Hello all, I have a 79 Shortbed 4x4 and need some help. The passenger side locking hub does not engage. I don't know if they are factory or not,the dial has faded to pink with a white line in the center.The chrome circle has free and lock written in it. The drivers side works perfectly and I have removed all passenger side pieces and swapped them to drivers side and they also work perfectly. I can get the passenger side to lock if I push the gear on to the axle shaft with my fingers.They seem very simple just a gear(?) and large spring a small screw keeps the gear in place. The axle shaft splines look okay,but there is some movement of the shaft up and down. Doesn't seem to want to stay centered. When I first took them apart to compare the passenger side gear was backward compared to the drivers side. I have tried the gear both ways on the drivers side and both ways locked the axle,so I'm a little confused about which is right. I put it back together with the flat side out. Any one have any thoughts if this sounds like a factory or aftermarket hub ? Don't want to buy new hub unless I have to. Does it sound like more internal ? Thanks for your help

 

the small gear that slided ON TO the axle goes flat side out.

Check to make sure your wheel bearing nuts a tightened properly and the lock washer is seated correctly on the pin. If not, the outer nut might be out board to far and be interfering with the hub.