auto hubs

[Nhaz]

Hello all. I hope to get some answers from people here that know a whole lot more then I do about these things.


First. This is my first 4x4 and my first experience with auto hubs or any hubs for that matter.

The Problem(s). The hubs will engage with noise, sometimes quite a bang enough to rattle the trucks front end. This from a standstill and not pushing on the gas. Just letting the auto tranny roll forward.

But they do work. But they can and do let go about every 10-20 seconds while rolling down the street. For what sounds like about a 1/4 revolution before re-engaging.

I dont yet possess a pair of snap ring pliers to get that snap ring out of the bottom of the hub. ive tried a few and they just keep slipping out.

I know from looking at them how they are supposed to work. I have had them apart as much as I can and run them through a parts cleaner to get most of the old grease out. And I soaked the hubs in new 10-30 engine oil.

Also a friend of mine found me a breakout diagram of the hubs or a diagram of "A" set of hubs. This diagram shows 2 plastic thrust washers behind the rotating cam on the spline and outside the spindle nut.(basically in between the two) My truck does Not have these washers. Is this a problem? Is it THE problem?

Now for the sob story => I do not possess a huge amount of money are these things repairable. Am I doing something wrong with them? Are they over?

 

[LITTLE FOOT]

go to a u- pull- it or something and get manual hubs. i got a pair for 20$

 

[Nhaz]

Could anyone tell me for when i get the manual hubs installed and locked.

If this will cause turn radius problems with the universal joints with the 4x4 trans axle disengaged?

in effect will they lock up on tight turns? I do lots of tight turns.

 

[Ranger44]

Manual hubs unlocked will behave like a 2wd truck.....or should.

 

[Nhaz]

I am looking to find out if With the hubs locked and the transmission Not engaging the front axles.

Will it have the same problem with turning as if the transmission Was engaged?

 

[tanbuddy]

Manual hubs locked but the t case in 2wd should steer just about like a 2wd would. You wont get any of that bad hopping in the turns as long as u dont have a front locker.

 

[Nhaz]

Thanks a for the info.

I switched out the automatic hubs for manuals on Sunday. Man what a diff.

I couldn't tell you who made them. not a clue. the labels are gone they have a dark gray aluminum housing and a black plastic turn switch. If there was any chrome its been gone for at least a decade =->.

And someone had taken a torch to the first spacer behind the first clip on the axle. Again don't know why. there's no rust and nothing was seized. Seeing it was semi mangled I replaced it with one of the ones from the auto hubs.

The previous owner had also not had the tool for removing the nuts for the manual hubs. And had been banging on them with a chisel. not too badly beat up and I had actually bought the tool for the manual nuts and for the auto nuts.

One of the manual hubs was missing the large o-ring seal again I borrowed from the auto hubs.

More questions!

The manual hubs had lots of grease in them. Lots. Since I know they came off a working 4x4 and I didn't know how the plastic turn switch would react to either brake cleaner or the larger parts cleaner machines chemicals. And ive seen brake cleaner and the larger shop parts cleaner eat some plastics.

I decided to leave all the old grease right where it sat.

The actual questions now. heh. Will this old grease give me problems?

Anyone know if the plastic turn switch in the hubs can take the cleaning chemicals?