Hubs not engaged

[Ken1]

Yesterday I found myself in a situation where I needed 4 wheel drive. When I used the ESOF all I could hear was click click and from was never engaged.
The dash 4X4 light was on

My question:
1. With 196K on OEM hubs is is time to replace?
2. Could the Click Click be another problem?
3. If I need hubs I was thinking of going to warn and suggestion?

Thanks for the help

Ken

 

[JLDickmon]

more than likely the vacuum lines running to the hubs are rotten and need replacing.. they factory hubs are vacuum driven with a maunal over-ride... the clicking you heard was the vacuum solenoid under the hood (and it's good, otherwise you be complaining about the heat being stuck in defrost only)

when I bought my truck, and first joined this site and heard everyone raggin on about the reliability of the factory hubs, I spent the two Benjie's and got a set of Warn hubs...

pure manual, like my old IHC, but a heck of a lot more reliable...

 

[Big Stu]

Yesterday I found myself in a situation where I needed 4 wheel drive. When I used the ESOF all I could hear was click click and from was never engaged.
The dash 4X4 light was on

My question:
1. With 196K on OEM hubs is is time to replace?
2. Could the Click Click be another problem?
3. If I need hubs I was thinking of going to warn and suggestion?

Thanks for the help

Ken

Damn I'm surprised your hubs lasted that long. I use warn manual hubs on my truck and they hold up to a lot of abuse, I like them a lot.

 

[Ken1]

A few months back I had the orginal ball joints replaced at 190K+/- maybe they did not re-connect the vacuum lines.

Thanks for the reply

Ken

 

[Ken1]

I made a trip to local car wash and high pressure spray to remove some mud off of tires and wheel wells. On return trip I decided to turn ESOF to 4X4. Ina straight line @ 40 MPH all I heard was grinding noise. Turn ESOF off noise stops.

I did check the vacuum box on right fender it all appears to be good.

Thanks Ken

 

[JLDickmon]

sounds like you have one that's hanging up partially engaged (or disengaged depending on your point of view)... you could take them off and dunk them in transmission fluid and re-install them, but I'd just order up a set of Warn's and swap them out..

 

[Ken1]

I went to the local repair shop that installed the ball joints. The two Mechanics were not aware that the Hubs use Vacuum to engage/unlock.
They told me that the second line was a pressure relief line. But anyway I have and appointment Wednesday for them to check hubs in more detail.

What should I be watching for?


I would perfer to keep the auto locking hubs if possible.

Thanks for the above replies and opinions

 

[jestersv]

go to a different shop if they know that little about the auto/manual hubs