My front passenger manual locking hub us making a rattling noise above 30 miles per hour. Happens when I coast and give it gas.

Do I need a new hub altogether, or should I just regrease the thing? Could I damage it driving it like this?

 

Depends on which part has actually failed. The hub seperates from the spindle assembly, so you can take it apart and look inside. You will either find broken parts, or bad bearings in the spindles.

 

Sounds more like a bad bearing. Why would it go all of a sudden? Wouldnt a bad bearing be a more progressive thing?

I'm going to take it apart this sunday, but until then will it be safe to keep this hub locked? 4wd works fine still, even through the noise.

 

search for the spindle bushing posts, it will detail what is involved. you can decide how far you want to go with this; ie repack or repair.

lee

 

I wouldnt....but then again I dont like buying new hubs either

 

Sounds like a driveshaft u-joint.

 

I was just going to repack the bearing. If that fails I'll just replace it. I found a nice writeup here that explains it really well with pictures included.

 

ok heres the question does it do it only when the hub is locked?

is it fine and normal when the hubs are unlocked?

mine (the trail rig) does this aswell and on mine its the bearings i say jack it up and shack the wheel by grabing the top of it and seeing if it goes in and out of the truck hope it helps you out some what

 

It only does it while it's locked. And I've narrowed it down to the driver's side wheel only.

So if this is the case...do i need new bearings or just clean and regrease them?

 

Depends on how bad. Might just need re packed. Make sure nothing is wrapped up on the cv shaft.

 

Already checked to see if there was something wrapped around and ctumbling around. There's nothing.

When you say "repack", you mean just pack in some more grease and fill it back up?

 

yea. Just remember to clean it all out good.

 

you take the bearings out clean them real good like then go to town with a bearing packer but if they move like my trail rigs does then yeah time for new ones there guy good luck and if they move more then your safe with time to replace them

 

I'll clean them out, and should the look and feel like they need replaced I will. I'll probably replace them both anyway when I do the piston rings, because the truck will go through some overhauling as soon as spring comes.