clunking and banging when front axels are locked in

[canine6]

hopefully someone can give me some guidance with this.

I have a 94 limited explorer and seem to be having trouble with the front hubs when locked in. They seem to engage and disengage while in motion along with making some noise.

last week i had the tires rotated. is it possible that the service tech my have not put the hubs on rite. i know they have to go on a certain way.

i have the push button switch for 4 wheel drive.

 

[FMExplorer]

The hubs don't come off when rotating the tires. When the hubs engage, your front end is running with very little differentiation from side-to-side. WHat happens is when you make a turn, the two tires are turning at close to the same rates of speed, but the radius' of the two circles is different, causing the axle to bind up a bit. Clunking CAN be normal, but it isn't always. You could have bushings that are starting to go - the problem would be magnified when in 4x4. When hubs go, you would usually hear more of a grinding/clicking noise than a clunking. I would check all bushings up front before diving into the hubs.

J

 

[canine6]

thanks for the reply FM.

let me rephrase that no the hubs themselves but the covers. and it was most noticible last nite while being in 4wheel. little snow on the roads. front end wouldnt engage rite away from a dead stop. i had to get on the gas a little. going straight i would get the clunking noise.sounded like the hubs were engaging and disengaging. worse case scenario isthe hubs are shot like i have been reading in the other post. ill have to get it to the shop before the next two hundred miles or my warranty will be done.

 

[dejello]

Have you taken off the front tires and pulled the hubs off and looked at them? Could be too much grease/dirt/whatever in there... And they could be shot... One of mine (still auto hubs back then) partially blew apart internally, and kept trying to lock in while I was turning and driving at low speeds... But couldn't hurt to check your bushings too

 

[94EBexplorer]

common problem with the auto hubs doing this is. the peice that engages the 4x4 is held to the the bottom on the hub by a little c clip.... this clip and become wore and sheer off cause the 4x4engaging peice to slide around on the axel splines causing it to enage and disengage while puttin power to the front wheels... check it out take off the hub and if you can pull the inside of it out.... or if it slides back and forth... its shot... time for manuals.

 

[Rhett]

Canine6 also make sure your wheel bearings are ok.

The front axle on my truck popped and banged in 4x4 when the bearings needed attention. Repacked the bearings, and now its great. Like FM said, some binding is normal in 4x4 especially if you're turning on pavement.

 

[canine6]

thanks for all the suggestions. ill get it on the jack stands sometime today and take a look.

 

[canine6]

well the verdict is in. took the x to the dealership today,went for a ride with the technition,left it at the garage and waited for the call.

two hours later i got the call and the verdict is....hubs are shot,u-joints are worn(just replaced year and a half ago). wheel bearings need replaced, and radius arm bushings are worn. Total price....1300 bucks!!

Thank god for extented warrenties(only 9000 miles left on it) still gonna cost me 100 bucks for my deductible and 100 bucks to have the new bearings repacked seeing as how the warranty doesnt cover that.

Asked if they would put in manual lockers. they said they could but warranty wouldnt cover it. when they blow out again ill have something to do.

thanks for all the help guys