Wanted Auto locking hub

[Josh B]

oops

That's what I thought when I went up there and looked

 

[Josh B]

1990 Ranger XLT with push button 4x4. It all worked great. Had this truck gone over top to bottom. Asked my daughter to take it in for a leaking front tire but it came back without an auto locking hub. I don't drive it much, it's shopped most of the time, so didn't notice for an entire year. Now I can't find a replacement and cannot prove the tire people stole it/didn't put it back on. Looking for a replacement.

Let me tell you what probably happened, from my own experience. Not long after buying my 93 Stopped at Sears to get a new tire put on the front.
The manager took care of the paperwork, took my keys and somebody else walked in.
He immediately put my keys and paperwork back on the rack and started taking care of whatever they were wanting.
A shop boy came in and he handed my papers and keys over to him. That is one time I wish I hadn't held my peace
The kid took it into the shop, slipped his foot off the clutch at least once and then got it parked.
After a while I went back to the window and he had the biggest puzzle on his face trying to figure out that hub that had came right off with the wheel.
He did manage to get it back together and moved back outside.

The hubs are generally held on with locking washer type things, not even sure what they're called but I wasn't long in getting some new ones, they sold them in a plastic package of 10. They slip right onto the wheel stud and press onto the stud until seating into the hub, and the tire goes on last.
Too many places take those off and lose them, and the next person has no clue how to deal with any of it

I use two on each hub, and use tiny long screwdrivers to work them loose one small twist at a time. After getting it out a half inch or so put a folded paper towel (they can get sharp) and back them out under pressure like it was a regular lug nut. The original package I got from Ford is still riding in my console with several locker things left

The kid who worked on yours probably hid yours till later and then it dissappeared

 

[00t444e]

The auto hubs are junk and not worth looking for, put manual hubs in.

 

[Josh B]

Mine have served me well enough for 17 years and they were 13 when I got them, not a single complaint

 

[00t444e]

Mine have served me well enough for 17 years and they were 13 when I got them, not a single complaint

Must not use 4x4 much then, I have seen plenty of them break when trying to rock a vehicle out of a tough spot, every time you go from foward to reverse they disengage and engage.

 

[James Morse]

If hubs don't lock, don't rock.
Avoid it anyway.

 

[Josh B]

1990 Ranger XLT with push button 4x4. It all worked great. Had this truck gone over top to bottom. Asked my daughter to take it in for a leaking front tire but it came back without an auto locking hub. I don't drive it much, it's shopped most of the time, so didn't notice for an entire year. Now I can't find a replacement and cannot prove the tire people stole it/didn't put it back on. Looking for a replacement.

If you decide to get a new one might be best get a set of two, may even be cheaper, then save the one you already have for a spare.
One thing anyone who drives a used vehicle needs is some spare parts, and everyone drives a used vehicle
Good luck with it man

 

[Rotro]

It's been a few years but my son-in-law last year inherited a ton of junk from his dad. Acres of just stuff. Old air compressors, pinball machines, and even an alligator head. All kinds of stuff. Crazy! One item happened to be an old explorer which had the same auto hubs as the ranger - a complete coincidence. I was shocked. Took the ranger and those hubs into a shop and it all fit and tested re-greased and all. My daughter is using the truck and going backwards to get the hubs to engage per the manual is a pain, but the truck is back to normal. Thank you for the replies.