is this normal for 4wd??

[knightpitt]

Alright, so here's the idiot question of all idiot questions...

The other day, I was driving the '94 explorer in the snow, I backed the rear end into some ice n'at, but the front was on dry pavement. I put it into 4x4 and all that happened is that I spun the rear wheels. So, is the 4x4 not working, or do Fords have a bad transfer case/center differential design? I really don't know much these trucks, as we just purchased it recently. I do know, however, that our previous Jeep Cherokee would go through this kind of stuff like it was nothing...

Today, since it snowed last night, it was up to more of the same. Essentially it feels as if it's just driving on the rear wheels most of the time, e.g. I can get the rear end to come around under throttle fairly easily. Is this typical?

 

[DeRocha]

No...If you're 4x4 lights are on then the front drive shaft is being powered...If this is the case then your hubs are not locked or are broken. It is very common for Autohubs to fail (weak design)... do you have autohubs or manual?

 

[knightpitt]

they're the auto hubs... I figured that that the hubs only came into play when you go into 4wd low... when they lock up. For what it's worth, when I switch into 4wd low, I can hear the hubs click. I don't know if that means anything...

So, would broken hubs cause the 4wd not to effectively work?

 

[DeRocha]

The clicking noise indicates the autohubs are broken and not locking... Basically when you engage 4x4 the T-case powers the front drive shaft which will send power to the driver's and passenger's axle shafts...HUBS lock the axle shaft to the wheel otherwise the shaft will just free wheel.. Follow the link in my sign regarding how cars work for a diagram showing these components.

 

[knightpitt]

ahh... very interesting... now I know! Thanks so much for the explanation! So... what's the typical part cost for this? And, how bad are the repairs for a DIY?

I've worked on plenty of cars before, just never a 4x4!

Thanks for all of your help!

 

[DeRocha]

It is a fairly easy fix, but new autohubs are $200+ each.... You can get a set of 2 maual hubs (which are many times stronger) for the cost of 1 autohub... With the only downside of you having to get out and manual turn the hubs to lock or unlock... Use the search feature on this site to look up manual hub or autohubs and you'll find lots of info...

 

[F14CRAZY]

It depends. You may be able to get away with doing the Auto Hub servicing trick with ATF. Look it up. Mine werent engaging/disengaging properly (sometimes engaging themselves) but the ATF trick worked fine.

Be careful with the auto hubs though and understand how they work. One thing I don't like is how changing direction get the to disengage and reengage. Say if you head forward into a mud hole and something in 4x4, and get stuck, your instinct it to throw it in reverse. The bad thing is that when the axle starts moving in reverse, its going to hit the hubs pretty hard and could kill them.

 

[94explorerboi]

Bah ! I had this happen this morning to me with my 94' though all 4 wheels were in snow , 4wHigh light was lite, but the front wheels just sat there while the back wheels spun . Ive had problems with the left front not disengaging as well , I think its shot sadly . I looked at autozones website to get some prices on parts and i see they Sell the conversion kits from autohubs to manual , the ones they have listed are Mile_marker any good ?? Im really thinking about going this route if my auto hubs are shot .only thing I dont get is how it would still work LOL but it must work

knightpitt Good luck hope yours is an easy fix ..

Alright, so here's the idiot question of all idiot questions...

The other day, I was driving the '94 explorer in the snow, I backed the rear end into some ice n'at, but the front was on dry pavement. I put it into 4x4 and all that happened is that I spun the rear wheels. So, is the 4x4 not working, or do Fords have a bad transfer case/center differential design? I really don't know much these trucks, as we just purchased it recently. I do know, however, that our previous Jeep Cherokee would go through this kind of stuff like it was nothing...

Today, since it snowed last night, it was up to more of the same. Essentially it feels as if it's just driving on the rear wheels most of the time, e.g. I can get the rear end to come around under throttle fairly easily. Is this typical?

 

[DeRocha]

I've heard good things from both Warn and Mile Maker in regards to manual hubs... What exactly don't you get concerning how it would work?

 

[collkid]

The hubs need for you to be moving to lock, try and get into 4x4 first then see what happends

 

[knightpitt]

Alright, as embarrassing as this is, I'm going to admit it... yeah, this is worse than my question to begin with...

So, the truck doesn't have auto hubs. I was *told* that it had auto hubs and I never checked to verify. After getting home from a completely miserable drive in the snow, I complained to one of my friends, who promptly looked at the hubs and said, "duh, they're not locked, just turn them like this..." Oh. Well. Yep. There you have it. Now, this is what 4x4 is supposed to be like! Now I'm just rooting for more and more snow!

Thanks so much for the replies, guys! I have to tell you, of the miscellaneous car forums of which I am a member, you guys are really, really helpful!!!

 

[94explorerboi]

Least that was a lucky Fix for yeah

 

[94explorerboi]

I've heard good things from both Warn and Mile Maker in regards to manual hubs... What exactly don't you get concerning how it would work?

I just never totally understood how the auto hubs worked, the Ex being my first 4wd with electronic 4wd and auto hubs , im use to the manual shifter and manual locking hubs hehe. Im gonna be checking in to the manual hubs here soon as my explorer is currently off the road . the clunking has actually gotten worse, and theres a chirping sound coming from the right front they both get worse if you go faster, . Saturday nite i was coming home it was snowing I pushed the 4whigh button the chirping had quit , i shut the 4whigh off it started back up again . now neither front wheel is kicking in . lucky me LOL .. Ugh !