Manual 4WD Problem
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Manual 4WD Problem
Hi. I have a 97 F250 HD. I'm not sure if a model was made with auto locking hubs, but mine are manual. The 4WD was working fine last winter, but I noticed yesterday that it wasn't.
In 4wd, with the hubs locked, the axles DO NOT spin freely. With the hubs free, the axles DO spin freely. Regardless of whether the hubs are locked, front drive shaft does not spin freely.
In 2wd, with the hubs locked, the driver's axle does not spin freely, but the passenger's does. With the hubs free, both axles spin freely. Regardless, the front drive shaft does spin freely.
So, to me, it seems the hubs are working fine.
When it's in 4wd and the hubs are locked and I goose it, the front shaft spins a lot faster than the axles. This leads me to believe there's a problem in the front differential.
This is an odd model. It has a 5.8L engine. I can't find a repair manual for it. Haynes used to make one (36060), but they changed it and actually removed the info for this year/model.
Does my thought process seem right? Has anyone seen a similar problem with the front diff?
Thanks a lot. Pat
P.S. Forgot to mention that 4wd doesn't work in 4H or 4L.
In 4wd, with the hubs locked, the axles DO NOT spin freely. With the hubs free, the axles DO spin freely. Regardless of whether the hubs are locked, front drive shaft does not spin freely.
In 2wd, with the hubs locked, the driver's axle does not spin freely, but the passenger's does. With the hubs free, both axles spin freely. Regardless, the front drive shaft does spin freely.
So, to me, it seems the hubs are working fine.
When it's in 4wd and the hubs are locked and I goose it, the front shaft spins a lot faster than the axles. This leads me to believe there's a problem in the front differential.
This is an odd model. It has a 5.8L engine. I can't find a repair manual for it. Haynes used to make one (36060), but they changed it and actually removed the info for this year/model.
Does my thought process seem right? Has anyone seen a similar problem with the front diff?
Thanks a lot. Pat
P.S. Forgot to mention that 4wd doesn't work in 4H or 4L.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,372
Likes: 14
From: West Cornwall, CT
From your description everything seems to be working OK.
"When it's in 4wd and the hubs are locked and I goose it, the front shaft spins a lot faster than the axles. This leads me to believe there's a problem in the front differential."
Since your front differential probably has a 3.55 gearset, you would expect the front driveshaft to spin faster than the axle.
Try an operational test of your 4WD system. Lock the hubs, shift into 4HI, and test the system out on a sand or dirt surface. If both the front and rear wheels give traction, you are OK.
Lou Braun
"When it's in 4wd and the hubs are locked and I goose it, the front shaft spins a lot faster than the axles. This leads me to believe there's a problem in the front differential."
Since your front differential probably has a 3.55 gearset, you would expect the front driveshaft to spin faster than the axle.
Try an operational test of your 4WD system. Lock the hubs, shift into 4HI, and test the system out on a sand or dirt surface. If both the front and rear wheels give traction, you are OK.
Lou Braun
Post Fiend
Joined: May 2006
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From: Central Florida
The differential has it's own ratio (hopefully matching the rear.) The driveshaft should spin 3-4 times for every revolution axles.
With the hubs unlocked and the transfer case in 2wd, both axles and driveshaft should spin by hand. It sounds like pass side hub is failing, once the hubs are locked, the axles must spin at the same rate as the tires.
With the hubs unlocked and the transfer case in 2wd, both axles and driveshaft should spin by hand. It sounds like pass side hub is failing, once the hubs are locked, the axles must spin at the same rate as the tires.
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Thanks. That's the way it is working. When they're locked, only one spins freely.
Post Fiend
Joined: May 2006
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From: Central Florida
When they are lock, none should spin freely. The hubs engage the splines to connect the wheel hub to short axle. Regardless to how the differential acts, both axles should spin with the wheels when locked.
Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2008
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From: Richmond BC
lock ur hubs, put the truck in 4WD, and steer all the way in one direction..and drive forward..
ur truck should lurch and buck (not wildly of course) as it gets torquebind.. if ur truck doesnt then u indeed have a problem...
ur truck should lurch and buck (not wildly of course) as it gets torquebind.. if ur truck doesnt then u indeed have a problem...
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When I steer to the right and drive forward, I get the lurching. Nothing when I go left.
Could a bad hub on the right side cause both wheels to loose power?
Could a bad hub on the right side cause both wheels to loose power?
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Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2008
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From: Richmond BC
sounds like ur left side hub isnt engaging...but u stated it was...
do u have access to a hoist or have 4 jackstands ??? if u can get all 4 wheels off the ground u can then easily see whats really going on...
get it up in the air and engage 4WD and see whats going on..
GL with it... def. odd if u only getting torquebind on one side, but can still lock both side hubs in...
it might be possible u have a blown up spider gear inside the diff.. but if u did chances are u'd hear some nasty sounds...
do u have access to a hoist or have 4 jackstands ??? if u can get all 4 wheels off the ground u can then easily see whats really going on...
get it up in the air and engage 4WD and see whats going on..
GL with it... def. odd if u only getting torquebind on one side, but can still lock both side hubs in...
it might be possible u have a blown up spider gear inside the diff.. but if u did chances are u'd hear some nasty sounds...
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Long Island USA
That's your problem. Passenger-side hub is not locking. It should not spin with the hub locked.
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Thanks for all the advise. I think I'll look at the passenger hub since there definately seems to be a problem with it. Then, I'll put it up on blocks and see what's going on.
What causes the lurching and bucking? From your reactions, it seems like it should do it in both directions.
Thanks again.
Pat
What causes the lurching and bucking? From your reactions, it seems like it should do it in both directions.
Thanks again.
Pat
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Success!
The gear inside the hub that's pushed when you turn the dial was frozen. Just a lot of gunk built up on it. Took it apart, cleaned it and now everything seems to work fine. I don't quite understand how having one bad hub would stop both front wheels from engaging. Seems like I should just have a 3wd.
At any rate. Thanks again for the help.
Pat
The gear inside the hub that's pushed when you turn the dial was frozen. Just a lot of gunk built up on it. Took it apart, cleaned it and now everything seems to work fine. I don't quite understand how having one bad hub would stop both front wheels from engaging. Seems like I should just have a 3wd.
At any rate. Thanks again for the help.
Pat
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Peoria, IL
Because your front axle has an open differential. Since the passenger side hub was not locking onto the axle it made that axle much easier to spin than the drivers side axle that was locked to the hub.
Your truck would do the same thing if your hubs were working and you had one of the front tires on ice, and one on solid ground. It would spin the tire on the ice rather than putting power to the tire with traction.
Installing a limited slid differential or a locking differential makes it so more power gets sent to the wheel that has traction.
Your truck would do the same thing if your hubs were working and you had one of the front tires on ice, and one on solid ground. It would spin the tire on the ice rather than putting power to the tire with traction.
Installing a limited slid differential or a locking differential makes it so more power gets sent to the wheel that has traction.