Help Needed Problem with front locking hubs

Frederex

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I recently replaced the bearing assemblies on the front of my 4WD dually....now having problems with the locking hubs....they lock in ok, but when I unlock them, the front drive train stays locked....won't disengage....can anyone offer some advice on what to do?
 

Dogman

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Are you backing up about 20 to 30 feet? That tens to help with the unlocking. Make shore the T-case is unlocking, T-case motor ten to not work right when they get older. Mostly dirt and road crap mess them up.
 

Frederex

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Are you backing up about 20 to 30 feet? That tens to help with the unlocking. Make shore the T-case is unlocking, T-case motor ten to not work right when they get older. Mostly dirt and road crap mess them up.

tried backing up....that doesn't help....the T-case is operating ok.....the only way I can get them to unlock is by jacking up the front end and messing with the axle shaft and rotating the wheel back and forth
 

DaveBen

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Can you feel play in the wheel when jacked up? Is the new bearing good? Is the retaining nut tight?

Dave
 

Frederex

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everythings good on the wheel/bearing assembly.....there isn't a retaining nut....this is a sealed assembly that attaches by 4 bolts on the back of the knuckle
 

Dogman

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Only thing to do is pull the outer hub locks and clean them. I have put on new locking hubs and the grease is so thick or packed in the hubs wont unlock or lock. Only fix is to pull them and clean them out. I don't grease the locking hub part anymore with wheel grease, I use white lithem grease in a can and spray them down. I have not had any problem with them in 30 years of having 4 wheel drives. What year is your truck?
 

jeffory D

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If you have vacuum locking hubs change them out to manual locking plugged off the vacuum lines I did and haven't had any problems
 
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JimmyDee

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If you have vacuum locking hubs change them out to manual locking plugged off the vacuum lines I did and haven't had any problems

I did this also. Seems like once the automatics go bad, one will have trouble with them forever. I purchased the MileMarker lockers and like them better than the Warns. Made in the USA also.
Jim
 
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JLDickmon

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One thing you may be missing.. there is a needle bearing that the stub rides on where it goes through the backside of the unit bearing.. frequently this is damaged, or worn, and it lets the stub wobble around, binding the lockout.

I've had to replace a couple of them because the wear was so great.
 

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