Locking Hubs Missing -Help!

[IdahoSkier]

I bought a 93 Ranger 4x4 that has had the auto locking hubs replaced with regular hubs. When I engage the 4wd, the trans locks in and the front drive shaft turns but no front wheel drive. My question is how do I know if everything else is okay. I don't want to buy a set of locking hubs only to find out if something else is broken or missing. I am a new 4wd owner, so I'm not the tech to know all the lingo.

 

[4x4junkie]

Do the axle shafts (the u-joints right behind the wheels) spin?

Have you taken the hubs off yet to see if anything looks wrong inside them?

 

[IdahoSkier]

I was a little off in my original post. There is one auto locking hub on the drivers side, and one manual hub on the passenger side. The front drive shaft turns all the way up to the dana 35. I'm not sure if that is what you are asking. I haven't taken anything off yet. Again, I'm not a mechanic and I don't want to get in over my head.

 

[IdahoSkier]

I just looked at the axle behind the wheel, and I see the u-joint you are talking about. I don't know if they are turning, but I'll check and post later. Thanks for your help. I just want to make sure this is not too expensive for me to have fixed. I'll have to take it somewhere, as I'm not a mechanic.

 

[racsan]

i tried something like that when i had a manual hub break, (one auto hub, one manual hub) it doesnt work very well. put the t/c in 4x4 and see if you can turn the front driveshaft by reaching through the drivers side wheel well or sliding underneath to reach it. verify that it does turn freely when in 2wd. than as to the hubs, get a set of manual hubs and the spindle nuts you'll need for the side that still has the auto hub. luckily i still had the stock auto hubs and related hardware when my drivers side manual hub broke. im going back to manual's when i have the extra money. the conversion isnt difficult, if you can change a tire and adjust wheel bearings, you can manage the swap, heres a link to look at-> http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/howto_hubswap.htm

 

[4x4junkie]

Yeah, check and see if one or both u-joints are turning. If they do turn (and your wheel is not turning with it), then you have a bad hub.

Hope that helps, and welcome to TRS

 

[dennis461]

Easy test

Yeah, check and see if one or both u-joints are turning. If they do turn (and your wheel is not turning with it), then you have a bad hub.

Hope that helps, and welcome to TRS

You sound like you are new to this, so pardon the dumb questions here.

Do you know how to lock the manual hub?
You have to turn the knob in the center to the word lock.

Put truck in 4-wheel drive.
Use a floor jack to raise one front wheel off the ground.
The side with manual hub.
Spin the wheel, check the u-joint at that wheel for spinning.
If yes, it's OK.
If no, it's broken.

Report back...