Automatic Hubs

[bidibronco]

I have a 94 with the auto hubs. When I'm just in two wheel drive should I be able to spin my front drive shaft? It seems like my hubs are still locked in. Maybe I just don't know what I'm talking about? Any info would be great! :blink:

 

[firelt90bronco]

I just solved this one on my 90. The front shaft shouldn't move in 2wd, if the rig is making a knocking from the rear and turns really bad, the 4x4 may be stuck on. I had to check a circut breaker on my fuse box it should be a 30 and work with the power door locks. The breaker will be silver and look like a fuse, but it will say 30cb. On list of fuse locations, look for shift-on-the-fly and replace where needed.

Good luck, it may be your transfer case. >-

 

[Seabronc]

I just solved this one on my 90. The front shaft shouldn't move in 2wd, if the rig is making a knocking from the rear and turns really bad, the 4x4 may be stuck on. I had to check a circut breaker on my fuse box it should be a 30 and work with the power door locks. The breaker will be silver and look like a fuse, but it will say 30cb. On list of fuse locations, look for shift-on-the-fly and replace where needed.Good luck, it may be your transfer case. >-

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Unless the 94+ 4WD was changed in the way it operates, the front shaft should spin in 2WD unless the hubs failed to disengage. You engage/disengage the auto hubs by shifting into /out of gear and then moving in the oposiet direction for about 10 ft.

>-

 

[bidibronco]

In the owners manual, it said to back up aprox. 10 ft.... I backed up like 30+ ft in two wheel drive and I still couldn't turn the drive shaft without seeing the front tires try to spin. Is there a way to make sure the front tires are unlocked?

 

[Ski]

In the owners manual, it said to back up aprox. 10 ft.... I backed up like 30+ ft in two wheel drive and I still couldn't turn the drive shaft without seeing the front tires try to spin. Is there a way to make sure the front tires are unlocked?

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I had the opposite problem in my 96 bronco, I took my hubs araprt and found that the grease was like clay and froze my hubs into 2wd. Might be an easy fix to disassemble them and **** them with fresh grease. cheap fix, easy to check.

 

[firelt90bronco]

Push the 4x4 button and if it works, then its not a cicut breaker. I am telling ya, that has to be the problem.

 

[bidibronco]

I don't have the push button 4x4, just the auto hubs. I have the 2hi-4hi/ low range selector to my transfer case on the floor. :huh:

 

[firelt90bronco]

Okay, well then maybe its the motor on the transfer case

 

[bluesman17]

Take the hubs out, Id be willing to bet thats the problem and if you have the hubs out youl find out for sure and already be a step up in the replacement process.

 

[ocalabronco]

Okay, well then maybe its the motor on the transfer case

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read the post prior to yours. he DOES NOT have the push button 4wd, his is a manual t-case. therefore, it has NO MOTOR on the back of the t-case

if it is in fact your hubs that have take a dump, now would be a good time to switch to manual hubs. they are much more reliable to deal with, and install the same as auto hubs

 

[bidibronco]

So when they say "automatic" they're just a *** way of turning the locker part of it huh? I think auto hubs are for the lazy people who are scared of a little snow and mud huh? I think next paycheck I'll get a set of manual hubs and replace them. Does anyone think that I could got a set off of an older Bronco, say, from the salvage yard? Or would it possibly cause a problem?

 

[mbtech2003]

FYI when the transfer case is in 2wd the connection between the front and rear driveshaft is severed. when this happenes, lets say u were just in 4X4 and u move the shifter into the 2wd spot. the front driveshaft is still gonna spin untill u reverse direction. IF you climb under the truck and spin the driveshaft by hand it should turn about 3/4 of a turn both ways to act like the truck is in motion. IT WILL TRY AND TURN THE WHEELS. thats why the auto lock hubs are there. when u reverse the drag unlocks the hubs and leaves them disengaged untill u move the shifter back into 4X4. hence turning the driveshaft will relock the hubs.

hope this helps :huh:

 

[Ski]

So when they say "automatic" they're just a *** way of turning the locker part of it huh? I think auto hubs are for the lazy people who are scared of a little snow and mud huh? I think next paycheck I'll get a set of manual hubs and replace them. Does anyone think that I could got a set off of an older Bronco, say, from the salvage yard? Or would it possibly cause a problem?

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If I am not mistaken you cant just go from automatic to manual hubs. You will need to get a conversion kit. Warn makes a good manual locking hub and conversion kit for just such a situation. my 2c

 

[bluesman17]

If you have 5 pins you dont need the conversion kit, if you have 3 you need it.

 

[ocalabronco]

If I am not mistaken you cant just go from automatic to manual hubs.  You will need to get a conversion kit.  Warn makes a good manual locking hub and conversion kit for just such a situation. my 2c

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whether or not you actually do need the conversion kit is still debatable, but you can swap directly from auto hubs to manual. how do i know? i've done it abut 50 million times swapping axles, rotors, calipers, axle seals, packing wheel bearings, the list goes on

 

[ocalabronco]

So when they say "automatic" they're just a *** way of turning the locker part of it huh? I think auto hubs are for the lazy people who are scared of a little snow and mud huh? I think next paycheck I'll get a set of manual hubs and replace them. Does anyone think that I could got a set off of an older Bronco, say, from the salvage yard? Or would it possibly cause a problem?

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exactly. its spring loaded to automatically engage the front axle shafts when 4wd is selected. great if you dont use 4wd all that often or are super lazy. but the mechanism acts up quite frequently. manual hubs are super cheap, top-of-the-line ones are only around 115 bucks. i'd just sack up and buy a set of new ones, Warn manuals are really nice for the price, i havent had any issues with them yet. i had superwinches previously, but they rusted out really quickly even full of grease. literally, all that is involved with installing the manual hubs (at least for the 5 bolt autos) is unscrewing some allen screws, taking off some snap rings removing the assembly, and reversing the removal to install the new setup.

 

[mbtech2003]

New auto hubs are like 125bucks a side so spending like 100 bucks for a set of manuals are well worth the trip outside the truck to engage them B)

 

[miesk5]

New auto hubs are like 125bucks a side so spending like 100 bucks for a set of manuals are well worth the trip outside the truck to engage them B)

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I agree; our's blew out twice within 12k miles; bought the 96 new and knew it would be a problem from day 1.

You can always lock the hubs and shift into and out of 4x4 high if road conditions change during a few day or as some do, all winter in snowy/icy places. Some wear, but worth it in safety terms.

 

[cw95bronc]

Just replaced the 3 bolt (on the cover) auto locking hubs for warn premium manuals on my 95 bronc with push button selector. Now there is no doubt that my 4x4 is engaged or disengaged. The A#@hole mechanic that did my bearings last put more grease in the locking mechanism than on the bearings and when I got stuck this hunting season, both hubs exploded the 4 prongs that engage. But I guess it could have been worse like the axle or transfer case.