Does anybody know why my 4x4 front tires are not getting power? My 95 F150 4x4 is not getting power to the front tires after I press the 4x4 button on the dash and here the clunk in the front end and the click in the dash that usually means it is engaged. My friend got out and looked inside the wheels to see that the U-joints(?) are rotating when we stopped. I inched forward and they were rotating. When I have been stuck, no matter what the rear tires do, the front ones won't budge. What is going on here?

 

You probably blew out your automatic hubs. This is very common on F150's and Ranger's. They're way too expensive in my mind to replace with another set of auto hubs. I put manual hubs on my F150 and have had no problems since.

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1994 Ford Ranger 4x4 4.0L, K&N, Superchip, 63mm T-body

1993 F150 Ext. cab 4.9L 5spd 4x4

 

What am I looking at, as far as price for parts and labor on automatic hubs versus manual?

P.S. I never liked the performance of the automatic hubs anyway.

 

My set of Warn's manual hubs cost about $70 and they work great. I've seen Mile Markers for around $50-60 though if your budget is real tight. And yes, auto hubs do suck.

 

Thanks for your reply about the Warns and mile marker hubs. The Warns web site said you could install them in about an hour.

Do you think this is an easy enough job for an amateur? An hour sounds like a pretty easy project.

Are there special considerations for converting old auto hub to Warns manual hubs?

How do the auto hubs usually go out? Is excessive weight a potential cause?

Thanks for your remarks.

 

I had the same problem with my 89, turns out that only one wheel was getting power from with the Auto hubs. I got some MM hubs, which I hope works well.

 

The auto hubs go out because the stock ones are made of **** poor components more than anything else. As for installing the new hubs, if you feel confident I say go for it. Another good thing to replace while doing the hubs is both of your bearings on each wheel. Good luck!