4wd not working in my 91 ranger

[westerman_lucas]

Recently I was trying to get into 4wd but my rear wheels were the only ones getting any power. I have manual locking hubs and a manual shift style transfer case. If I select 4wd on the transfer case, it still lights up the light on the dash, and says low range if I choose 4 low. I don’t really feel any sort of resistance or tactile feel like the gearing is changing when I shift into 4 hi. Not sure if the transfer case should just be “sliding” but that’s what it feels like, it does not feel like it’s locking into gear. Also my manual locking hubs do not feel the same. One has more resistance/springiness to it.
I’m thinking it could just be the hubs because when I shift into 4low, my gearing does change significantly. I just wasn’t sure how the transfer cases should feel on these Rangers.
Any help is appreciated!

 

[SenorNoob]

Honestly other than the detents, I don't feel anything from my transfer case. As for the hubs, they feel different if the gears are aligned or not when you move the selector. If you lock them it just frees up a spring to push a drive slug into place. It can't get there if the gears aren't aligned, so it doesn't feel like much. When that happen you might be able to hear it engage after rolling the wheel a little.

You can test you hubs and transfer case to degree with the truck parked. Lock each one then turn the corresponding shaft. IE: Transfer case to 4wd, then grab the front driveshaft and turn it. It will probably only go so far before it engages and is connected to the rear output.

 

[westerman_lucas]

Honestly other than the detents, I don't feel anything from my transfer case. As for the hubs, they feel different if the gears are aligned or not when you move the selector. If you lock them it just frees up a spring to push a drive slug into place. It can't get there if the gears aren't aligned, so it doesn't feel like much. When that happen you might be able to hear it engage after rolling the wheel a little.

You can test you hubs and transfer case to degree with the truck parked. Lock each one then turn the corresponding shaft. IE: Transfer case to 4wd, then grab the front driveshaft and turn it. It will probably only go so far before it engages and is connected to the rear output.

So jack one wheel up, lock it, then see if it engages? If one engages then the other doesn’t would that mean that the hub on one side is going bad?

 

[SenorNoob]

No need to jack it up if you can reach under it. Only lock one side the try to turn the shaft for that side. Ramps would probably be the easiest way unless you are running larger tires like I am. If the shaft locks to the wheel you won't be able to turn it anymore. Alternatively, you could jack up one side and turn the wheel and watch the u-joint behind it.

 

[westerman_lucas]

Great thanks for the help. Hopefully I can figure out the issue

 

[westerman_lucas]

I tested my hubs and they lock in place, so idk why 4wd wasn’t working yesterday.