Notices
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks 1987 - 1996 Ford F-150, F-250, F-350 and larger pickups - including the 1997 heavy-duty F250/F350+ trucks

locking hubs stripped!

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Feb 25, 2008 | 01:12 PM
  #1  
mike L's Avatar
mike L
Thread Starter
|
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,552
Likes: 0
From: va
locking hubs stripped!

I tried to unlocking my manual wheel hubs by hand, i had to use vise gripes to turn it. When i got to unlock mark i heard a snap and now the middle peice spins all the way around, past lock and unlock. Both sides are brocken now. Will i need to buy a Warn set of hubs or just a service kit. Do i need any special tools like a large socket to replace the old hubs?

The front wheels are now locked in 4x4, even when it's set to 2x4. I jacked up the front end and the wheels are locked in 4x4, they won't spin by hand.

Thanks,

Mike
 
Reply
Old Feb 25, 2008 | 01:21 PM
  #2  
Conanski's Avatar
Conanski
FTE Legend
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Community Builder
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 31,930
Likes: 1,499
From: Ottawa, Ontario
You were just trying to move them the 1/4 turn between locked and unlocked.. right? You weren't trying to rotate the lock 360 degrees or something were you? Just checking of course. You don't need any special tools to replace the locks besides allen keys and a few small screwdrivers, and maybe a couple differnt pairs of pliers.
 
Reply
Old Feb 25, 2008 | 01:38 PM
  #3  
mike L's Avatar
mike L
Thread Starter
|
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,552
Likes: 0
From: va
Just the 1/4 turn from lock to unlock, I had a 1993 truck never had a problem with the hubs. With this 1994 the last owner added really cheap aftermarket hubs, or maybe water got in them??

thanks
 
Reply
Old Feb 25, 2008 | 02:22 PM
  #4  
baffledinpa's Avatar
baffledinpa
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 292
Likes: 1
Originally Posted by mike L
I tried to unlocking my manual wheel hubs by hand, i had to use vise gripes to turn it. When i got to unlock mark i heard a snap and now the middle peice spins all the way around, past lock and unlock. Both sides are brocken now. Will i need to buy a Warn set of hubs or just a service kit. Do i need any special tools like a large socket to replace the old hubs?

The front wheels are now locked in 4x4, even when it's set to 2x4. I jacked up the front end and the wheels are locked in 4x4, they won't spin by hand.

Thanks,

Mike
Replace them with Warn premium hubs, They use a 9/10ths turn for positive locking and are much beefier than standard manual hubs.
 
Reply
Old Feb 25, 2008 | 06:08 PM
  #5  
71dusterdan's Avatar
71dusterdan
Postmaster
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,866
Likes: 1
From: Rockford, Il
Club FTE Silver Member

gonna have to go with baffled, i put the premium warns in my truck- man are they nice. will out last the factory hubs by many years. it was extremely simple. unscrew the allen bolts in the perimeter, then it gets fuzzy in my memory. the one thing i canpromise is to make sure you get the large snap ring out, after all the parts are ready to come off, look closely for a ring in the outer side of the hubs inners. i dumbly fought with that one for a good 15 minutes. amazing how easy it was once i discovered that ring. Dan
 
Reply
Old Feb 25, 2008 | 07:13 PM
  #6  
baffledinpa's Avatar
baffledinpa
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 292
Likes: 1
Originally Posted by 71dusterdan
gonna have to go with baffled, i put the premium warns in my truck- man are they nice. will out last the factory hubs by many years. it was extremely simple. unscrew the allen bolts in the perimeter, then it gets fuzzy in my memory. the one thing i canpromise is to make sure you get the large snap ring out, after all the parts are ready to come off, look closely for a ring in the outer side of the hubs inners. i dumbly fought with that one for a good 15 minutes. amazing how easy it was once i discovered that ring. Dan
That ring was the most aggravating part in the process.
I took an old coat hanger and cut it to about 10 inches long, After sharpening it to a point on my grinding wheel, I bent it into a half U shape to get underneath the ring to pull it out.
 
Reply
Old Feb 26, 2008 | 03:11 PM
  #7  
mike L's Avatar
mike L
Thread Starter
|
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,552
Likes: 0
From: va
Originally Posted by baffledinpa
That ring was the most aggravating part in the process.
I took an old coat hanger and cut it to about 10 inches long, After sharpening it to a point on my grinding wheel, I bent it into a half U shape to get underneath the ring to pull it out.

Thats what i had to do, it took an hour to get the large locking rings out.

PS Do I need to greese the hubs before putting on the caps? There was alot of greese on the axle bearings does that get into the hubs?


Thanks guys

Mike
 
Reply
Old Feb 26, 2008 | 03:26 PM
  #8  
baffledinpa's Avatar
baffledinpa
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 292
Likes: 1
Originally Posted by mike L
Thats what i had to do, it took an hour to get the large locking rings out.

PS Do I need to greese the hubs before putting on the caps? There was alot of greese on the axle bearings does that get into the hubs?


Thanks guys

Mike
I would, Just use a small handful of grease and pack it in there best you can.
As my dad always said, PM (preventive maintenence) now, Saves TLC (time and lotsa cash) later.
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership

 Brett Foote
story-2

10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained

 Brett Foote
story-4

10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-6

Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

 Brett Foote
story-9

Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

 Joe Kucinski
Old Feb 26, 2008 | 05:25 PM
  #9  
71dusterdan's Avatar
71dusterdan
Postmaster
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,866
Likes: 1
From: Rockford, Il
Club FTE Silver Member

besides warn's premium hubs just look great!!!! Dan
 
Reply
Old Feb 26, 2008 | 05:29 PM
  #10  
andym's Avatar
andym
Post Fiend
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 19,402
Likes: 38
From: Bonita Springs FL
Originally Posted by mike L
Thats what i had to do, it took an hour to get the large locking rings out.
You guys are making it way too hard. That ring comes out in about 15 seconds with a pocket knife and a small allen wrench. Use the tip of the blade to lift the ring out of the groove, hook the short end of the allen wrench behind the ring and pull it out. Works every time.

PS Do I need to greese the hubs before putting on the caps? There was alot of greese on the axle bearings does that get into the hubs?
Someone over greased your bearings. There should be just enough grease inside to keep the bearings lubed. Anything else is excess. You should never put any more grease on the hubs than the factory used. Too much grease will ruin them.
 
Reply
Old Feb 26, 2008 | 05:48 PM
  #11  
alz's Avatar
alz
Fleet Mechanic
20 Year Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,324
Likes: 4
From: Michigan
A set of dental picks works nicely too.
 
Reply
Old Feb 26, 2008 | 06:10 PM
  #12  
jr32560's Avatar
jr32560
Fleet Owner
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 26,898
Likes: 3
From: southern md
yup alz hit the nail on the head
 
Reply
Old Feb 26, 2008 | 08:18 PM
  #13  
71dusterdan's Avatar
71dusterdan
Postmaster
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,866
Likes: 1
From: Rockford, Il
Club FTE Silver Member

andy, check your rep. Dan
 
Reply
Old Feb 26, 2008 | 09:36 PM
  #14  
andym's Avatar
andym
Post Fiend
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 19,402
Likes: 38
From: Bonita Springs FL
thanks Dan... tried to get you back but I was turned away!
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
drewduncan15
1973 - 1979 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
19
Apr 10, 2019 08:37 PM
greenman0013
1999 - 2016 Super Duty
12
Feb 20, 2017 08:32 PM
curioduo
1967 - 1972 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
1
Aug 6, 2015 09:22 PM
cattlerancher
1999 - 2016 Super Duty
5
Nov 27, 2014 08:43 PM
fdude64
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
10
Feb 1, 2012 06:01 AM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:38 PM.

story-0
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals

Slideshow: Top 10 Fords at 2026 Ford Nationals

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 11:10:08


VIEW MORE
story-1
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership

Based on years of owning multiple modern Ford products.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-09 10:53:36


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches

SPONSORED: From muddy boots to rain-soaked cargo, these upgrades address some of the most common frustrations Ford truck owners face every day.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-06-08 18:50:34


VIEW MORE
story-3
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained

Here's everything you need to know about every Ford engine available for the 2026 model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-05 12:58:01


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Ford trucks that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 09:51:16


VIEW MORE
story-5
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: the best gifts for dads & grads

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:58


VIEW MORE
story-6
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-03 11:38:36


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

Slideshow: 10 most expensive Ford trucks ever sold on Bring a Trailer.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:24:34


VIEW MORE
story-8
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

Here's everything that has changed for the latest model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-27 16:17:28


VIEW MORE
story-9
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-18 19:34:33


VIEW MORE