Issue with Front Hubs

[aussydluke]

Hey All,

I am new to the forums and will be posting up photos of my paj soon. I have a 89 v6 manual wagon that i am really happy with.

Only issue is, today i went 4wding with a mate, over rocks and through a bit of mud and I can't get the front hubs to disengage. When I got back to the road I put it in 2 Wheel High and reversed to disengage the hub lock. However I can't get the light to go off.

If I put the car in 4wd High it drives ok, enough to get it home at 60kph. However in 2wd if going forward it makes a clicking kind of noise from the left front hub, and nothing I can do with disengage the hub properly.

I've tired a search on the forums but couldn't really find anything in relation to this. Any information would be sweet as I can't really drive my car until I sort this out!

Thanks in advance, and I'll post some photos and videos from today up shortly.

Luke

[hudson44]

I would say the front diff actuator is sticking. Engage 2wd and "help" the actuator to disengage. The actuator is located on top of the front diff. If this is the case then lube the slide and check the quality of vacuum going to the diaphram.

[-Scott-]

I would say the front diff actuator is sticking. Engage 2wd and "help" the actuator to disengage. The actuator is located on top of the front diff. If this is the case then lube the slide and check the quality of vacuum going to the diaphram.

'89 V6 - not Super Select. I'm guessing it has vacuum operated (?) free-wheeling hubs, not the centre disconnect.

NFI what to do about it...

[hudson44]

Ah.... missed that bit. How did the earlier ones lock the hubs automatically?

[NJV6]

I'd say the auto Free wheeling hubs are dodgy. They are so simple that they do fail.

I wonder if you have damaged a CV casuing pressure on the auto hub to not disengage....

Try jacking the front up and try different combinations, ie 2WD, 4WD, see what turns when you spin a wheel etc.

[aussydluke]

Thanks for that info guys. I hope I haven't damaged CV's that would suck!!

I'll try jacking it up and see what happens in different gears.

I'll let ya know.

[aussydluke]

After some inspection I have now noticed that I brought this 4wd without any jack/tyre iron in it. Can anyone suggest a good jack that I can leave in the car to use? and where to pick one up?

Thanks

[aussydluke]

Ok so we've done some more investigation.

When the front of the car is lifted and in 2wd I can spin the wheels without the CV's spinning however when I drop the truck and reverse back down the drive the wheel lock light comes back on. And if I try and drive in 2wd the front left hub whines badly.

I think I am going to take it to a machanic and get it checked out. Might change the hubs to manual to save this from happening again.

[pajero66]

common on this model is they shear the locking tab off the hubs this sounds like what has happened remove the outter chrome cover, the circlip and the 6 hex head bolts and remove the hub. ps you dont need to jack it up. look for the locking tab on rear of hub if missing or bent thats your problem
cheers murray