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I have an 88 with auto hubs the auto 4x4 goes in great but the hubs dont lock anybody know what the problem might be. I plan in changing to manual hubs but cant afford them now just need the 4x4 to work thanks

Automatic hubs enguage when torque is applied from the axle shaft. It's either going to be a maintenance issue, or something is broke. Chances are it's only one hub that's having a problem, not both.

Unfortunately you can't roll the window up and down 3 times and flick the high beams to make it work. You're going to have to take it apart and inspect. Auto hubs don't have a great reputation, so be prepared to find the worst. Or you may get lucky and get away with cleaning up. Only use a small amount of grease. Sometimes people use too much grease, then when it gets cold, the grease gets thick and won't allow the hub parts to move.

You might be able to narrow down which side is actually causing the problem. Crawl under neath and turn the driveshaft by hand and watch the axle shafts to see if only one side is turning. If so, try to stop that side and see if the other side will start turning. If it locks, then inspect the hub on the side that turns. I don't really know if this method will work with auto hubs though.

nobody thanks for the help I got the hubs to work but still no 4x4 the front shaft rotates but no wheel movement

What do you mean you got the auto hubs to work? Doesn't sound like they are working to me.

Did you lay underneath and turn the driveshaft by hand? To the axle shafts turn?

I got underneath and turned the axle shaft and the hubs locked but the wheels would not turn once it was in 4x4 the drive shaft turned but not the wheels. I manualy turned the wheel and nothing. I think I will try to find a doner car to change everything out

You need to turn the driveshaft by hand and watch the axle shafts.

Is your transfercase electric shift?

my transfer case is automatic

kevin.burkman wrote:my transfer case is automatic

What we have here is, failure to communicate....

Do you enguage 4wd with a lever or a button? Did you try turning the driveshaft by hand?

It is a push button auto and I have turned the shaft by hand

For the sake of troubleshooting we need to be clear on terminology if you want to get to the source of the problem.

There is nothing automatic about your transfercase.

You've made some conflicting conclusions. You initially said "4x4 goes in great but the hubs don't lock".

Then you said that you got the hubs to work and the front "shaft" rotates. Driveshaft or axleshafts?

Then you said you turned the "axle shaft", and the "hubs" locked.

Then confirmed again that you turned the "shaft" by hand.

I'm not trying to insult your intelligence or anything. I know you know what you are talking about, but remember we are 2 thousand miles apart.

If you turn the Driveshaft by hand, and BOTH the left and right axleshafts turn and lock BOTH auto hubs, then all that is functioning correctly, which leads back to your transfercase. Just because the 4x4 light comes on, doesn't mean it's shifting into 4wd. The electric shift is well know to be problematic.

Does your transfercase shift into low range?

sorry to confuse you. The transfer case will go int low and high 4x4 and when I get under the vehicle the front Drive Shaft turns but the axleshaft do not. I can hold the tire and turn the axle shaft by hand and the hubs will lock but when I turn the drive shaft by hand neither front tires will move. I hope this will help sorry again for the miss comunication on my part

That clears up the confusion..... Unfortunately, it doesn't sound good. Sounds like there is something wrong inside your differential.

Has the 4wd ever worked?

At this point, if you are absolutely sure neither axle shaft turns when you turn the driveshaft, then you are going to have to pull the 3rd member. It's a pretty big job.

If you are lucky, it's a spider gear or an axle shaft that's broken. I could also be the ring and pinion gears. I wouldn't advise have a shop repair it. You can probably find a complete front end for much less.

Do you feel any binding or resistance when you turn the front driveshaft?

it does not seem to bind up. I just bought the vehicle about a month ago for 750.00 and the 4x4 did not work when I bought it. Thanks for the help I will probaly start hunting the salvage yards around here and see if I cant find a new front end thanks again for the help

When you swap out the front end, you might as well look for a Dana 35. They came in some 1990 Bronco II's, Exploders, and some rangers.

Nobody
thanks for the help I will plan on changing it out with the dana 35 Will I need to cange the rear end out also or are they geared the same