What's new
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.

Warn hub wont lock

N

nsxxtreme

1/2 ton status
Joined
May 9, 2008
Posts
1,049
Reaction score
0
Location
Oregon
I have an 87 blazer with manual warn hubs. I completely rebuilt the axle a couple weekends ago. Everything is new except the hubs. I went camping this weekend for the 4th and got stuck in a mud pit up to my doors.

Luckily a budy had a winch, we had to chain the rear of his truck up to a tree in order to pull me out of the pit. This is when I discovered my 4 wheel drive wasn't working doh!!!!!!!!! :doah:

Anyway I've tracked it down to the driver side hub. It will ocasionally lock and then loose lock. Its as if it is just barely engaged. The only thing I can think of is the spring that presses up against the cam gear must be worn. It must not be pressing that gear in far enough to engage it fully. Do they sell warn hub parts seperately?
 
when you rebuilt the axle did you grease the hub assembly?
 
shady said:
when you rebuilt the axle did you grease the hub assembly?
Click to expand...

Yes I did. I thought maybe I put to much grease in there, but I removed all the grease and the same thing won't stay locked.
 
clean all the grease off with solvent or something. then just put some new motor oil on it or something real thin like it Even a thin layer of heavy grease will make them stick. I went though that with my 86 k5. I put brand new ones on and thought " man them need grease" :doah: Took awhile to figure out how to fix it
 
Not sure with that model Warn, but if that big spring has a big end and a small end, put the big end in first.
Also, make sure that your spindle bearings are good,
If they are worn, the axle will lay down in the spindle so far that it won't want to engage.

If you can't see a problem, try swapping the parts from one side to the other. If the problem moves, then its the hub. Worn gears, weak spring, something.

If not, its an alignment problem with the axle.
 
Fordum said:
Also, make sure that your spindle bearings are good, If they are worn, the axle will lay down in the spindle so far that it won't want to engage.

If you can't see a problem, try swapping the parts from one side to the other. If the problem moves, then its the hub. Worn gears, weak spring, something.
Click to expand...

The hub doesn't actually touch bearings correct. The housing slides in and bottoms out before hitting the bearings.

shady said:
clean all the grease off with solvent or something. then just put some new motor oil on it or something real thin like it Even a thin layer of heavy grease will make them stick. I went though that with my 86 k5. I put brand new ones on and thought " man them need grease" :doah: Took awhile to figure out how to fix it
Click to expand...
Ya I tried cleaning all the grease out still no go. Locks in forward loses lock in reverse. The forward lock is just BARELY locked.
 
I'm going by other brands and years, but the bearings I'm talking about are the spindle bearings, not the wheel bearings.

Last time I saw that problem was on an old Dodge powerwagon. The wheel bearings are what support the wheel hub, but the spindle bearings are what support the axle inside the spindle and make sure its reasonably centered in the spindle where it sticks out.
I would try swapping the whole hub from side to side and see if that changes it. If so, then you need to tear down the hub and find out what is worn.
Pictures might help.
I'm going to see if I can find an exploded view of a warn hub to refresh my memory. I have tinkered with so many different makes and models over the years.........
 
Actually, thinking about it, if you put the big outside piece in backwards, it will not lock.
I suppose if it were in backwards, it might lock slightly.
Just enough to fool you.
 
OK, one last comment, then I will wait for you.......
When you have the hub off, look at the end of the axle sticking out. Its going to be sloppy in the spindle, but it should be more or less centered.
If it is laying hard down in the bottom of the spindle housing, or if you see rusty crud coming out around it, then your spindle bearings are shot.

And here are some pictures of a Warn hub, showing that large part I was talking about.
He calls it the outer clutch.

http://4x4preservation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=358

I just noticed where you said you rebuilt the axle. So the spindle bearings should be good.
 
Last edited:
also if the axle shaft isnt sticking out far enough with the snap ring holding it,it may also have trouble engaging.i had one of the wave springs in my warm premium get messed up.i called warn and they sent me a new one.if yours is messed up it maybe that would work for you.
 
chulisohombre said:
also if the axle shaft isnt sticking out far enough with the snap ring holding it,it may also have trouble engaging.i had one of the wave springs in my warm premium get messed up.i called warn and they sent me a new one.if yours is messed up it maybe that would work for you.
Click to expand...


x2 thats what i was leading up to. Also some of the after market 35 spline shafts stick out to far. They (yukon) say you have to grind them down a little.
 
Fordum said:
And here are some pictures of a Warn hub, showing that large part I was talking about.
He calls it the outer clutch.

http://4x4preservation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=358

I just noticed where you said you rebuilt the axle. So the spindle bearings should be good.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the picture maybe I have mine in backwards? I put that cam gear with the belveled side facing the axle. Reason is there is a small clip that goes around that center gear that when installed keeps everything from falling apart. It seems to be missing in the pictures you provided but you can see the grrove in the center gear where it goes. If you install it the other way I dont thing it will hold the gear. I'll try flipping it around and see what happens.

chulisohombre said:
also if the axle shaft isnt sticking out far enough with the snap ring holding it,it may also have trouble engaging.i had one of the wave springs in my warm premium get messed up.i called warn and they sent me a new one.if yours is messed up it maybe that would work for you.
Click to expand...
Snap ring is installed had to pry the axle out slightly in order to install it.
 
Fordum said:
Actually, thinking about it, if you put the big outside piece in backwards, it will not lock.
I suppose if it were in backwards, it might lock slightly.
Just enough to fool you.
Click to expand...

You just saved me $110 bucks thanks!!

Sure enough I had the big gear (I call cam gear) in backwards on both sides. Damn that sucks, we got stuck in the mud pit at about 4:00 am and we were all a little wasted LOL. Mind you this is private property I was driving on. Anyway its all back together and I jacked it up and it locks almost immediately now :thumb:
 
Cool, sometimes I get lucky...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest Posts

Top Bottom