hub may be going bad

[Grunizzle]

Well I suspected at first the ratcheting rotational noise was the wheel bearings at first. After inspecting and re-packing them I think it is my warn manual hub. I believe when the bearing failed a month ago the hub may have been damaged (although 4x4 still works).

I looked inside the hub and it looked ok, a bit darker inside than the driver side hub, and the c clip inside looks a lot more worn as well.

Can I just order new parts for it or a single new hub and not have to buy 2?

 

[Nhaz]

disengage the manual hubs and if the sounds goes away then chances are its the hubs.

If not then you need to look back at the bearings and the surface the bearings ride on.

Its also possibly the spindle is slightly bent and the notched part of the spindle is rubbing the inside aluminum nobs where that C-clip is. ( I have done this to mine and it took me a week to figure out why it was rubbing)

 

[DieselTech07]

did you try running with the hubs locked and tcase in 2hi if the noise goes away, my guess would be the shaft bearing in the hub is in pieces and is letting the splined collar start to engage. when I got my 94 it had a metallic rattling/buzzing/ringing sound but only with the hubs unlocked, I dissembled the hub making the noise and the bearing was completely destroyed put my spare hub on and the problem went away. somebody on this site said that #SCE-248 is a part # that will replace the hub bearing I don't know if it is correct or not

 

[Grunizzle]

It makes the noise when the hubs are not engaged and I am just driving around. The bearings, races and spindle looked fine when I had it apart yesterday. I think the chewed up c-clip may be the cause of the problem, I just don't know if I can simply order a new piece or entire hub or what.

 

[Grunizzle]

did you try running with the hubs locked and tcase in 2hi if the noise goes away, my guess would be the shaft bearing in the hub is in pieces and is letting the splined collar start to engage. when I got my 94 it had a metallic rattling/buzzing/ringing sound but only with the hubs unlocked, I dissembled the hub making the noise and the bearing was completely destroyed put my spare hub on and the problem went away. somebody on this site said that #SCE-248 is a part # that will replace the hub bearing I don't know if it is correct or not

i will go out in a bit and engage them and see if it goes away then.

 

[Boggin]

my 79 bronco is ticking too.. its the passenger side manual hub it isnt engaging. jack your up and unlock the hub and spin the wheel to see if the shafts are moving inside, if the shafts move than its your hub.

at least thats how it is on my 79

 

[Grunizzle]

Well I drove it today with the hub locked in and the noise disappeared.

 

[Nhaz]

So when the 4x4 is engaged and the hubs are Not. There is Noise.

When the 4x4 hubs are locked and the transfer case is engaged there is No Noise?

Have I got that right?

If that is the case..

I would hazard a guess at this point that there is "something" rolling around in the hub that shouldn't be there. Probably a metal fragment. And you need to do a exploratory on the hubs to find out what that something is. Before it does any more damage. Oh and get them nice and clean while you are at it.

 

[Boggin]

my 79 bronco is ticking too.. its the passenger side manual hub it isnt engaging. jack your up and unlock the hub and spin the wheel to see if the shafts are moving inside, if the shafts move than its your hub.

at least thats how it is on my 79

sorry i meant that it IS always engaged. i just cant figure out how to get the ****in thing off. way more complicated than on the rangers. i had to cut off the outside off, take off so many snap rings and another steel clip just inside the hub and theres a tool needed for a spacer-type thing.. i honestly would rather to take out the axle and bolt another one in place of it. too bad my spare didnt have the hubs or i would have that one bolted in for long ago.

 

[Grunizzle]

So when the 4x4 is engaged and the hubs are Not. There is Noise.

When the 4x4 hubs are locked and the transfer case is engaged there is No Noise?

Have I got that right?

If that is the case..

I would hazard a guess at this point that there is "something" rolling around in the hub that shouldn't be there. Probably a metal fragment. And you need to do a exploratory on the hubs to find out what that something is. Before it does any more damage. Oh and get them nice and clean while you are at it.

When in 2 hi and hubs disengaged, noise
when in 2hi and hubs engages noise is gone

Im suspecting something is toast in the passenger hub

 

[Nhaz]

Definitely examine those hubs. The hubs in 2 hi engaged or not still spin around the Spindle. This is where I am suspecting either a slightly bent spindle or "something" caught in there.

 

[DieselTech07]

This link covers taking the hub apart and reassembly http://www.therangerstation.com/Magazine/Summer2003/ChangingBearingsInManualHubs.htm it has some pics of the bearing that was destroyed in my hub, and the bearing is probably your problem also.