Auto hub blues
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Tuned
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 338
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Auto hub blues
I’m having any issue with my late 99. I keep eating up front drive shafts, I believe my hubs are sticking intermittently causing a problem. I have searched and read a bunch about auto hub issues. Here is what ik so far with my truck, vacuum pump comes on, the switch or whatever it is that’s right next to the pump has been changed vacuum pump comes on with key. My question is when I am under truck with trans and transfer in neutral and I rotate drive shaft by hand should there be movement at the joint in the knuckle. As it is driver side spun till locked and in locked hubs manually now passenger side has movement. I guess I’m confused on exactly what’s going on here. Any help would be appreciated
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,129
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From: Ponca City, OK
If the driveshaft is turned then the axles will turn. If the hubs are in the unlocked position the the axles are allowed to free spin in side the hub.
What exactly do you mean when you say you're eating up driveshafts? The only thing that will really damage a driveshaft outside of impact is bad seals in the u joints. Water washes out the grease and the needle rollers start chewing themselves up.
What exactly do you mean when you say you're eating up driveshafts? The only thing that will really damage a driveshaft outside of impact is bad seals in the u joints. Water washes out the grease and the needle rollers start chewing themselves up.
Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 338
Likes: 25
If the driveshaft is turned then the axles will turn. If the hubs are in the unlocked position the the axles are allowed to free spin in side the hub.
What exactly do you mean when you say you're eating up driveshafts? The only thing that will really damage a driveshaft outside of impact is bad seals in the u joints. Water washes out the grease and the needle rollers start chewing themselves up.
What exactly do you mean when you say you're eating up driveshafts? The only thing that will really damage a driveshaft outside of impact is bad seals in the u joints. Water washes out the grease and the needle rollers start chewing themselves up.
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,129
Likes: 1,919
From: Ponca City, OK
You're replacing the whole driveshaft or just the slip yoke? If the whole shaft then I would look into finding a better quality part. As long as the boot or seal is intact, the slip yoke and stub/spline shaft should last several years if not the life of the truck. Even if your lockouts are dragging that shouldn't effect the slip yoke. Do you have much play up and down where the driveshaft connects at the transfer case or the differential? The only things that would really wear the slips out would be no grease in the joint or out of balance.
Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 338
Likes: 25
You're replacing the whole driveshaft or just the slip yoke? If the whole shaft then I would look into finding a better quality part. As long as the boot or seal is intact, the slip yoke and stub/spline shaft should last several years if not the life of the truck. Even if your lockouts are dragging that shouldn't effect the slip yoke. Do you have much play up and down where the driveshaft connects at the transfer case or the differential? The only things that would really wear the slips out would be no grease in the joint or out of balance.
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,129
Likes: 1,919
From: Ponca City, OK
I'm talking the pinion shaft and output shaft of T case for play. If a bearing is getting a little loose it could throw concentricity off. If the driveshafts are are parts store then they're likely remans maybe the slips are already past their prime when installed.
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Tuned
Joined: Dec 2020
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Before I changed that switch or whatever it is by the pump my hubs were stuck locked in, I couldn’t turn driveshaft by hand with trans in neutral. It was also making noise and vibration which has mostly went away, it is more intermittent now like when turning wheels while moving and operating clutch on take off and shifting gears, it seems like hubs are temporarily locking and causing driveshaft to spin in front is this even possible
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Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,129
Likes: 1,919
From: Ponca City, OK
Have you checked the pilot bearing on the hub where the stub axles pass through? They have a reputation for locking up and causing the stubs to chatter in the bore. Mine went out a few years ago and damaged the stubs in the process.
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From: Henderson, NV
Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Dec 2020
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Do yourself a favor and get driveshafts from a proper driveline shop that has all the equipment to balance them properly.
Unless this happens
Unless this happens
FTE Chapter Leader
Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Henderson, NV
In my case I suspect it was manual hubs that failed to unlock along with a tired double cardan joint.
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Ponca City, OK
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,800
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From: Southern Colorado
My hubs failed to unlock (randomly) and I replaced them with Mile Marker manual hubs. Not quite as nice as Warns, but vastly cheaper. To me, it's well worth manually locking/unlocking the hub for the security of knowing exactly what state it's in.
