4x4 locking wheel hub question
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
4x4 locking wheel hub question
I was at work yesterday and someone changed one of my 4x4 hubs from Free to locked. I didn't notice and drove home on them. I heard a clicking noise when I was moving but thought it was just rocks stuck in my tires because I was parked on gravel at work all day. When I got home I was checking to see if I could see what was making the clicking noise and thats when I noticed that one of my hubs (the passanger one) was changed to lock. I drove probably 3-5 miles from work to my house, do you think anything is broken because of this?
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 690
Likes: 1
From: Madison Ohio
Should be fine. They say not to drive a long time with one locked and one unlocked. I drove mine for a week with only one locked. I removed, cleaned, and greased then up one weekend before winter hit. Drove it for a good week before I found it. Never had a problem with um.
Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 3,026
Likes: 0
From: Renton, WA
With one side locked, the spider gears in the differental can/will turn against each other without the ring gear turning. Because it is the ring gear that slings the oil those spiders will turn against each other much faster then designed or they would ever do while driving, and will do so with less oil, this could damage them. But like I said it would take alot of time or poor maintnence to get to a point of real damage.
Trending Topics
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,118
Likes: 1
i was just about to put up a post on this exact issue just got back from going out of town on the drive out realized one hub was locked but i don't hear any bad sounds so i think im ok but i haven't tried 4x4 will my front limited slip still be fine?
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
Cargo Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,033
Likes: 32
From: Aurora,Colorado
How does your truck handle in snow on the street when the front axle is locked in?? Does the truck want to understeer on slippery paved surfaces?? How is it offroad??
Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 3,026
Likes: 0
From: Renton, WA
Chances are that you are and would be 100% OK because of the LS. With no torque on the unlocked axle the diff, will all turn as one unit, this is good.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,118
Likes: 1
thanks opossum makes me feel better
phoneman im not sure if the front is factory limited slip vin says i have 3.55 gears but the guy i bought it from used it to pull his race car once a year and said it had 3.73s (i assume it has 3.55s he just was wrong). i found out i had limited slip in both in the first place pulling a gmc 6500 out of a ditch and i had all four tires spinning on the gravel when i got on it. in the snow it acts great pulls through turns just as you could want you can feel the front tires pulling keeping from getting alot of oversteer. never have any trouble off road but honestly havent got off-road much at all recently. i couldnt tell you about slippery paved surface i never put it in 4x4 on pavement
phoneman im not sure if the front is factory limited slip vin says i have 3.55 gears but the guy i bought it from used it to pull his race car once a year and said it had 3.73s (i assume it has 3.55s he just was wrong). i found out i had limited slip in both in the first place pulling a gmc 6500 out of a ditch and i had all four tires spinning on the gravel when i got on it. in the snow it acts great pulls through turns just as you could want you can feel the front tires pulling keeping from getting alot of oversteer. never have any trouble off road but honestly havent got off-road much at all recently. i couldnt tell you about slippery paved surface i never put it in 4x4 on pavement
Cargo Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,033
Likes: 32
From: Aurora,Colorado
thanks opossum makes me feel better
phoneman im not sure if the front is factory limited slip vin says i have 3.55 gears but the guy i bought it from used it to pull his race car once a year and said it had 3.73s (i assume it has 3.55s he just was wrong). i found out i had limited slip in both in the first place pulling a gmc 6500 out of a ditch and i had all four tires spinning on the gravel when i got on it. in the snow it acts great pulls through turns just as you could want you can feel the front tires pulling keeping from getting alot of oversteer. never have any trouble off road but honestly havent got off-road much at all recently. i couldnt tell you about slippery paved surface i never put it in 4x4 on pavement
phoneman im not sure if the front is factory limited slip vin says i have 3.55 gears but the guy i bought it from used it to pull his race car once a year and said it had 3.73s (i assume it has 3.55s he just was wrong). i found out i had limited slip in both in the first place pulling a gmc 6500 out of a ditch and i had all four tires spinning on the gravel when i got on it. in the snow it acts great pulls through turns just as you could want you can feel the front tires pulling keeping from getting alot of oversteer. never have any trouble off road but honestly havent got off-road much at all recently. i couldnt tell you about slippery paved surface i never put it in 4x4 on pavement
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,118
Likes: 1
its axle code is C9 but i know it cant have an open front diff if both front were spinning and my bro was watching and is sure he saw all 4 spinning the way the previous owner said it "we went with 3.73s to tow using the 33" tires" what he had on it sounds like he could have swapped gears and maybe added limited slip?
heres the vin- 1FTHX26G0TEA90675 (the 0 could be zero or "O")
heres the vin- 1FTHX26G0TEA90675 (the 0 could be zero or "O")
Cargo Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,033
Likes: 32
From: Aurora,Colorado
its axle code is C9 but i know it cant have an open front diff if both front were spinning and my bro was watching and is sure he saw all 4 spinning the way the previous owner said it "we went with 3.73s to tow using the 33" tires" what he had on it sounds like he could have swapped gears and maybe added limited slip?
heres the vin- 1FTHX26G0TEA90675 (the 0 could be zero or "O")
heres the vin- 1FTHX26G0TEA90675 (the 0 could be zero or "O")
It is possible to have both front wheels spinning at the same time-and still have an open differential. If the surface is level and the traction is equal between both front wheels-both will spin.
It is also possible that you have a front limited slip-but it was installed by the dealer or aftermarket. Jack both front wheels off of the ground and engage the front hubs , leave the transfer case in two wheel drive and spin one wheel by hand--if the other wheel turns in the opposite direction-the differential is open. If the other side spins in the same direction--you have a limited slip.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,118
Likes: 1
i thought with an open diff only the power that is easiest to turn will turn i will have to try to jack it up but when he watched them both spin it was pulling the other truck i was going up hill in a gravel lot
i swear i remember checking it once and axle code C9 was 3.55 limited slip and i guess since its not ending in 2 at least from the factory its not front limited slip
i swear i remember checking it once and axle code C9 was 3.55 limited slip and i guess since its not ending in 2 at least from the factory its not front limited slip
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
rlh68050
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
3
Sep 21, 2010 10:26 AM
