutch-ring spline teeth and body spline area result in better load handling. Warn Premium Manual hubs feature a larger body wall thickness to optimize clutch-ring strength. Rapid positive engagement prevents ratcheting, dual dial seals lock out contaminants, and a corrosion resistant, chrome-plated finish substantiates our goal of never-ending performance. Warn hubs install in under one hour per set and are guaranteed for life. They're the best selling hubs in the world and the only hub made right here in the U.S.A.

Manufacturer: Warn Industries

Macromotive Part #: WAR-20990

Our Price: $83.69
List Price: $97.35
You Save: $13.66 "
http://www.macromotive.com/shopping/goShopping.cfm?tag=4.0.0.0.1926.1028&retag=3.1&are a=4

bbtw..many on-line suppliers list these warn and sw hubs, as well as local places in your area. good luck dude!


and here is the Warn site:
http://www.warn.com/Home/

and here is an e mail from Ron @ super winch on their man hub kit (re; my 96 bronco!!!!"
"THE HUBS YOU ARE LOOKING FOR ARE PART NUMBER 400518 AND YOU WOULD ONLY NEED A CONVERSION IF YOU HAVE A 203 TRANSFER CASE WHICH I DO NOT THINK IS THE CASE WITH A '96 THOUGH I COULD BE WRONG SO CHECK INTO THAT FIRST AND AS FAR AS IF YOU NEED A FORD WRENCH, THE ANSWER IS NO BUT IF YOU DO HAVE THE THREE HOLE CAP SCREW HUBS AT THIS TIME YOU WILL NEED TO OBTAIN CONVERSION SPINDLE NUTS FROM THE DEALER THAT SHOULD BE ALL YOU COULD POSSIBLY NEED TO DO THIS JOB. WHEN YOU REMOVE THE OLD ONES TAKE EVERYTHING OUT DOWN TO JUST THE SPINDLE NUTS AND THEN INSTALL THE SUPERWINCH HUBS.
THANKS,"