Automatic 4x4 hub cam help

[Haskins.jj]

Started to do my brakes and bearings, putting things back together and I'm stumped. I'm trying to get the automatic hub cam assembly back onto the adjusting nut. I've got the key lined up and no matter what I do I can't get the dang thing on. short of beating the snot out of it, anyone have a suggestion? I'm sure its been brought up before, but I'm about to take a sledge to my navajo.
Thanks,
Josh

 

[Haskins.jj]

 

[FR-425]

You just have to go around one lug at a time until you find the right spot.

 

[Haskins.jj]

I ended up using the handle of a hammer to carefully beat the cam assembly on. I started top right and worked around forcefully tapping it on. Made me feel stupid after getting it on.

 

[Rhett]

Sometimes you can take your hub adjusting nut and wiggle the whole assembly left, then right, etc. and it will move just enough to get that key in the hole.

 

[Haskins.jj]

On another note: got everything back together and after a 3-4 mile test drive hubs are pretty warm. I can hold my hand to them. I torqued the adjusting but to 35 ft-lbs to seat the bearings. I don't have an in-lb torque wrench so I tightened the adjusting nut about finger tight and backed it off just enough to get the key in place. How hot should my hubs be running normally? I might pull it apart again and re seat the bearings.

 

[2stroke]

After 4 miles, ice cold. I am wondering if maybe your hubs are locked in.

 

[Haskins.jj]

Wheels spin freely, I could be wrong I'm not too knowledgeable but with the hubs locked, would they spin like that? Could it just be the bearings breaking in? Or due to new brake pads and rotors?

 

[tidmarshsmiths5]

Wheels spin freely, I could be wrong I'm not too knowledgeable but with the hubs locked, would they spin like that? Could it just be the bearings breaking in? Or due to new brake pads and rotors?

Yes, no, maybe so...the 16in lbs is about finger tight but mine still feel too loose.

There is a thread on here to tell if your autohubs are locked...They shouldn't be hot like that...guess is they're locked on.

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=206722

You can reverse 20ft and see if that unlocks them, jack it up or all kinds of fun do it all again stuff.

I don't think I had to tap mine on at all...I think I just kept turning it until it slid on but I have had to tap stuff on before when they say it slides on.

 

[Haskins.jj]

Well to be honest I think I'm just being too cautious, drove it again and seems to be warm after about 12 miles of highway driving but not too hot to touch. I'll just keep an eye on it for the time being.

 

[natenkiki2004]

The hubs will get hot if they're locked in. If yours aren't, might be a bearing issue? Though, come to think of it, I don't think I've felt my hubs in the summer after a drive. Only in the winter after locking them in for a few miles.

 

[Haskins.jj]

I forgot to update, I had driven it down the highway about 12 miles or so. Hubs did heat up some but not so much that I'm panicking. I did check to see if the auto hubs were working properly (thanks tidmarshsmiths5 for the link on the troubleshoot). The only things I could really think to be the issue is either I didn't pack the bearings well enough or the new brake disks/pads are causing excess heat until they get broken in. one doesn't seem to be warmer than the other so I'm just not sure how to pin point it. If I loosen the adjusting nuts much more I might get a ton of play in my wheels... so for now I'm leaving things be and keeping an eye on the hubs.

 

[Rhett]

If I loosen the adjusting nuts much more I might get a ton of play in my wheels... so for now I'm leaving things be and keeping an eye on the hubs.

I ran like that for a couple of years. If I torqued-to-spec, I had a hot hub but wheel play was minimal. If I loosened, I had lots of wheel play. After a few years, it got progressively worse -- eventually, I had to over-torque to keep the wheel play down. At that point...

...I swapped to manuals and am glad I did. If you swap to manuals you will be at peace with yourself and a caveman could maintain them.

 

[Haskins.jj]

I'm sold! Lol next item on my long list, manual hubs!