Automatic locking hubs ratcheting while in 2wd

[ap3x]

Truck is a 94 b4000 5spd. A few days ago, my auto locking hubs were ratcheting and making alot of noise and then they would just grab and make a nasty KLUNK and everything would be fine (and it happened a handful of times). So when I got home that night, I pull my wheels and hubs out, cleaned them up, soaked them in ATF for a while, made sure everything was properly lubed up, and drove it. I heard no ratcheting or clicking for a couple days, and the 4 wheel drive still worked. It was REALLY cold last night and I was driving home and I heard the ratcheting, so I stopped before I had to hear the clunk. I put it in 4 wheel and drove for a few feet, took it back out, and went the rest of the way home without issues. Is this pretty much how they're gonna be when the temp is this cold (probably under 20 degrees)? Or should I take them back off and try to lube the crap out of them again?

 

[pillen140]

I would replace them with manual hubs.... way more reliable.

 

[feellnfroggy]

HUbs are shot, get manuals or new autos from JY. I believe AllanD has a few left over. He got a good price on them shipped.

 

[Hahnsb2]

They were doing the same thing on my Explorer before I got manual hubs to replace them, in the mean time I just gutted the fawkers. I despise those fawking things.