Replacing auto hubs

[92-XLT-Exploder]

Replacing auto hubs with other ones

A few days ago, the driver side auto hub died after more than a year of making poppping noises and having problems disengaging. So I went to a junkyard and got an other auto hub, I don't use 4x4 enough to justify to the wife spending the money on a set of manual hubs.
So I removed the wheel, I removed the 'cap', put in the one that I got at the junkyard (certified to work), put the wheel back on. I then decided to go for a little test of the 4x4 in the snow, and I still don't have 4x4. I know the problem was with the hub because I could see the front driveshaft turning. So is there more to changing a hub than what I did ? Or is the hub I bought dead or is my other hub dead too ??

 

[92-XLT-Exploder]

bump

 

[MrShorty]

I don't know how commonly it might be the cause of hub failure, but there is the inner "cam" assembly that slides onto the wheel bearing locknut.

 

[JoshC]

I never put an auto hub back on a truck, just taken them off. But i'd just spend the $100 or $150 and get the manual. You may not use the 4wd alot, but when you need it, you will know that it will work, no more of the guessing game.

 

[Tony H]

I know you don't want to spend the Money But just for a real price check, Mile Markers can be bought for $120

http://www.rubicon4x4.com/catalog/index.php/cPath/75_238_1835_1838/sort/5a/page/3
and the Spindle nut kit can be bought on E-bay for about $10 INCLUDING shipping. Search under this.
'Dana 44 Used Spindle Nut Set Conversion'. They are the same nuts. ( the ones with the little Wings have to be ground off the other plain round washers are good as-is.

Having said that can't you put it in 4WD, jack up the front wheels and spin Rotate the axle at the Knuckle on each side of the Ex. which ever wheel doesn't turn is your bad hub. As was stated, there is this Black plastic Cam Assembly that stays on the Spindle, They can get very beat up so much that they do not do their function in locking up the Hubs.
I just did mine this weekend. with E-bay Nuts and Hubs from this website. You'll need to borrow a Spindle nut Socket for tightening the Jam Nut.

 

[92-XLT-Exploder]

If I remove the wheel and the hub, and then I switch to 4x4 should I see something moving like the cam coming forward ?
Also the part inside the hub where the spindle goes, is this supposed to turn freely ??

 

[samhain]

I had a 91 and I lost my autos twice, You prob know that if one is bad they both wont work. My cam was cracked, just plain busted up. So I inspected both sides and replaced the one that was damaged. Do not grease the hubs thats what causes them to fail. Wheel bearing grease gets into the hub and cam assem. causing the cam to bind, or not engage. Ford knows this, thats why they only sell the hub and cams together $$$. Cleaning your hubs is the only way to keep them alive for along time. But hey, Im not a mechanic just a good guesser.

PS. Dude go manual, I finnaly did.

 

[Billy177]

try cleaning everything out with denatured acahol this dissolves any oil or grease at all. your best bet would be to let them soak overnight in it. if this does not work then i would go manual

 

[TheRookie]

just make sure to re grease upon reassembly. Its a MUST

 

[Tony H]

If I remove the wheel and the hub, and then I switch to 4x4 should I see something moving like the cam coming forward ?

NO, all you will see is the splined axle shaft, that comes through the Spindle, spinning.
It works this way: When you engage 4WD, the drive shaft begins to turn, it turns the Axles shafts, the axle shafts go through the Spindle and starts to turn the Auto hubs, the Atuo hubs then react to the turning motion of the Splined Axle shaft and Lock up.


Also the part inside the hub where the spindle goes, is this supposed to turn freely ??
The Metal piece with the three points on it should spin free. The Spline piece that the axle goes into should also spin free. The stuff buried below...no that wont spin free.

 

[92-XLT-Exploder]

Thanks a lot guys !