Front hubs...

[Sirstud1]

Got a 89 ranger 4x4... When I lock it in 4x4 I can tell the axles are spinning and can feel the truck as if it is in 4wd.. The problem is I hear a grinding noise and the front tires not pulling.. I lifted the truck off the ground to see if they were pulling and nope they kinda spin then click then stop... Like they can't pull their own weight... Is it the hubs? I can see the u joints spinning... I hold me hand around the outside of the hub and can feel something inside it grinding around... Any cheap hubs out there? Mine are auto locking...


-StUdDaRd-

 

[4x4junkie]

Could be a number of things...
The auto hubs failing to engage correctly, them just needing lubricated (or alternately, them being overlubricated, as in packed with too much grease preventing them from engaging properly), the auto hub cam assembly is damaged, or maybe your spindle needle bearings have issues (these bearings tend to get neglected over the years and may have finally dried up)

Only good way to tell what's going on is to start pulling things apart and see what you find.
The auto hubs are known to be problematic. Bad needle bearings generally make the axle shaft rough turning and/or very hard to turn once you've removed the hub.

If you do find it's just the hubs, most common fix is to just simply swap manual-locking hubs onto ti. Warn has decent hubs, though manual hubs are still fairly easy to find in wrecking yards.