IS my 4x4 working??

[K9Exploder]

Here's a stupid question for you all.

Got a '92 XLT w/ auto hubs.

How do I tell whether my 4WD is working or not?? I had read somewhere that the steering feels heavier but I have not noticed that.....

The 4x4 light comes on on the dash but I don't suppose that's any indication???

Thanks!

 

[dtl 2k2 sport]

i think the steering will be more stiff and it'll feel like it binds as u try to turn,! But sense the lights are on, see if you can feel the steering as u turn slowley?

 

[Premier]

Jack all 4's off the ground, engage 4wd and go.

Dont drive around on the street seeing if it works, thats a good way to break something.

 

[dtl 2k2 sport]

We'll i guess that would be the better way to do it!! but where's the fun in that!! ,, actually i was thinking of doing it in a soft grassy area but in the air would be alot better and more pratical!

 

[Ru Dawg]

not sure where stafford is, but if you can find some lightly sandy roads, you could easily tell if the fronts are powered.... (don't try it in too deep of sand, just in case, unless you bring another 4x4 along to get ya out if needed!)

 

[Robb]

Driving in circles with someone looking under your truck would give you the answer.

 

[Doug]

All you have to do is jack up the front end, turn the key to on and put it in 4wd then try turning on the the wheels by hand, if they turn your hubs are shot.

 

[Ru Dawg]

All you have to do is jack up the front end, turn the key to on and put it in 4wd then try turning on the the wheels by hand, if they turn your hubs are shot.

That will test the hubs, but what about the rest of the system? Are the 1st gens' 4x4 the same setup as the 2nd's?

 

[Premier]

Driving in circles with someone looking under your truck would give you the answer.

Not really, my front driveline turns when I am in 2wd.. I am locked though..

Thast what you were referring to right?

 

[dtl 2k2 sport]

stafford, is 45 min south of washington dc, just follow the endless line of traffic!, so i was wrong about the light sand or dirt!, lol, which is worse, mud or sand?,,,we have a few trails w/ some mighty fine clay muck!, kinda of a mix near the water ,, my buddy is wanting to take his f150 w/ micky baha's on it to try them out, ( is this a recipe for disaster?)

 

[Ru Dawg]

woops, I thought dtl started this, no big though!
Mud is probably harder to drive through. Sand can be tricky, especially if you have no experience. Sand also depends on how fine it is and how deep it's soft (packed or not). I've seen 'vettes on Daytona Beach, but 99.9% of 2wd won't go anywhere on the beach of Hatteras Island!!
Don't have much mud experience, but I'd try the clay, as long as you both have a way out if ya get stuck!!!

 

[dtl 2k2 sport]

oh we have a way out!, It's called power of doc martins and walking!,, he's never tried to go off roading, it's a hand me down truck so he fixed it up alittle so we'll see how it goes, but it's all good, i was the first in line to throw my 2 cents in,,

 

[Premier]

I got stuck in some soft deep sand.. damn mud terrains.

 

[Doug]

Do the lights on your dash for the 4wd come on and stay solid? if so more than likely the t-case is fine. If there was some wrong internally you'd know. If you feel there is an issue with the t-case while you have the truck jacked up and in 4wd try turning the driveshaft by hand. that'll tell you if the front end is engaging.

 

[K9Exploder]

THanks for all the feedback...yes the light comes on and stays on.

I'm worried about the hubs... If I jack up the front , press the 4WD button, will the hubs engage though??? I thought the auto hubs would lock only in motion, and that all the 4x4 switch did was lock the t-case and get the front drive shaft spinning.....

 

[TPLYNCH]

That is correct. The wheels have to turn at least on revolution I think for the hubs to lock. You can try disconnecting the rear drive shaft after you've engaged 4x4 and driven 20-30 feet. When you start again, all power to move would be thru the front end. If the the Ex doesn't move then the front end isn't locked in. (this can also be checked by jacking the front end up, with the rear shaft disconneted as well)

 

[Premier]

why would you want to disconnect the rear driveshaft? God, mine was such a ***** to pull...

You can pull it, if you want. Just remember to mark where it lines up at.

 

[DeRocha]

Put a piece of tape on the front drive shaft and see if it moves after engaging 4x4. If it does then your T-case is working. You can also put tape on the axle shafts in the TTB to see if they are moving. Again if they move with 4x4 on your T-case is fine. Most likely your Autohubs are bad. It is a common problem for some people to pack grease into the autohubs. There should be almost no grease in the autohub as too much grease will pre-load the spring at the end of the AutoHub to the disengaged position.

I would engage 4x4 while going 5mph on a straight road. You should hear/feel a slight thump as the T-Case locks the front drive shaft after it comes up to speed. At this point I notice the steering is heavier and a slightly diff tire noise is heard from the front. It should only take an easy turn to really feel the front end gripping the road. A sharp turn can just about bring my X to a stop on dry pavement.

 

[DeRocha]

K9 follow the link in my sig line below to the interactive car guide. It is an animated explanation of how your 4x4 system functions. Anyway when you press the 4x4 button the T-case will lock in the front driver shaft. The T-case uses a clutch system which enables you to shift on the fly while the vehicle is in motion. Anyway the front shaft will enage the front differential which will send power to the L/R axle shafts. These shafts pass through the front wheels and will rotate the front hubs causing them to Lock. Because of the way in which open differentials work a single broken hub will prevent power from going to the non-broken hub.

 

[K9Exploder]

Thanks again for the advice.

I did try the 4x4 on a dirt road this week-end and got some encouraging signs. I tried stepping on the gas from a stop in 2WD, and the truck became a 1 wheel-wonder...same thing afterr pushing the 4WD in and it gripped that dirt and barreled down the road. I still do not hear any significant engagement noise when I switch to 4WD... I am going to take out those hibs and check them this week-end...

Would you guys recommend switching to manual hubs? I'm reluctant because of having to get out of the car in the middle of a blizzard to lock them...on the other hand I've heard you could leave them locked up and just engage the T-case whenever you need 4WD...any thruth to that????