Front Hubs

[Flawless_Ex]

Well i lost 4wd the other night and got stuck and had to be winched out by two trucks that were double anchored (quite a PITA) just wanted to know if the wheel bearing assembly and the hubs are one part or if theyre sepereate.

[dhanna6powerstroke]

Originally Posted by Flawless_Ex

Well i lost 4wd the other night and got stuck and had to be winched out by two trucks that were double anchored (quite a PITA) just wanted to know if the wheel bearing assembly and the hubs are one part or if theyre sepereate.

The actual 4x4 hub is just held in place by a snap ring that can be removed with a pair of needle nose pliers.

[Flawless_Ex]

Originally Posted by dhanna6powerstroke

The actual 4x4 hub is just held in place by a snap ring that can be removed with a pair of needle nose pliers.

How easy of a repair is it? Right now when I click into 4x4 it just clicks and won't engage

[Bad Night]

Like a ratcheting sounding click , if so you could have striped the axle shaft of the inside or the hub assembly . Did you check to be sure the trans case is engaging ? I have one bad bearing assembly right now and my truck wont engage unless I get out and manually lock that hub , mine is because the seal is out and it causes a vac. leak . The whole front end comes apart relatively easy . You can pull the hub lock without even jacking the truck up . Just remove the center cap , remove the snap ring and then work the hub lock out . They are o-ringed and can be a pain to get out . Some times you have to tap them back and fourth with a rubber mallet .

[Flawless_Ex]

Originally Posted by Bad Night

Lick a ratcheting sounding click , if so you could have striped the axle shaft of the inside or the hub assembly . Did you check to be sure the trans case is engaging ? I have one bad bearing assembly right now and my truck wont engage unless I get out and manually lock that hub , mine is because the seal is out and it causes a vac. leak . The whole front end comes apart relatively easy . You can pull the hub lock without even jacking the truck up . Just remove the center cap , remove the snap ring and then work the hub lock out . They are o-ringed and can be a pain to get out . Some times you have to tap them back and fourth with a rubber mallet .

Yea a clicking ratcheting noise. Damn how much am I looking at in $$? I manually engage everytime too

[Bad Night]

Originally Posted by Flawless_Ex

Yea a clicking ratcheting noise. Damn how much am I looking at in $$? I manually engage everytime too

Is that noise in the front hub , and now 4x4 wont work at all ? If so it is probably the hub lock , the axle shaft is probably ok , usually the hub lock strips before the axle shaft . I think the hub likes are like $80 bucks , the bearing assemblies are like 220 - 250 , the seals are another 40 - 60 bucks or so , if you need the axle shaft it's like 90 bucks (Super Duty Dana 60 Outer Axle Shaft) . I will be doing all of this plus upper and lower ball joints on mine next weekend , both sides . I don't need the hub lock though , mine are okay .

[Bad Night]

Here is a link with some good pics of it all disassembled . http://superdutydiesel.com/wiki/tiki...p?articleId=35

You may not need the bearing assembly , pull the hub lock first and see what you have .

[cghoerichs]

There are some things to check first. If only one hub or is out or partially engaged you will get a clicking noise as the hub attempts to grab and the other doesn't spin because of the first one. Both hubs have to be working to get 4x4 or it will spin free on the bad side and will often have a clicking sound.
The steps to check to see what is going on.
1. Leave everything out of 4x4 (hubs and dash switch) do the ujoints to the front wheels turn? If no pull the hub that doesn't turn and try again. Ujoints should both turn free when nothing is in 4x4 and a broken hub can hold one hub hard enough to prevent ujoint from spinning but not hold when 4x4 is needed. If everything is free then
2. Turn hubs to lock. Check to see if ujoints are locked and don't turn. If one is and the other isn't that is the hub that is bad. Pull and fix or get new and replace both.
3. If both hubs lock in #2 turn hubs to free and dash to 4x4 and have someone drive the truck. You should see the front drive shaft turn. If it doesn't you have transfer case problems which it sounds like you don't because you hear clicking.

[Flawless_Ex]

My front driveshaft still spins but in 4x4 both hubs click under acceleration. So are replacing the hubs as easy as taking wheel off, taking the pins out pulling hub and replacing?

[Flawless_Ex]

My wheel bearings and stuff are still good i just replaced them in October.