Tons of front wheel friction in 4wd

[tonymasone]

I'm getting a ton of vibration/friction when I put it in 4wd, other than wheel bearings are there any other common things that might cause this, also should I be doing any maintenance on the 4wd drivetrain?

89 b2 4wd auto with elec tcase

[Ranger Dave]

check the diff,see if there is any oil in it

[tonymasone]

check the diff,see if there is any oil in it

recommendation on the type of fluid to refill/replace it with?

[Ranger Dave]

80/90w gear oil

[Ranger Dave]

try just locking the hubs(t-case in 2wd) and see if it acts the same

[tonymasone]

try just locking the hubs(t-case in 2wd) and see if it acts the same

It doesn't have the same amount of friction in 2WD.

[Ranger Dave]

try just locking the hubs(t-case in 2wd) and see if it acts the same

It doesn't have the same amount of friction in 2WD.

did you have hubs locked and drive it?, are the calipers sticking?? jack up each wheel and turn it by hand,

[tonymasone]

try just locking the hubs(t-case in 2wd) and see if it acts the same

It doesn't have the same amount of friction in 2WD.

did you have hubs locked and drive it?, are the calipers sticking?? jack up each wheel and turn it by hand,

The hubs are auto-locking hubs, every once in a while I'll hear clicking from them, and sometimes it's hard to get it out of 4wd once it's in. But once it's out of 4WD the front wheels spin easily by hand. I thought it might be the front bearings but correct me if I'm wrong but if the front bearings were bad, wouldn't it create the same amount of friction in or out of 4wd?

[04sd]

Brakes and wheel bearings turn in 2wd also. I'd look at the u-joints in the axle shafts, and really the only way to check them is to pull the shafts.
Also, a set of manual hubs will cure the clicking and is a good upgrade. It would also let you drive the truck with everything in the front engaged and turning but not engaged at the transfer case.

[drofman]

Make sure tire size is the same on front and back

[Jr Riggs]

OK i got a question. Its winter here in joplin and the roads are pretty bad. I have manual locking hubs. Will it hurt anything if I keep the hubs locked in and drive in 2high?

[Ranger Dave]

OK i got a question. Its winter here in joplin and the roads are pretty bad. I have manual locking hubs. Will it hurt anything if I keep the hubs locked in and drive in 2high?

nope, thats a good idea to keep um locked,so when ya need 4x4,just push the button

[Jr Riggs]

Thats what I thaught but I dont have the push putton i got the shifter.

[joeyy]

I've heard that if you keep the hubs locked it it will decrease your gas mileage and makes parts wear out faster?

[04sd]

decrease your gas mileage and makes parts wear out faster?

Both of those are true statements but the questions is "how much". IMHO it's not enough to really worry about, leave them locked for the winter unless you're planning a very long highway trip on dry roads.