leaving 4X4 hubs locked all the time?????

[5150abf]

The auto hubs on my Ranger are shot, factory replacements are a couple hundred a peice.

I read that you can modify the old vacuum hubs to be locked all the time, that way it is still automatic but is that bad?

Bearigs are a couple hundred too so I don't want to wreck those either.

I can get manual hubs for less that $200 but would obviously rather stay automatic.

Thanks.

 

[Subliminal]

Re: leaving 4X4 hubs locked all the time?????

I grew up and started driving in Alaska. I liked manual hubs the best, as we would lock them in in the fall and unlock them in the spring...then there was no waiting when you pull it into 4wd.

That being said, you do burn noticably more gas with them locked in, as your engine is turning more parts, even if it isn't pushing the front wheels.

As to your particular predicament...I'm sure it will be harder on things to have the extra parts spinning.

That being said, bearings shouldn't cost you 'a couple hundred dollars' in parts. They should probably cost less than $100 for both sides, as long as you're doing the work yourself.

For hubs and the like check car-part.com. It's a salvage yard search engine.

 

[witenite0560]

Re: leaving 4X4 hubs locked all the time?????

Wrecking yard would be my choice, too. I agree, bearings should not be more than $50 - $75 bucks.

You will notice a lot more wear and tear on tires and other running gear if you're in 4x4 on pavement.

I may be wrong, but I've never seen vacuum operated hubs. I've owned a couple of Rangers, but not one with switch operated 4X4. Mine were all shifter operated. However, I think on a Ford Ranger, the switch actuates your transfer case and a connected vacuum solenoid operates your axle, not your hubs.

On a Jeep, the vacuum operates a sliding dog that connects the front axles when you engage the transfer case either with a switch or shifter. I believe the switch operated Fords are similar.

In both examples, the hubs are actually always locked to the axles, it's just a matter of whether the axles are allowed to free wheel.

 

[Knightgang]

Re: leaving 4X4 hubs locked all the time?????

Wrecking yard would be my choice, too. I agree, bearings should not be more than $50 - $75 bucks.

You will notice a lot more wear and tear on tires and other running gear if you're in 4x4 on pavement.

I may be wrong, but I've never seen vacuum operated hubs. I've owned a couple of Rangers, but not one with switch operated 4X4. Mine were all shifter operated. However, I think on a Ford Ranger, the switch actuates your transfer case and a connected vacuum solenoid operates your axle, not your hubs.

On a Jeep, the vacuum operates a sliding dog that connects the front axles when you engage the transfer case either with a switch or shifter. I believe the switch operated Fords are similar.

In both examples, the hubs are actually always locked to the axles, it's just a matter of whether the axles are allowed to free wheel.

WN,

On Fords, the Auto Lock hubs are operated by Vacuum. I have seen alot of Ford F-250s that have a broken vacuum line and therefore will not actuate the hubs. Each manufacturer does something different. For example, Chevy has Auto, Shift on the Fly 4X4, but all they are engaging is the transfer case and the Front differential. The Front Axles are always locked to the hubs and cannot be unlocked, so you are always turning the front axles inside the housing..., but not the front driveshaft.

For 5150, You can manually lock your hubs to still have 4x4, but you will experence fuel milage drop, and more wear on the front end and front driveline... Switching to manual hubs is an option, but if it were me, I would only do it if I only used 4wd on certain known occasions. If you have to use it often and unexpecantly, I would want to put back autolocks...
Additionally, what year is your Ranger? I just checked a 2005, so that year and newer you cannot replace the front wheel bearings, it is a hub assembly. I bet that backs up to the late 90s that way as well... The wheel hubs are not cheap...

 

[rbh]

Re: leaving 4X4 hubs locked all the time?????

Well the wife has a 91 ranger with 390000+ km on it and it still runs great as the km on it are mainly hwy.
About 8 years back we expierenced problems with the hubs, yes the auto hubs, so we replaced them with warn manual hubs.
then we expierenced problems with the "electric" 4x4 shift motor on the transfercase, replaced that.
Now we only deal with the front bearings loosening every six months or so
(235.75r15 tires are to big and aggresive for the little spindles)
So remember that rangers and broncos have either electric motors or manual linkage, not air in those years and should be engaged and dissengaged regularly so they dont stick when you need them.
manual hubs are better on fuel as you can fully take them out.
keep an eye on the front bearings as they can back off.
and remember not to drive around with the 4x4 engaged on dry roads or your askin for trouble
rob

 

[H20Rat]

Re: leaving 4X4 hubs locked all the time?????

Ford, dodge, and Kia have all run vacuum locking hubs at one point or another.

I've personally dealt with the 97-99 kia system which is nearly identical to the early 2000's dodge system. I'm guessing Ford is fairly close to this as well.

The vehicle has a regular 4x4 transfer case lever on the floor which does shift the transfer case. The lever also activates a 12v solenoid that opens up a vacuum line into a splitter, one line going to each of the front spindles, and into the wheel hub. Lots of places to fail! I replaced the rubber tubing in the wheel well numerous times, that lasted a couple seasons each. Finally one of the spindles itself started to leak, so putting on a new hub would do absolutely nothing. (4x4 would work if it wasn't too cold. Below zero and the leak was bad enough it wouldn't pull a vacuum in the hub anymore)


Best decision EVER was to put a pair of $100 WARN manual locking hubs on there. I knew I would never have to wrench on that system again, ever! If if you do replace the hub, you are just delaying the next failure because there are so many places where it can potentially leak. And keep in mind those vacuum leaks are in your wheel well. Any leak is potentially sucking tons of really nasty dirt right into your engine. It goes without saying it was a REALLY great feeling ripping out that solenoid and extra vacuum lines!

 

[The_Kid]

Re: leaving 4X4 hubs locked all the time?????

Here's a good link to troubleshoot your hubs.
http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/HubDiagnosis.html

 

[ThumbPkr]

Re: leaving 4X4 hubs locked all the time?????

When Chrysler changed over to American Axles a few years ago they eliminated the the ability to disengage the hubs altogether.I don't know if that is still the case but I believe it was at least tried for a while.Ron G

 

[45Auto]

Re: leaving 4X4 hubs locked all the time?????

All the 4WD Jeep Cherokees made since the early 90's have no way to unlock the front hubs. They had a vacuum disengagement on a front axle shaft up until 1991 or so. Since then they're permanantly locked to the axles. Only effect is that the internal diff gears and front drive shaft are spinning all the time.

It does mean that you CANNOT put a positive locking diff on the front end without adding some kind of disengagement (hubs), or you won't be able to go around a corner.

I guess the Jeep (Chrysler) people figured that if the rear diff and drive shaft could handle turning under power for a couple of hundred thousand miles, the front could darn well survive just as long since it would be coasting about 90% of the time. It probably costs a mile or two per gallon in fuel efficiency.

I sold my 1992 Cherokee a year or so ago with 180,000 miles on it, never had any problems with the front end.

 

[5150abf]

Re: leaving 4X4 hubs locked all the time?????

Thanks guys.

I went ahead and got a pair of good manual hubs on Ebay for $100, same part online was $167 so I got a good deal.

Yes the bearings are $267 from the dealer, it is an assembly with the abs sensor built in, theyu can be had on Ebay for less but that is what they cost.

I called the dealer just for grins and new factory vacuum hubs were $175 a side, OUCH!