Yet another 4 x 4 question / Auto Hubs

[walterd140]

Anyone know where, besides the boneyard, I can get the cam assembly?

I figured out the passenger side cam assembly is toast. Look at the photos I put up. The passenger shaft was turning because it was trying to engage, but the innards were so bad that it would not let it. This is why 1 shaft was turning & the other was not.

I cleaned up both auto hubs, and now get a grinding noise from the driver side one. This seems to back up my thinking because now the passenger side is un-gummed up & not engaging.

Is this sound reasoning?

 

[DeRocha]

Oops.. I failed to indicate the passenger side must be rotated "CLOCKWISE" during the test..

Test for blown Auto hub
1) Put T-Case in 4x4 (engage 4x4 for 20' while going forward to give autohubs a chance to lock)
2) Put Transmission in park
3) Jack up the Left (driver's side) front tire and try and rotate the whole wheel (Counter clockwise).
5) Jack up the Right (passenger side) and try and rotate the whole wheel (Clockwise).
4) If you can move either wheel it indicates the autohub Failed to lock and is bad.
*Do not reverse direction in this test as an autohub could be unlocked. Also pay attention to the direction of the rotation (if you rotate the wheel the wrong direction it will unlock and invalidate the test.

 

[walterd140]

Either way I have a bad passenger side hud cam. I found out FORD does not carry the innards. Tried Warn web site & no luck either. So off to the scrape yard I go in hopes of getting some good ones.

Looks like there is TONS of parts available for manual hubs, so if you don't have a yard near you, then switching is your only option.

 

[Tbars4]

...Or you could read post #21 of this thread...
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=232754

 

[walterd140]

That may be an option as well tbars, but I'm going to try the yard first. I should be able to take either side, right?

 

[DeRocha]

That may be an option as well tbars, but I'm going to try the yard first. I should be able to take either side, right?

Yes.. HUBs are universal and will fit either side. The problem with used autohubs at the junkyard is they are used and most likely in the same condition as yours (ie one step away from being totally useless). It can be very frustrating pulling old parts, putting them on your truck and having them initially work, but fail during the next snow storm when you really need them. For peace of mind alone I would switch to manuals. Every time I used 4x4 with autos I was waiting for them to break. IMO your best bet would be to find manual hubs at the boneyard (you can run a mixed bag of auto and manual hubs if you can't find 2 manuals). it would be I haven't found anyone that sells the autohub cam assemblies.. Tbars found that warn makes the individual parts and maybe the can be obtained from them at a reasonable cost


Set of brand new manual hubs on Amazone $155

 

[mikeinri]

If you're a casual user of 4x4 (snow only, or rare use on fairly flat ground offroad), well maintained auto hubs are perfectly fine.

If you're doing a lot of offroading, I agree, go to manuals.

I have 280,000 miles on my 94 (have owned the truck since 1999), and only had auto hub trouble once, and it was because they were gunked up with grease.

Besides the maintenance (which is really just an annual or biannual cleaning and lubing), you do have to use them at least once every month or two, just to keep everything moving.

Mike

 

[walterd140]

Intresting DeRocha.... so are you saying I can have 1 auto & 1 manual?

Also, to Mikes point.... I don't really go tearing up dirt or mud. I use the 4wd when the weather gets bad. True that here in Mass it's a lot of times, but I don't use it every weekend.

Also, if you looked at the photos, you can see a lot of damage there. If they are universal, then that poor thing has been grinding for some time.

 

[DeRocha]

Intresting DeRocha.... so are you saying I can have 1 auto & 1 manual?

Also, to Mikes point.... I don't really go tearing up dirt or mud. I use the 4wd when the weather gets bad. True that here in Mass it's a lot of times, but I don't use it every weekend.

Also, if you looked at the photos, you can see a lot of damage there. If they are universal, then that poor thing has been grinding for some time.

Yes, you can have one auto and one manual. But obviously having both the same kind would be recommended (for ease of service). I ran autohubs for 10 years (with moderate wheeling) and they held up just fine. I even had brand new Warn manual hubs at home (for back up) and still wheeled with autos waiting for them to break, but they never did. I ended up giving the autos away for free to another local member. IMO they gave me little trouble because I would service them @ least once/year, where most people rarely touch them.

The big benefit of manuals is that you positively lock them and you know they are locked. Whereas with autos you have no clue if they are locked or not unless you perform the broken hub test(s) above.

 

[mikeinri]

...sort of...

You know they are locked when everything is working...

It's only when they're not working that life gets interesting...

Mike

 

[walterd140]

Well, I sent the pics to Warn & I hope they can give me a price list. I really would like to stay with the auto's, but if there is no other way then I will have to switch. If Warn comes back with a list & prices I will pass it on.

Just sucks because I bought brand new tires & wanted to spin them all tomorrow when we get hit again by 'old man winter'. I really miss keeping all 4 on the road & not having them spin out on me.

Well, it's New England. I'm sure another storm will be here before the weekend. If your reading this from Arizona, you don't know what your missing

 

[walterd140]

Quick update for you all.
Ford says the cam assembly is a discontinued part
Warn does not make it either. They only make the manual conversion kit

Went to the bone yard & found 1 from a 93. Pulled it in about 5 minutes & paid $10. I cleaned the grease off & it looks like it was never used! Only difference is this donor one is plastic & my original was metal. I am expecting to have it go again, but for the money it's not a bad deal. Fit right on without a problem.

Now the 4wd works again. Did both the visual of the front shafts turning & jacked up each tire while in 4wd & spun driver side counterclockwise & passanger side clockwise. Both are locking now.

When it gets warmer I may head out to the yard & pick up some more. Seems like they will become popular in the near future.

Thanks everyone who listened to my woes & helped out. This is the best board for x owners.

 

[HahnsB2]

Well, I sent the pics to Warn & I hope they can give me a price list. I really would like to stay with the auto's,

So you have to go through all that crap again? I wouldn't wish auto hubs on my worst enemy, first thing I did on my X was throw on manual hubs and the spindle key BS fought me all the way, had to mutilate it with a grinder and chisel. You can leave them locked in 2wd for snow if you need to...

Good luck with the autos though

 

[walterd140]

Well Hahns, I would like to stay with original equipment, for a better term. I like the auto hubs because I don't have to get out. But they will have to be replaced with manual seeing no auto hub parts exist in the new market.

I will eventually switch, as most here have done, but for the money..... I'll take the 'quick fix'

 

[99XplorerGuy73]

Hey walter glad to see another ''masshole'' on here lol. i really feel for ya to days snow storm musta been hell for you if you only had 2wd, my auto hubs are workin at this time (knock on wood). Imo i would switch to manual hubs, i hate my autos and deffinetly think manual hubs are a better choice. But i respect the fact you want to keep it stock as long as you can. Just my 2 cents

 

[walterd140]

Hey 99 where abouts are you in Western Mass? If your near Springfield & those auto go out on you.... I'm the local expert on cleaning & fixing

 

[DeRocha]

...Now the 4wd works again. Did both the visual of the front shafts turning & jacked up each tire while in 4wd & spun driver side counterclockwise & passanger side clockwise. Both are locking now...

Glad to hear your 4x4 is now working I'm sure you had a smile on your face when you did the HUB lock test and they actually LOCKED

My Original locking cams were nylon and they never gave me any trouble. As you noted you may not be able to find individual HUB components, but you can buy new autohubs which come will all new components. So If you're willing to pay $$ for autohubs they can still be found..