99 4x4 issues

[liftedranger]

I recently went to put my truck in 4x4 in the snow and only the back tires were spining, I herd the transfer case working because when I put the truck in 4x4 LOW the truck would seem to be in 4x4 but was not, which leads me to believe I have bad hubs? I put the truck in the air and put it in 4x4 and still nothing in the front. I am going to get a new drive shaft and U-joints. Anyone else think its my hubs?

 

[rangertoy]

It is most likely you hubs. Easy way to find out is to put you truck in 4WD and see if the front driveshaft is turning. If the driveshaft is turning most likely the hubs, if its not turning check shift the motor on the t-case

 

[triumphrider-1]

Whats the reason for the new driveshaft?

Most likely your hubs are kaput; but there are a few different things you can do to fix and/or replace them.

 

[Original_Ranger84]

Yeah definately your hubs... (maybe the T-case) But I'm sticking with the hubs. I actually just repaired my PVH hubs and they work Perfectly every time now!

I took them apart and found out that the metal clips had bent back slightly so they would stick... the hubs themselves had a slight layer of grime on them and my lines were toast.... So I pulled them apart, slightly bent the tabs till they were lined up straight (now they click in and out perfectly every time), Then I cleaned up the plastic parts and spread a very thin coat of lith grease over the contact areas. cleaned up the rubber seals mount/sealing surface put themback together and so far my hubs have worked 100% of the time... even in extreme cold. I also punched out the pinwheel and mesh screen for the manual conversion just incase they stop working one time.

I have pictures on a camera but it mysteriously disappeared in my garage somewhere.

I also would suggest testing the lines... there is some vacuum lines connected in the passanger side right under the air box. Either pull the air box or reach around underneath and grab the lines. Disconnect the one that leads back up to where ever. then get a vacuum gauge and attach it to the one you just disconnected. and then connect a vacuum pump to the two lines that lead to the hubs. turn the truck on and have someone or out it in 4x4 and run up to the vacuum gauge it should be reading something like 20 (whatever the measurment is like Hg/in or something) for about 30 seconds then click and nothing. if thats good then turn it back off and run back to it... it should now read somewhere around 7-8 for like 20-30 second. that means your vacuum solinoid is good. if the thing isn't within 1 or 2 units of 20 and 7-8 then thats your problem... these things are really picky about when they engage and even more so when they disengage..

If not then use your vacuum pump hookd to the the hubs and start pumping until you get it to 20 or 22. (this could take a little bit of time as you have to remove all of the air from the lines) with the front end in the air spin the tires a bit after you get it to 20 the hubs should click in and the axles should start spinning. If they don't then the hubs are probably gunked up. if it doesn't hold vacuum then you have a leak (most likely the vacuum lines) but seperate the 2 lines and test both sides individually. one side will more or less hold vacuum and the other will lose it rapidly. unless both sides are leaking. This can be any one or more of 3 things i have found. either:
1. the vacuum lines to the hubs are cracked somewhere and need to be replaced.
2. the o ring inside the hub cracked and needs to be replaced... (pray you don't have to do this)
3. the rubber disc inside the hub is not creating a good seal.

Testing the line is easy. pull it off the hub connection and plug it up, then pump away till you get 20. if it holds its good.. but i would reccomend replacing the line anyways just because they do get old. if it doesn't pump up or leaks thats probably your problem.

The Oring/rubber disc is different. Attach the pump to the hub connection and put a peice of trash bag or somthing over the end of the hub and secure with a tight rubberband. start pumping. The trash bag should start getting sucked in, if not its a bad o ring, if so pump it all the way up to 20 and if its slowly leaking out its probably still the oring. as the trash bag or whatever should be acting as a makeshift rubber disc. if it holds that means the trashbag is doing its job and its the rubber disc thats leaking.

EIther way I still recommend pulling the hubs apart and cleaning them extremely well and putting the slight layer of lith grease on them. if all works right you should have fully functional vacuum hubs again!

Hopefully this helps.