frontend vibes when hubs are locked

[purpony]

when the hubs are locked on my 92 ranger i get real bad vibration on the road. A while back i replaced all the u-joints and had the front suspesnion out to replace all the bushing.

any idea what could be causing the vibes? is it possible to have the front axles balance checked at a driveline shop? could replacing the u-joint make them out of balance?

any input would be great

thanks

 

[jrmustranger97]

How Fast are you going when it vibrates? I doubt that it's because of changing the U-joints although one of them could have frozen on you. I would take a look at them and spray thim down with some WD 40 if need be. Also there is a slip yoke in the middle of the passengers side axle shaft. Check to make sure that it is moving freely.

 

[MAKG]

WD-40 isn't an appropriate lubricant for an axle. It's mildly useful for removing frozen caps (though a true penetrating lubricant like Kroil works a lot better for that).

A bad U-joint is a possibility. So is the often-overlooked spindle bearing. As is a floppy differential flange (not common on a front diff, but it can happen).

Just to check, you aren't driving on pavement in 4WD, are you? Part time 4WD systems really don't like that.

 

[jrmustranger97]

Sorry, I wasn't trying to suggest that you use WD 40 in place of greasing the u-joints. Just that it can help free up a frozen one.

 

[Legion]

why are you driving with 4wd on the road

 

[Jspafford]

He said his hubs were locked, you can have the hubs locked and not be in 4x4.

 

[Mutant Pony]

It is common to have a little vibration with the hubs locked in. That is why many companies went to cv joints instead.
If you have a really bad vibration, You may have bent the ears on an axle while installing a u-joint. It is pretty common. I've done it myself.

 

[AllanD]

Try driving for a bit and see if the vibration eases up.

I usually try to drive for atleast half an hour with the hubs locked
after reassembling front axle shafts, because the motion tends to
even up the tension in the newly installed caps.

If the vibration doesn't eas up fairly quickly something is wrong.

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[85_Ranger4x4]

He said his hubs were locked, you can have the hubs locked and not be in 4x4.

If I lock in my hubs and don't pull the lever on the floor I am still in 2wd.

Mine has a little vibration too, I always attributed it to have u-joints as opposed to CV joints. Nothing severe though, but you can tell something is different as opposed to unlocked hubs.

 

[rickcdewitt]

if you used a press to change the joints its very easy to bend the soft ears.thats why i tap them out with a hammer and some old junk sockets.that works even out on the coast(rust belt) where i work,faster also.