Manual Hubs and U Joints?????

[rseeley]

I have a 91 explorer with 238,000 mi. When I bought it in July the 4 wheel drive would engage and light up on the dash. When engaged it made a horrible clicking/crunching noise from the passenger side. (presumably a problem in the hub)
I only drove the truck for a few days, then put it in storage until last week. Now when I push the 4x4 buttons it won't light up or engage. I have been reading threads about cleaning the shift motor and it sounds pretty easy and successful.
If that works, I still have the crunching problem. I read about installing manual hubs which also sounds easy and cheap.
I took it in for inspection today and got talking to the mechanic who used to work for a ford dealership. He insists that you can't take apart the electric motors to clean them without breaking them beyond repair. He also insists that the manual hubs will destroy the axles. He took a quick look at my truck and says the U-joints are also getting bad ($500 to replace).
Anyone know of the manual hubs destroying axles? Are Warn the way to go? Also, any info on changing U-joints (cost and procedure) would be appreciated.
Thanks for any feedback.
Rob Seeley

 

[Byrd91]

I'd say the guy you talked to was full of ****. Anyone on this board will tell you the first thing to do when you get an Explorer is switch out the auto hubs. Anyone who offroads has done this and I've never heard anything about it destroying axles. The noise you heard probably was the hubs. As far as the shift motor goes it can be cleaned and there are plenty of threads on here telling how to do it. Before you do that though, you might try tapping on it with a hammer if its been sitting for a while, my new one needed this done because the person I bought it from never used 4x4 and the motor was sort of froze up. About the U-joints based on everything else your mechanic said I would not let him touch your U-joints until you get a second opinion.

 

[FMExplorer]

Rob,
welcome aboard! What part of Syracuse are you from? I was born there and lived in Pulaski for a while...

I can't help you on the U-joints - although I need to have mine done sometime soon.

On the hubs: The auto's suck - plain and simple. Warn and Mile Marker both make manual replacements. About $150-$200 for parts and the swap is easy. Should take about 1 hour total.

The hubs will still be the weakest link in the drivetrain (and should be). I just stripped one out last week. The casue: A u-joint that isn't totally tight. The extra torque from stomping on the gas ripped right through the hub. Don't worry about breaking an axle because of the hub. Probably won't happen.

Jon

 

[rseeley]

Thanks BYRD91... I would tend to agree, although his shop came highly recommended. Sounds like he is trying to turn a buck off of me.
I have read probably 100 threads regarding these issues, so I tend to trust this site over this local hack.
When the manuals are in, I can leave them engaged and just use the dash button, correct? I know this probably isn't recommended for long periods, but maybe just during snowy days so I don't have to continually pull over and switch the hubs.
Do you know how I can check the U joints, and how difficult it would be to change them?
Thanks again, I'll give it a shot.

 

[rseeley]

Jon,
Thanks for the input! It's nice to hear from a CNY native! I bet you miss those wonderful Pulaski winters. I live in Fulton and work in Syracuse. This is my first Explorer and this site has been a tremendous resource so far. I think I will go ahead and try the manuals, although I suppose I should investigate the u joints first.
Thanks again.
rob

 

[RangerX]

Originally posted by rseeley
He also insists that the manual hubs will destroy the axles.

He makes an interesting statement, considering Warn-made manual hubs were a factory option!
I would consider that a sign of either his knowledge or his trustworthiness.

 

[CADDYBILL]

I would consider that a sign of either his knowledge or his trustworthiness

It may not be either. In my exoeriance there are a lot of machanics that feel that if it's not stock it's not right.

 

[Byrd91]

rseeley,

Check the other current post about manual hubs for info about leaving the hubs engaged. Yes you can leave them in on snowy days like you suggest. I've heard that people leave them locked all winter, but I wouldn't. I just put mine in if there is a chance I will need 4x4. I've heard about checking twisting play in U-joints, but I'm not sure about our front axle ones. Check with a different mechanic I'd say.

 

[FMExplorer]

Rob,
I don't miss the cold - on a continuing basis. I do miss the fishing though! The steelies outta be running up river pretty thick now. I get up there still about 1-2 times/year. My parents live up at Sandy Pond in the summer and down here in FL in the winter, so I always have a place to go when I want to catch some trout or salmon!

J

 

[rseeley]

Thanks to everyone for their input.
If anyone else has experience with these problems, I would love to hear about it.