Busted locking hub

[Michaelolson88]

1999 ford ranger xlt 4.0 4wd

Alright for the newest thing that’s going on with my truck, I have a busted locking hub on the drivers side.

I had this issue last year as well. So it sounds like there are some underlying issues that I’m trying to pinpoint. About 10 years ago I swapped to manual locking hubs and they worked great until my drivers side busted last year and the internals came apart. I swapped out with new ones and have only engaged to lock twice since. Yesterday the locking hub busted the exact same way. Luckily I had a spare hub but clearly there’s an underlying issue.

any thoughts as to what might cause this? I would assume it has something to do with excess vibration. I just ordered new upper control arms as they are toast and am hoping that it might have been what contributed to it but if not I’d like to fix at the same time as the UCAs. My cv axle does have some play in it and thought maybe that was bouncing around causing it to bust? Also Can I attach videos here?

 

[franklin2]

You certainly can hear it when it gives way correct? If you can, what are you doing when it fails?

 

[Michaelolson88]

No actually. When it breaks I don’t hear it. Its not until I hit highway speeds and the broken piece starts to cause a nasty shake that then goes away once I stop and then starts again at high speeds. It seems as though it gets partially disengaged somehow or something which puts pressure on the plastic spline part and then just gives way at some point.

 

[4.0blue98]

What brand are they? I've had AVMs for years and never had a problem. I use them regularly though. Maybe that's the secret?

 

[Michaelolson88]

I use the rugged ridge. The first set last quite awhile. Not sure why this one decided to break but since it’s happened twice on the same wheel in a years span I suspect I have another issue

 

[4x4junkie]

I would wonder if there is a loose or worn bearing somewhere (either the wheel bearing unit, or the bearing supporting the axle shaft itself) allowing excess movement between the wheel hub, axle shaft, and locking hub that is causing that to break. I haven't yet been deep into the '98-'00 frontends myself, so this is just a guess.

 

[2011Supercab]

Its not until I hit highway speeds and the broken piece starts to cause a nasty shake that then goes away once I stop and then starts again at high speeds. It seems as though it gets partially disengaged somehow or something which puts pressure on the plastic spline part and then just gives way at some point.

Are you driving around at highway speeds with 4x4 engaged?

 

[Curious Hound]

Are you driving around at highway speeds with 4x4 engaged?

That ^^^^ and... are you driving on dry hard surfaces with hubs locked?

What are the conditions when they break? Speed, surface, turning or straight, accelerating, decelerating, all the details.

 

[Michaelolson88]

No I don’t drive highway speeds with 4x4 engaged. There isn’t a specific instance when it “breaks” that I notice. It could have broken far before I’m on the highway. It’s only noticeable once at highway speeds as that’s when it shakes. Below 50 and I won’t notice that it’s broken because it doesn’t shake enough. It will be drivable even when the hub is broken at speeds below 50. The shake occurs after 50 and then once I come to a stop it goes away. And again the shake is the broken hub over the cv axle. I’m just not sure why I’ve had two break in a year when the previous 8 years never had a problem.

 

[Michaelolson88]

And no I’m not driving on hard services with 4x4 engaged. Only in snow