Need some help with my hubs....

[PoisonPancakes]

I have a 92 Ford Explorer 4x4 (shift motor not working now) and I have been having problems with the truck. I believe the hubs are locking on thier own. When I take off I hear clunking and i feel the front end jerk around, it only does it sometimes and not often. I've been told before that it was more than likely the hubs, so heres my questions. When you remove the front tire, and take off the hub cover, is all that in there what makes the hubs lock. I want to know if i were to gut out the covers would that keep them from locking up, i'm not worried about not having 4wd since the shift motor doesnt work.

Thanks for helping
Rick

 

[jimbo74]

why dont you fix it instead of trying to bandaid the problem? there really isnt much you can do to gut it... there is nothiong you can remove that it doesnt need to be there

 

[PoisonPancakes]

I dont need the 4X4 and we've never used it in two years. Plus i dont have the money to fix it, i just need to be able to drive it back and forth to work.


Rick

 

[91-Exploder]

Easy fix for the hubs. You will need TIMKEN 200S bearings or similar and a pair of long nose snap ring pliers.

1 - Remove the snap ring which holds the bearing in place and carefully remove the old bearing from the end of the hub.

2 - With a paper towel clean out the excess grease and insert the new bearing in the hub and replace the snap ring.

3- fill the hub 1/2 full of ATF and let it soak for an hour or so.

4 - Drain the ATF and dispose of properly and soak up the excess with a paper towel. The ATF lubricates the internal workings and removes built up crud in the hub. I fill my hubs with ATF whenever I have the hubs off for bearing repacks or brake maintenance. Since learning the ATF trick my auto hubs have been trouble free I had replaced them a couple of times due to the usual problems. Did not replace with manuals due to the wife driving my truck occasionally. She has a nice new X to drive so I've got my X back!

5 - reinstall hub

For about $40 including the cost of the pliers you have fixed the hub "self engagement problem"