WARN manual hubs won't unlock

[malcolmzilla]

Anyone have any problems with these NOT unlocking / freewheeling? I missed out on 4 wheeling last weekend due to 'em so I took 'em off yesterday.

I disassembled them, looks to me like they are missing a thrust washer or spring or something to move the hubring or what ever it is to get to the freewheel position (internally)...spring pressure appears to hold them in lock position... but if they are missing something, both are as both are locked up stiff and have the same components in the same order, and the dial turns just fine (1/4 turn hubs).

Anyhow, I cleaned and lubed them with spray lithium grease, re-assembled them and re-installed thinking maybe they were just dry (they were very clean inside), but they won't freewheel, even with a bar in the driveshaft to try to bust 'em open...

I even checked the installation procedure in case I had it wrong, but I'm with the directions to a T... Anyhow, I got these just under a year ago, never had 'em off, anyone else have problems with them? I have the spindle locknut conversion if that matters...

I got 'em new from a local dealer, so I expect they'll help me out but sending them back in is a PITA...

Anyone had issues or had them apart?

I might add at least it's not my shift linkage or T-case as I can freewheel the front driveshaft with the front end in the air and the T-case in 2Hi - so it's not my manual t-case swap work and B2 linkage that's suspect! (big sigh of relief) Just my work on the front end!

 

[Muskrat]

ok, they are in the lock position, and you cant unlock them, or can you trun them to unlock and they are still locked? if that's the case, you need to back up to disengage the hubs.

 

[malcolmzilla]

Thanks, but I can turn the dial to "unlock", and tried backing up, but to no avail, they stay locked? Do I need to back up with the front driveshaft enaged (t-case in 4-hi)? In any case there were no special instructions as to how to operate them in the box... I would figure manual hubs should unlock when the dial is turned, regardless of direction of travel?

 

[Muskrat]

there is a cam that needs to disengage when backing up. the tcase should be in 2wd when you go to unlock the hubs. I'm not sure what that problem is, I have not run into anything like it, try contacting Warn and see what they say