4x4 Never Used Before

[ezln1992]

Im new here and I just wanted to to get some help with my Ranger. I have a manual 91 Ranger and everything on it is completely original and stock. Ive been wanting to try out the 4x4 on it except it has never been used. I am the second owner and the first owner never used it either. Should I be aware of anything before engaging the 4x4 ? Anything helps. Thanks

 

[97RangerXLT]

you probably should take the hubs off and take them apart, clean them and regrease them. if the 4x4 is manual you might need to work the lever and grease the pivot points of the linkage. if it is electric, be sure to put some penetrating oil on all of the linkage pivot points and have some one flip the switch/ push the button while you observe the shift motor. be careful not to burn it out if it binds up. also your needle bearings inside the spindles will probably need to be cleaned and repacked.

Check the u-joints on the front driveshaft and the stub shafts. If you are able, grease them up. if not, keep an eye out on them, as they might fail down the road due to the grease being dried up.

Check the level of the front differential oil. if there is no evidence of leaks, it is probably ok, but wouldn't hurt to check it out anyways.

As you use it, the shaft seals might leak, so keep an eye on the seals and the oil level of the front differential.

Those are the things that come to my mind, I will let others chime in on anything that I might have missed.

AJ

 

[BLOODBANE]

You dont really "grease " the hubs. Just a little ATF in them (or any 10wt. oil, not a lot, just enough to lube them and make them spin fairly easy). I say pull her down in 4x4 high first and then stop and shift into low range. You will know if anything is wrong....

 

[stegomon]

Just throw it in. And I feel like the Owner may have been bluffing about never puting a 20 year old truck into 4wd

 

[wildbill23c]

There's only one way to find out, lock in the hubs and throw it in 4WD. If any parts go flying off you'll know something is wrong.

I really highly doubt the 4x4 has never been used in it. Although I don't use the 4WD in any of my trucks very often, it does get used maybe once or twice a year at least. Hard to believe in 20 years it was never put in 4WD. Or maybe the previous owner had no clue how to put it in 4WD.

 

[ezln1992]

Thanks for the advice everyone. And the first owner was an old man who only drove it on weekends to the golfcourse. 78k miles when i got it 3 years ago so i believe him lol

 

[97RangerXLT]

Wha?!?

You have owned it three years and never used the 4wd?!

do we need to confiscate your man card

AJ

 

[96Indyram]

Lock the hubs (if manual) put her in 4high...and let er rip tater chip!
if you hear any poping, grinding, banging or any other unusual noises you might have a issue.
If all seems good....happy wheeling!!

Wha?!?

You have owned it three years and never used the 4wd?!

do we need to confiscate your man card

AJ

Not sure if we need to confiscate his man card....but it might need to get a corner cut off.

 

[ab_slack]

There is some good suggestions above. I do the following checks when evaluating 4WD system before using 4WD.

1) With hubs unlocked, and it in 2WD, and all wheels on the ground, make sure the front shaft turns smooth. At least one of the front side shafts should also turn, but you can manually turn each side shaft to make sure they turn free (hubs unlocked). With it in 2WD and hubs unlocked nothing should be holding these shafts.

2) Put in 4WD (hubs unlocked still), the front drive shaft should not turn since it is now locked to the transmission/engine. Turning one side shaft should result in other side shaft turning in opposite direction since the side shafts are still free to turn in the hubs.


3) Return transfer case to 2WD and lock both hubs. The front drive shaft should not turn in this case either. While not connected to trans/engine it is connected to the wheels now so only should turn if the truck rolls. If it does turn, probably one of the side shafts is also turning and this is a sign that the hub on that side did not lock.

4) With both hubs locked, leaving it in 2WD, try driving on dry pavement. With it in 2WD it won't bind, but now you have the front drive shaft assembly spinning. One in good condition should be pretty smooth except for tight turns where there may be some click or feel in the wheel since there aren't CV joints at the wheels. There should generally be some extra rolling noise if you know how the truck normally sounds but it shouldn't be really loud. There shouldn't be any pings or heavy vibration associated with it. I've driven at highway speeds like that regularly. If it is pretty smooth, you got a good running front end system and are good to go with 4WD which you probably don't want to do on dry pavement.

I have one more check that I do on dry pavement to check the balance (all tires the same size) which is while moving strait at slow speed slip it into 4WD and make sure it remains smooth. Do not turn while doing this as it will bind. If it binds in 30 or 40 ft, you probably have un-matched tires. Return it back to 2WD.

 

[ezln1992]

Thanks ab_slack i will definately be doing that check.

And about that never using the 4wd only excuse is being scared to break something nd not having transportation for school nd work since it is my dd lol. But now that you guys are helping me out with all this i feel really comfortable now to give it a try

 

[ab_slack]

As a footnote on the final test, I usually have hubs locked and am already driving when I make the shift from 2WD to 4WD (high). I just wait for a strait area of road or do in empty parking lot. Unless you have lots of confidence in the system I suggest doing it slow.

I have done that same thing on dry pavement at highway speeds (don't ask, I am nuts) and with four matching tires, you wouldn't have known it went from 2WD to 4WD and back cause with the hubs locked the shaft was spinning and at the right speed already. The one time I did that with a spare tire on which was the wrong size, the experience was not so pleasant. No harm was caused in that instance but there was certainly potential.

If you know you don't have the exact same tires (size and brand) all around with roughly equal wear, no point in that last check cause you already know the answer.

 

[ezln1992]

I got some brand new hankook atms about a month ago nd thats another reason i wanna give the 4wd a test finally

So when im on a slow roll with 2wd just hit the clutch nd switch to 4wd correct? With hubs locked.

 

[ab_slack]

I got some brand new hankook atms about a month ago nd thats another reason i wanna give the 4wd a test finally

So when im on a slow roll with 2wd just hit the clutch nd switch to 4wd correct? With hubs locked.

I can't speak with absolute certainty for the newer 4WD. I don't think the 91 changed significantly from 89/90, but not absolutely sure.

On the 89/90 (and older ones) with manual locking hubs, if hubs were locked, all you have to do to go between 2W and 4H is pull the lever from 2H into 4H. As simple as that. No need to hit the clutch. Everything is up and spinning and you are instantly in 4WD. I've done that many times like when driving on highway and see snow has blown accross the road (maybe an inch), just lean down pull the lever, stay on the gas as I go thru it and then back into 2W when past where snow blew across the road.

I wouldn't just flip the lever if I was had tires spinning as shaft speeds wouldn't be close, but that might not be a problem, I just make sure I was in 4 before I expected tires to be spinning.

Even with the electronic switch, if you had manual hubs no problem as well switching on the fly. If auto locking hubs I don't know if they could switch on while moving at speed. I know some other vehicles of the era with auto locking hubs didn't like that so much. With the auto locking hubs, the front shaft needs to spin up suddenly and unless there is some sort of clutch mechanism that might not be pretty.

The time you have to stop, put in neutral and clutch is switching between 4H and 2L. That is most definitely not a shift to do while moving. Full stop, now even a little roll.

 

[MastuhWaffles]

Hey at least you have 4x4.
I'd get everything a little time to get juiced up before running around with it engaged.

 

[ezln1992]

See this is where im confused. I was once told to never drive on 2wd with the hubs locked? Did that person have no idea wat he was talking about ? Because youre tellig me the opposite nd im trusting you more since you sound like you know your stuff