How to check Auto hubs

[Lurch]

I have developed an occasional clunk at any time whilst driving underfloor and can't seem to find anything wrong, but also when on full lock front wheels seen to grab, have also had the ABS come in when brakes applied hard and seems to be front right hand side some where. Was wondering if i have a problem with one of my auto hubs but unsure the best way to find out if sticking without stripping down, is there any quick check i can do before stripping down ?

 

[dollywobbler]

This is pretty common so have a gander using the Search function. That function alone is worth the price of admission!

 

[Lurch]

Thanks done a search, mine is a 2005 3.0di manual gearbox am i right in thinking these are just fixed hubs and you just engage 4wd lever when required and reverse to take out of 4wd? Or does the hub still perform a function as such? If so may be looking at cv joint shagged.
Just enquired the price of the outer cv joint and can get them for £24.99 inc vat each so may get a couple and replace. Now done 137k so may be the fault.

 

[Fez_uk]

if they are fixed hubs then no need to reverse etc.

Take out of 4wd, The fronts prop will still spin from the front wheels moving.

 

[Kamsin]

i have just done one of them at the weekend, it should have fixed hubs on it, and to be honest not a lot can go wrong with them unless the teeth have worn. When you say the ABS comes on when you brake, is this when you brake hard or just normal ? The clunk you hear, where does it sound like its coming from? front, rear, left right?

The problem i had was the ABS came on during normal braking, so i took the whole front assembly to bits and just left the drive shaft intact. i replaced the front disks as i found defects in the old ones (Only been on 24 months) and the surface of the disk had eroded. I cleaned up the inner hub where the ABS reads and also cleaned off the ABS sensor. Re-greased what needed greasing and copper slipped what did't.

A good dollop of grease on the steering stops and replaced the drop link arms both sides.

Result = As good as new.

I have a fear with yours though that the 4 wheel drive is not disenguaging correctly and your could be winding it up. This would cause all the problems you have. I could be wrong though!

 

[Lurch]

i have just done one of them at the weekend, it should have fixed hubs on it, and to be honest not a lot can go wrong with them unless the teeth have worn. When you say the ABS comes on when you brake, is this when you brake hard or just normal ? The clunk you hear, where does it sound like its coming from? front, rear, left right?

The problem i had was the ABS came on during normal braking, so i took the whole front assembly to bits and just left the drive shaft intact. i replaced the front disks as i found defects in the old ones (Only been on 24 months) and the surface of the disk had eroded. I cleaned up the inner hub where the ABS reads and also cleaned off the ABS sensor. Re-greased what needed greasing and copper slipped what did't.

A good dollop of grease on the steering stops and replaced the drop link arms both sides.

Result = As good as new.

I have a fear with yours though that the 4 wheel drive is not disenguaging correctly and your could be winding it up. This would cause all the problems you have. I could be wrong though!

Hi mate, I get a clunk under floor pan on drivers side, feel it near my feet but can't determine whether front or rear, i have fitted new disc'c, pads, arb bushes, drop links, replaced both outer cv boots as split, and front uj joint on front prop. The front box/diff has a lot of back lash when you turn front prop back and forth, just concerned this might be on its way out. Did leave off front prop for a week and the problem went away so replace joints and refitted but occassionally clunks still!

 

[Kamsin]

Ok, so if you disconect the front prop the problem goes away. So this should of indicated the problem, but not the cause. i suspect i was correct in saying its the 4 wheel drive system, but im no expert.

How is the steering when you disconect the prop, if that is ok as well then then this could be the problem, the front diff could be bust, i would suspect that it has smashed or shead teeth and is causing it to lock up at times or its in the tranfer box and the same problem.

You say its the drivers side, but you would as your driving, what is it like if you sit in passenger seat and let someone else drive? I supect its the passenger side then, as it will feel the same if its the transfer box.

i hope im wrong, but if it walks like a duck and it quacks like a duck, then the chances are its a duck.

I will have a think about it and see if i can come up with some thing else, but if you have done all that work and it still doing it, then its not leaving a lot more for it to be.

but as i said, im no expert.

 

[makeitfit]

I assume this four wheel drive action is happening OFF ROAD and not on the tarmac :augie
Sounds like wind up to me, but then I couldn't be bothered to read it all

 

[Kamsin]

I assume this four wheel drive action is happening OFF ROAD and not on the tarmac :augie
Sounds like wind up to me, but then I couldn't be bothered to read it all

Makeitfit, your an Evil man, LOL.
How you getting on with the Turbo air cooler, i had a thought about that the other day, will loook for your thread on about it and see where your up too.

Wind up = is when you leave the 4x4 turned on when running on the road, they dont like it, it willl cause the drive to get/feel hard, it wont corner very well and you will get a bang every now and again when the teeth jump.

I was guessing you where on about road driving and you had taken it out of 4 wheel drive, hence me saying it had not dis enguaged (Causing wind up)

 

[Lurch]

Ok, so if you disconect the front prop the problem goes away. So this should of indicated the problem, but not the cause. i suspect i was correct in saying its the 4 wheel drive system, but im no expert.

How is the steering when you disconect the prop, if that is ok as well then then this could be the problem, the front diff could be bust, i would suspect that it has smashed or shead teeth and is causing it to lock up at times or its in the tranfer box and the same problem.

You say its the drivers side, but you would as your driving, what is it like if you sit in passenger seat and let someone else drive? I supect its the passenger side then, as it will feel the same if its the transfer box.

i hope im wrong, but if it walks like a duck and it quacks like a duck, then the chances are its a duck.

I will have a think about it and see if i can come up with some thing else, but if you have done all that work and it still doing it, then its not leaving a lot more for it to be.

but as i said, im no expert.

Thanks for info, will disconnect prop again and try steering and drive around for a while and make sure noise has gone, then will look at front diff first as seem to have a lot of back lash in that, transfer box seems really smooth, will check linkage for 4wd lever to see if operating correctly, light goes out when take out of 4wd. Am i right in thinking i have fixed hubs and the 4wd lever just engages the transfer box to make it 4wd? 2005 3.0 manual.

 

[geoffdown]

Thanks for info, will disconnect prop again and try steering and drive around for a while and make sure noise has gone, then will look at front diff first as seem to have a lot of back lash in that, transfer box seems really smooth, will check linkage for 4wd lever to see if operating correctly, light goes out when take out of 4wd. Am i right in thinking i have fixed hubs and the 4wd lever just engages the transfer box to make it 4wd? 2005 3.0 manual.

Yes ur right

 

[Lurch]

Yes ur right

Thanks mate.

 

[Lurch]

Have disconnected the front prop and the transfer box turns lovely and smooth with no play.The front diff however feels crap, about 1/4" backlash and when hold one driveshaft and turn diff it feels as though it meshes then goes abit more if that makes sense, not smooth, when i get time will have to disconnect both drive shafts and then try diff to see what it feels like. Will drive around in 2wd for a while until i get time to have another look. The diff dosen't look to bad to drop out any one done one any advise would be appreciated and any idea of how much for a recon diff ?

 

[makeitfit]

Will drive around in 2wd for a while until i get time to have another look. SAY WHAT
The diff dosen't look to bad to drop out any one done one any advise would be appreciated and any idea of how much for a recon diff ?

Can you clarify this bit please? You say you'll drive around in 2wd for a bit
That's what you should be doing all the time ! Until things get loose as in off road.
I've got a diff by the way :naughty

 

[Kamsin]

Have disconnected the front prop and the transfer box turns lovely and smooth with no play.The front diff however feels crap, about 1/4" backlash and when hold one driveshaft and turn diff it feels as though it meshes then goes abit more if that makes sense, not smooth, when i get time will have to disconnect both drive shafts and then try diff to see what it feels like. Will drive around in 2wd for a while until i get time to have another look. The diff dosen't look to bad to drop out any one done one any advise would be appreciated and any idea of how much for a recon diff ?

As Makeitfit says, you only put them into 4 wheel drive when needed, if you had it in all the time, thats whats caused the problems. Even when out laning and you racing around you mate fields, you dont need 4 wheel drive, so leave it alone, if the going gets tough or sticky then drop the 4 wheel drive in but take it out as soon as its not needed again.

 

[Lurch]

Can you clarify this bit please? You say you'll drive around in 2wd for a bit
That's what you should be doing all the time ! Until things get loose as in off road.
I've got a diff by the way :naughty

Yes sorry when i mean 2wd i mean with the prop disconnected so no chance of putting in 4wd so to elimate that, if you know what i mean. Will disconnect the drive shafts in a couple weeks time and have a feel of front diff then. You say you have a front diff , would be interested if mine shagged please. Its a 2005 manual 3.0. Drop me a pm with a price please mate, might be worth taking it off you anyway as things seem to be going.

 

[Lurch]

Well with the front prop removed, the truck still clonked a few times on way home so with the transfer box feeling smooth and disconnected from front i'm even more so, now thinking front diff is shagged. With both drive shafts disconnected is there any easy way of checking diff other than by feel alone? I know they tend to have a little back lash but are they generally as smooth as transfer box when turned by hand? can any body advise please.

 

[makeitfit]

Sorry my diff is for a 2.7 didn't read all properly about yours being 3.0 :doh
If it happens to be the same it's yours for 30 quid plus post :thumbs

 

[Lurch]

Sorry my diff is for a 2.7 didn't read all properly about yours being 3.0 :doh
If it happens to be the same it's yours for 30 quid plus post :thumbs

Thanks mate, I'm sure i read somewhere on here that the 2.7 diff's are different ratio to 3.0 ltr, so will have to try and find one somewhere else, if it is the same then i will be interested in taking that from ya cheers. Hopefully someone will confirm on here whether they are the same or not.