Auto 4wd question for '98 EB SOHC. Auto hubs or fornt axels/diff always engaged?

[ThunderB]

I have a 98 EBX with the SOHC and the “auto” 4wd. How does this system work? I’m hearing a roaring noise at hwy speeds and I’m wondering if the front axels and differential are engaged all the time. Shouldn’t this truck have auto hubs that unlock the axel and transfer case? I crawled under the truck whith it turned off and attempted to turn the front driveshaft and axels and they wouldn’t budge, so it seems that they may be engaged or at least there is a lot of friction in the front drivetrain.

So, do we have auto hubs on the ’98 or are the front axels and differential always spinning? What is disengaged for 2wd mode? I’ve read about the brown wire mod, but I’m not really interested in cutting my factory wiring and adding possible problems to the electronics. I’m wonderingif the roaring noise from the front end is normal as I just bought the truck and am not sure what noise are supposed to be there and what indicates a problem. There doesn’t appear to be any binding on dry pavement and the 4WD works good.

B

 

[TPLYNCH]

No auto hubs. Front end is always locked in and moving. 4x4 is engaged via clutch in the t/f case. Check your t/f case and front differential fluid levels. The pinion seals on the front diffy's are prone to leak.

 

[ThunderB]

Thanks, I'll have to take a look.

 

[jayhawkexplorer]

Just to clarify, your truck does not have hubs at all. They were not used after the first generation ('91 to 94) Explorers.

 

[KSMike]

You can do a quick check to see if your auto 4x4 clutch is locked in all the time by pulling out the big green 30amp fuse in fuse box. On mine it controls the control trac clutch and power windows. With the fuse out it may flash the 4x4 light, but it will return to normal when you put the fuse back in. With the fuse out, you will not have any 4x4, hi or low. If it feels better driving on the hiway, you may consider putting in a bypass switch for the clutch as described in another thread.

 

[Exploded Man]

Auto 4x4

What is this brown wire. I am not a fan of this automatic 4x4, is there away this can be disengaged and with out effecting regular 4x4?

 

[nitestalker]

will that pulling fuse thing work on a 91 also? my 4lo light on switch is always on even in 2wd

 

[KSMike]

Nightstalker, you have a different type of 4x4 system in your 91 and it sounds like it has some other type of trouble.

 

[KSMike]

Exploder Man, try this link for the brown wire bypass mod.

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=106593&highlight=auto+4x4