Front axles turning in 2wd

[StanC]

Jim
I saw an old post where you were having an issue with the front axles turning in 2wd. You had tapped you axles to the sway bar bolt and the tape broke when you drove. I have that same issue and wanted to know if you resolved it.

 

[Uncle Gump]

@StanC

It's hard for us to know which Jim you speak of... or the post you refer to.

If you're having an issue with your truck you should just post a new thread in the appropriate Help section... or ask the question in the thread for which you're referring to.

 

[StanC]

I was referring to Jim Oaks.

 

[fastpakr]

What year is your truck?

 

[1990RangerinSK]

There are three types of front hub on a Ranger, depending on year. The first is a manual locking hub. These, you can drive in 2WD with the hubs locked, and the front axles, differential, and drive shaft will turn with the wheels, even though they are not being driven by the transfer case. Generally, though, it's better to get out of the truck, and rotate the knob on the hub to the unlocked position, which will allow the front wheels to rotate freely.

The second, are vacuum actuated. These lock and unlock automatically, using vacuum, when you engage or disengage 4WD. They sometimes fail, and people swap them with a manual hub as a matter of personal preference.

The third are always locked (what are they called? I want to call this setup a live axle, but "live axle" refers to something else, right?), which means the front axles, differential and drive shaft always rotate, whether you select 2WD or 4WD.

In order for people to help you, we need to know more about your truck. Year is a good place to start. Later trucks, if I'm not mistaken, only had the third kind of axle. Middle years only had the vacuum actuated hubs, but early trucks had either manual or vacuum actuated.

Jim's truck (@Jim Oaks), by the way, was a 1997, I think, with the vacuum actuated hubs. If I had to guess, he fixed it by swapping them for manual hubs. Right, Jim?

 

[97RangerXLT]

@1990RangerinSK jims truck is a 1996 with manual hubs. Vacuum activated hub came out in 1998 when the Ranger went to IFS.

And you forgot the automatic hubs which are very similar to the manual hubs but instead of a a knob that you turn there is an internal cam that locks the hub when the axle starts turning.

Your "live axle" hub is just that, the hub and axle never disconnect. The axle always turns so it is always "live" and I believe all 2001 and newer Rangers have this setup. But instead of u joints most live axles have cv joints.

AJ

 

[snoranger]

It was Jim’s F150 that he taped the axles. It was when he was working on the IWE issue.

 

[1990RangerinSK]

@1990RangerinSK jims truck is a 1996 with manual hubs. Vacuum activated hub came out in 1998 when the Ranger went to IFS.

Ahh, thanks.

And you forgot the automatic hubs which are very similar to the manual hubs but instead of a a knob that you turn there is an internal cam that locks the hub when the axle starts turning.

And those were available concurrently with the manual hubs, right? With all 4x4 Rangers getting the vacuum actuated hubs in 1998?

Your "live axle" hub is just that, the hub and axle never disconnect. The axle always turns so it is always "live" and I believe all 2001 and newer Rangers have this setup. But instead of u joints most live axles have cv joints.

AJ

Is that actually called a live axle? Or does live axle refer to a solid axle that is driven, like the rear, solid axle on a RWD?

 

[snoranger]

Is that actually called a live axle? Or does live axle refer to a solid axle that is driven, like the rear, solid axle on a RWD?

Yes... a live axle means an axle that is alway moving when the tires are moving.

 

[97RangerXLT]

Ahh, thanks.



And those were available concurrently with the manual hubs, right? With all 4x4 Rangers getting the vacuum actuated hubs in 1998?

Yep, my 97 started life with auto hubs. Those went bad and I changed out to manuals which are much stronger and a direct replacement for the auto hubs. All you need is the Hub nuts for the manual hubs.

Is that actually called a live axle? Or does live axle refer to a solid axle that is driven, like the rear, solid axle on a RWD?

Yep, live axle is what it is called. Your rear drive axle is technically a live axle as well too.

AJ

 

[1990RangerinSK]

Yes... a live axle means an axle that is alway moving when the tires are moving.

Ahh, thanks.

 

[1990RangerinSK]

Yep, my 97 started life with auto hubs. Those went bad and I changed out to manuals which are much stronger and a direct replacement for the auto hubs. All you need is the Hub nuts for the manual hubs.

I seem to recall reading that failure of the auto hubs is common. It seems that a number of guys here have had them fail, and swapped to manual. Right?

Are the vacuum hubs also prone to failure?

Yep, live axle is what it is called. Your rear drive axle is technically a live axle as well too.

AJ

Gotcha.

My guess is that the OP has up to a '97 with the auto hubs, and they've failed in the locked position. So he needs to replace them entirely, either with a set of manual hubs, or a new set of auto hubs. Or can he just replace the internal cam (that locks and unlocks the hub)?

Or his transfer case is locked in 4WD. And he needs to replace the shift motor (because the manual shift transfer cases don't usually lock up, do they?).

 

[97RangerXLT]

Auto hubs usually fail and won't lock. Warning signs are when they start buzzing. The vacuum hubs are notoriously unreliable, and that is why Ford went live axle after only 2 or three years.

AJ

 

[97RangerXLT]

If I were to guess the OP has a transfer case shift motor issue. Fairly easily replaced.

AJ

 

[fastpakr]

If I were to guess the OP has a transfer case shift motor issue. Fairly easily replaced.

AJ

True, but he could also just have a 2000+ Ranger.