help needed-if I pull hubs off front wheels will it freewheel??

[blue89turbo]

Hey guys just got her on the road and noticed that the front diff is turning even in 2WD . I pulled the motor on the transfer case and it works fine. I just jacked up both front wheels and when spinning them I noticed that the u joints and diff still spin. My problem is that I need yo pick up my new boat which is about 400km round trip I would really llike to at least try to free up the front hubs by pulling the whole hub assu off. Will that release them amd allow ME to drive with just rwd? Any help is appreciated

Thanks

[ttyR2]

Yes, but that area is supposed to be sealed up. Your heater controls will stop working as well from the vac leak.

[blue89turbo]

Hmm,

So what do you think is worsen driving another 400km with the front end turning or taking the hubs off and exposing to dirt and no heat??

[psd_va]

If you have the time why dont you disassemble hubs and clean and regrease them. That is probably your problem.

[Zaairman]

You will not harm anything by driving with the hubs LOCKED.

[dieselcrawler]

Originally Posted by Zaairman

You will not harm anything by driving with the hubs LOCKED.

True, based on the assumtion that all your front end universal joints are in good shape... I have a bad universal in my front drive shaft, and at highway speeds, it makes a nice vibration...

Lubing the hubs may work, try that first.

Removing them will definatly free up the front drive line... just seal up the hub, you might use some duct tape across the hub opening, should do the trick keeping dust/water out for a short while. And if the Defrost only situation with the heater/HVAC system is more than you want to deal with, you can disconnect and plug off the vac line at the vac pump on the right front wheel well... one line goes to the firewall for the HVAC sys, one goes down to the axle... as long as you make sure the one to the firewall is hooked up, you have normal HVAC controls... if you don't, you only get defrost, but the hot/cold knob still works. I had to do this on our Ex, the hubs have been switched out to standard ones, and the vac lines are shot going to the hubs, broken and such. I just took them out, plugged the line, and now the HVAC works fine, and the electric motor on the t-case still shifts ok.

good luck...

[Schnot]

Get rid of those junker auto hubs and put some nice mile marker or warn lock outs on it. Then you wont have to worry about it again.