Only way you can really tell is by taking them apart. The auto hubs in those years weren't a very good design. Those hubs engage with centrifugal force. When the front axle spins, the hubs lock. If you are already stuck with the rear wheel spinning, even if you wait until they quit spinning and engage the 4x4, once the front axle spins and locks the hubs it can and will break the internals of the hubs. I have seen this 1st hand when I worked at the dealership.
i just got to thinking.... if they are centrifugal do they disengage everytime you stop? if they do that could explain why they were popping and according to what my dad can remember from that night the front tires were spinning most of the maybe there isnt anything wrong just the poor factory design disengaging and then re-engaging real hard?
Look at the splines see if they are chewed up. Look at the axle shaft splines see if they are chewed up and damaged. That is a very good sign that the hubs are not working. Being that the hubs are softer metal then the axle shafts usually what happens is, the hub splines strip out. Which allows the axle shaft to spin but not putting any power to the wheels.
My suggestion is just convert to the warn premium manual hubs. If you are worried your auto hubs are not working properly. That is a sure fix.
it all looks fine but i know they werent working last time i put it in 4wd and they were popping hopefully its not something else up there the warn hubs jsut slide right in or do i have to use one of those stupid conversion kits like on the 80's gm trucks?
You have to replace the nut kit to install the Warn Hubs. Every one that I have seen is shattered inside and you could definetely tell when you took it apart. I would replace them with the manuals anyway. Way better and way stronger. If you replace them this is the nut kit you would need. Click this link and it will show you what the nut kit looks like. eBay Motors: New Warn 32721 Manual Hub Spindle Nut Conversion Kit! (item 370068576524 end time Jul-19-08 18:05:25 PDT)
ok thanks man thats what i needed to know but now i kinda think something else is wrong because i put it in 4wd earlier and on some dirt ( i know im not realy supposed to do this ) the front end was poppin everytime i hit it and i was going straight any ideas?
If your hubs were popping the last time you used 4wd. Then your hubs are bad. Now if you do not have the money for replacement hubs. I maybe able to help you out. If someone can tell us if the hubs from a 95 F-150 will work on your truck. I have a set of factory auto hubs at my dads. They are still good. All the parts are there. If you want them I can go get them this weekend. You pay shipping I will send them to you. But I suggest you find out if they will work first.
im not completly positive it was the hubs though i was pissed because i was helping a friend out and then i ended up gettin stuck and then the "friend" left so that me and the guys that i called could try to get the truck out it ended up costing me 200 dollars plus 20 in diesel to get it out the NEXT morning so i wasnt a happy camper at all and now the little a--hole wont return my phone calls at all it was a realy bad day but today when i messed with it it seemed like it was coming from some where else im thinking about pulling the front diff cover off tommorow but its my friends b-day and he wants to go to the beach so idk if i will have time
Well I guess I don't have to tell you. But it sounds like the one guy is no friend at all.
Keep checking out your front end. Also look at the u-joints that are in the steering knuckle on the axle shafts. If they are bad they can cause popping too. It would not hurt to remove the front diff cover and inspect the gears.
i went and found a little mud hole within walking distance of my house and backed into and spun the back tires to make them sink and tried backing out of it and driving straight out in 2wd and it wouldnt come so i put it in nuetral and then pulled the t-case into 4 hi put it back in drive and waited till i heard a little click from the hubs and the slowly rolled into the throttle and it the front tires pulled it out any ideas on why they would work sometimes but not all the time and when they dont work they pop real loud
Hey,that clicking sound it might be vacuum switch huh? or the actual vacum line mighta gotten pulled out. The system pretty much consist of a cylindoid switch and plastic hoses,Fwwop..just suck's the hub's somehow and lock's em. get under your truck and have someone turn the switch and look for leak's, hell you could probalby do it while it's all apart just dont break it worse!!:bdh:
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