How to: Lubricate 2nd gen hub - Let's make Explorer's wheel hub last forever! Grease your wheel hub and make it almost indestructible!

[amachinistizme]

Let's make Explorer's wheel hub last forever! Grease your wheel hub and make it almost indestructible!

If my 4x4 automatic hub is bad, does it make a "clicking sound" like a bad "CV"?
I can't tell if it's the Auto locking hub or a CV gone bad?
A reply would be a great help.
I drive a '99 Explorer Sport V6SOHC 4WD

 

[Mbrooks420]

If my 4x4 automatic hub is bad, does it make a "clicking sound" like a bad "CV"?
I can't tell if it's the Auto locking hub or a CV gone bad?
A reply would be a great help.
I drive a '99 Explorer Sport V6SOHC 4WD

It’s not your auto hubs for sure, as you don’t have any.

 

[amachinistizme]

It’s not your auto hubs for sure, as you don’t have any.

I'm confused....
Ford Explorer Sport w/Selectible 4WD{Auto, Hi-4 Lo-4} Does not have Auto locking hubs?

 

[amachinistizme]

It’s not your auto hubs for sure, as you don’t have any.

Could be a CV? it sure sounds like it.

 

[Mbrooks420]

You have a live front axle. You surely have CV axles. If it sounds like one, I’d say it has to be a possibility.

 

[C420sailor]

Bearings/hubs sound like a bearing growl, especially in aggressive turns/lane changes.

 

[J_C]

If my 4x4 automatic hub is bad, does it make a "clicking sound" like a bad "CV"?
I can't tell if it's the Auto locking hub or a CV gone bad?
A reply would be a great help.
I drive a '99 Explorer Sport V6SOHC 4WD

They "usually" don't make a clicking sound, but they can. Usually more of a squeal/humming or growling, particularly when changing direction. If it gets more pronounced the more you are turning, probably the CV.

The lockup for the hubs is past the live axle, in the transfer case, and is only completely locked in 4hi, not 4auto.

One test for hub wear is lift that corner of the vehicle off the ground, grab the wheel at 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock and see if there's play in it. Wiggle small, fast movements so it's more checking the hub and not moving the knuckle and tie rod.

At the same time, both of my front hubs on my '98 went bad to the point of fouling the ABS sensor signal from metal particles in the grease, before there was any detectable play or noise coming from them.