maintence on auto hubs

[kdogg212001]

ok on the auto hubs i am about to do the same thing, i am going to take auto hubs from my donor explorer(91 xlt) and put them on my 94xlt but i am thinking about trying that little test with the duck tape, i was wondering if someone in here could tell me whats the best was to clean the old grease out of the hubs i am taking off the 91?? and after cleaning them should i re-grease them?? or how much if any??

 

[F14CRAZY]

Set the hubs down and dump automatic tranny fluid, diesel fuel, kerosene, or other decent oily cleaning agent. let that sit for an hour or so. You can swirl it around and replace the detergent a couple times to get all the crap out. Then dump it all out and let them sit and drain for a while. Then wipe out all the remaining stuff. You'll be good to go. The hubs are NOT supposed to greased.Wipe off the excess grease that's on the axle itself too.

 

[kdogg212001]

thanks so much man i have been waiting for someone to give me a response on that for like a couple weeks!! oh yeah i heard there are bearings in the hubs should thoes not be greased?? or will the atf take care of that ????

 

[F14CRAZY]

The ATF will be sufficient. Remember that grease is the auto hubs worse enemy.

 

[XLimited]

Really is that true about the grease being the auto hubs worse enemy, I just loaded both of my metal cams and the outer piece with grease, How can it be bad for the hubs?

 

[F14CRAZY]

Ah! It wpuld seem that grease would be good for the hubs but it isn't. They need to be fairly dry for positive dis/engagement.

 

[Brock94]

The only movement inside the hubs is a gear that slides in and out when the hubs are locked or unlocked. There's just not that much friction involved as with a wheel bearing or something that's moving all the time.

The absolute best way to clean the auto hubs is to take them apart. If you use a long-thin c-clip tool and remove the c-clip you can see at the bottom of the hub (looking down into it when it's off the truck), then the whole cam assembly and internal bearing slide right out and give you access to use solvents and a rag and clean it out really well. I used the ATF method several times before it loosened up enough for me to realize that the little bearing inside was worn out. When I took the hub apart, I was amazed how much dirt was still in there. Anyway, on reassembly you can give a very light coat of grease. You can also check the bearing to see if it's worn out and replace it. It is a sealed bearing and you should avoid using solvents on the hub that will go inside the bearing and dissolve the grease that's in it.

The best thing about taking the hub apart in my opinion was that I was finally able to figure out how the thing worked.

 

[bipolarbob]

Throw them in the garbage. Buy some warn's.

 

[F14CRAZY]

Oh no you did not just dis my auto hubs

 

[bipolarbob]

Not just yours....all of them

 

[Brock94]

I see the point about the Warns-- my autohubs failed me at a bad time. I was at the bottom of a long driveway in the mountains in New Hampshire during a snowstorm (I popped it into 4x4 with the wheels spinning). The truck just sat there for two days until I was able to get a junk yard to send me a replacement hub, then I drove out with no problem. That cost me about $100 for one used hub.

Since I don't use them much though, I really like the convenience of the auto-hubs and I now carry a spare that I picked up for cheap from someone converting to manuals. I'll just be careful not to pop it into 4x4 with the wheels spinning.

 

[jordan1948]

ALright I know this is a really old thread and this is probably a stupid question but when I go to clean my auto hubs if I'm understanding right all I have to do is remove the tire, pull off the hub abd clean the inside of it along with the "shaft" the it goes on?

 

[Tbars4]

...You can find all the information relating to Auto or Manual hubs in this thread...
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=232754

 

[jordan1948]

Alright thanks Tbars

 

[Tbars4]

...Your very welcome...

...If you look at the bottom of the first post, you will find the answers you seek...:biggthump

 

[BrooklynBay]

This link is # 27 in my list of useful threads: http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=122696