'97 Ford 4X4 Pwr stroke Auto locking front hubs

[Motorhead]

A friend of mine has this '97 ford PSD 4X4. It seems that one of the front auto lock hubs is not working as it won't drive the front wheels when the front dif is engaged. I checked and the front driveline is turning and the axel shafts turn also but no wheel drive. I suspect one of the hubs is at fault. Anyone had these apart? What breaks and are the parts available? He wants to sell it so he wants to fix it as cheap as possible. HELP!!!! Thanks Chris

 

[BV]

Auto hubs

A buddy of mine has a 96 Ranger 4x4 and his quite working so he went with the WARN manual hub conversion kit. In taking them apart it appeared that they just got gummy and needed a good cleaning - We still put the manual hubs on so he wouldn't have to worry about them again. It was a pretty easy job.

 

[Nordby]

I own a 96 F250, had the auto hubs replaced with Warns after about 2K miles as they would self-engage around tight corners while still in 2wd. They would stay engaged until you backed up.



That said, I don't know how your buddy could fix his cheaply. I'd say the hub is not engaging. These things are very particular to the grease used in them, the correct viscosity has to be used, and I think there are several different viscosities in each hub. To do it cheap for your buddy, try taking it apart, clean, and regrease with the correct motorcraft grease(s). Don't have a manual, so I really don't know the part #'s for it.



jon

 

[Motorhead]

Thanks for the input guys. I suggested that he change them over to manual locker hubs. He wants me to try to fix the O. E. hub. I thought that there might be a vulernable part to look for. I'll carefully take the in-operable one apart and check it out. I was quoted about $150. from Napa for the conversion... could be the cheapest way. Thanks! Chris

 

[DennyDay]

Auto Hubs

The fix on auto hubs not engaging ---- Remove hubs, and disassemble. Check for wear and burrs and clean up as necessary. Dip all internal parts in ATF and re-assemble, suggest using new screws, as old ones have probably streched. Torque to factory specs. If truck is used in dusty area this need to be done annually. If used in water and mud 2 to 3 times a year.

Denny

 

[JIM S.]

I worked at a ford dealership for a while and the auto hubs are a known weak spot, replacement with manual hubs is the only real fix, but for selling take it apart and see if it can be fixed... . one guy broke three or four hubs under warrenty and finaly got ford to replace in a set of warns under warrrenty, and guess what. . he was never back in the shop for that prob again!

 

[R.ebel]

Ford auto hubs are junk!

We have 3 97 Ford F-250 4X4 gassers at work, all three blew out the OEM auto-hubs. The OEM auto hubs have some plastic parts in them that will fail the first time the wheels are spining and transitioned to pavment. The sudden hookup will blow them out every time. We changed all three trucks to the Warn hubs and have never had any more problems.