the shake down ends?

[azaizai]

So I've been slowly getting my ranger up to snuff...and my front axle still acts like a lil odd when I'm in 4wd.

I've got a 1997 with a 4 liter, and a dana 35 with manual hubs.

I've changed the fluid (and found little wrong with the fluid when I did), I've checked all the ujoints, the pinion bearing has a very small amount of play (it moves less than half an inch up and down only), the wheel bearings are packed and tightened with no scarring or anything, and I replaced the spindle bearings.

Now I have two issues.

1) My hubs dont *click* when I move them to the lock position. When I move them to the free position, there's a physical and audiable *click* like it was meant to be. For the locked position, there's no click and i can move it right off the locked position relatively easily.

2) With the hubs locked (or whatever I'm actually doing moving them to "lock" on the face) the front end makes a grind/humming noise while its rolling at 20-30mph. I'm pretty sure at least one of the hubs actually locks, 'cause the truck bucks and jerks when I make sharp turns (in both directions) but i havent had it on a lift to actually make sure.

anyone have any clues? was gonna take apart the hub, but if I had a part to check out it'd be sweet

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

All the Ford hubs I have been around only have a detent for "unlocked", locked is just where the hub stops turning.

If your truck bucks when you have both hubs locked in, they are both really locked in. Only one would use the unlocked axleshaft to maintain the speed it wanted and there would be no bucking.

Your less than 1/2" of play doesn't sound good, I had the straps stretch out that hold the u-joint to my differential in my Ranger. It was still fairly tight, but it would shake fiercly above 30mph... these things have to be pretty tight to run smooth and quiet.

 

[KELLY88]

That clicking sound on unlock only is normal. As for your truck bucking under sharp turns. You really shouldn't be doing any sharp turn while in 4wd. Here's a little test. Lock the hubs in but don't engage the transfer case and see how it behaves.

 

[Ranger44]

The bearings in the hub could be shot.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

I'm thinking you've got a hosed pinion bearing, there should be absolutely NO play in the pinion bearings. Proper pinion bearing preload is essential to the life of the bearings and the gear mesh pattern.

 

[4x4junkie]

+1

The problem is the loose pinion (with that much play, how is it not leaking?)

 

[azaizai]

Thx for the responses guys!

i'm gonna guess that fixing that pinion bearing's not exactly an easy thing to do...i mean, when I said less than 1/2 an inch...I meant it. It doesnt move much at all. There *is* movement, up and down, but its small. I just want to make sure that its a "absolutely no movement allowed" situation. I can always get my gauge out and check it.

here's a few more symptoms that may fall in line with what you guys are saying.

so, on the road, anything over 25...hubs locked, xfer case in 2wd...it still makes the hum.

on the other hand, hubs unlocked, xfer case in 4WD high...there's a rotating vibration at speed and a hum, but louder and different than the other one. i assumed it was that the front drive shaft was spinning without any tension/torque to deliver

So uh...assuming its the pinion bearing...does this mean that pipe dream #4000 of getting 4.10 gears could be lumped all together?