Bad Hub(s)? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Shaffer4 · 12-29-2008, 10:24 PM

My truck's front axle (D44) stopped engaging today in either high or low range. The drive shaft spins, but it is putting nothing to the ground at either wheel in gravel, nadda. It is supposed to be a Detroit Locker in the front (and rear, according to the P/O) and all tires were spinning when in 4-wheel previous to this. There is no noise or grinding and I can feel the Transfer case hitting the detents when engaging it. It has Warn Locking Hubs.

We were using it today to move a non running car around our yard, it was working fine until we were trying to "Parallel Pull" the car over the curb (chain from my front hooks, across to the front frame of the car and pull it along side the truck). I had put it into 4 low to drive up into the slush beside the car and it was working then. But once we got to pulling the car forward (was working and would have if the 4WD stayed working... as odd as it sounds) the front stopped turning and I didn't hear or feel anything break free.

Being fairly inexperienced I bring forth my Delema to the 4 Wheeling Gods.

Mudder · 12-30-2008, 12:48 AM

Could be the hubs. The need a lot of attention lubbed and cleaned to work right.

partyncwby · 12-30-2008, 04:48 AM

Kinda seems weird that both hubs would pop at once. If one hub went, the other would continue to pull because of the detroit. I'm wondering if the P/O put locktite on the ring gear bolts when the detroit was installed. If enough of them backed out he may have not been able to hear the last two shear. Had the same thing happen to me. P/O put a detroit in my rear D44 in my CJ, no locktite. Sheared three bolts and after I pulled the carrier I was able to spin the broken bolts out with my finger. I'd pull the cover and have a look-see.

Shaffer4 · 05-23-2009, 08:06 PM

Finally(!) got around to taking a closer look at this issue. Pulled the front cover and everything looks fine... better than fine, like brand new. everything spins right with the hubs unlocked, but only the passenger side engages with both hubs locked.

So I assume this means that the driver's side hub is caput. On another note, how much play should there be in the hub itself? the passenger side hub has some slop before the axle begins to move.

Shaffer4 · 05-23-2009, 09:13 PM

Well.. its not the hub... not exactly...

I think I brokeded it.

Chevy1TonFun · 05-23-2009, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shaffer4

Well.. its not the hub... not exactly...

I think I brokeded it.

You did a great job brokededed it! GO WARN HUBS! The UNBREAKABLE HUB. I think you might need, just thinking here, a new axle there. At least thats the cheaper side.

Eturnit3 · 05-23-2009, 10:12 PM

wow... both sides? good job buildin that engine...

Shaffer4 · 05-24-2009, 12:40 AM

I think it was mostly broken before I bought it. I was really hoping I wouldn't have to dig too deep into the axle ($ is tight), but that appears not to be the case.

Shaffer4 · 05-24-2009, 01:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eturnit3

wow... both sides? good job buildin that engine...

actually, I think it is a fairly stock 350 in it and I've barely even driven the thing; 70 miles at most. So far it is just the one side; though the passenger side hub seems kind of sloppy, there is a bit of play 1/4ish" of rotation before the axle starts to spin.

Shaffer4 · 05-24-2009, 02:32 AM

so, anyone know of any good tear down articles?

Wish I were a rich man, because golly those ORD pieces look nice....

Shaffer4 · 05-24-2009, 03:19 AM

got the end of the stub shaft out of the hub, the hub still looks like new... the stub shaft twisted off right were the splines end... the amount of twistage makes me wonder what the rest of the axle shafts look like...

Shaffer4 · 05-24-2009, 04:02 AM

Okay, Okay, last one, I swear... OCD + Digital Camera = well... I wasn't ever really good at math...

you weren't lying about those Warn hubs... you can see the second row of cracks, they start just above the mesh marks where the hub splines rode.

LONGHAIR · 05-24-2009, 08:50 AM

That right there is exactly why I always caution people against putting a Detroit Locker in the front of anything. It's not the only reason, but it is a good one. Some slippage somewhere in the drivetrain relieves the strain. Most of the weight of a pick-up truck is right over the front wheels. It puts a lot of pressure on the axles. Bigger tires and more horsepower make it worse.

Shaffer4 · 05-24-2009, 06:06 PM

Pulled the passenger side out of curiosity, everything seems to be intact, but it is pretty hammered...

dunno if the stub is supposed to be that sloppy and the splines are pretty worn but the look of it and also by the look of things in this next pic.

This Hub has taken a bit of damage, which most likely explains the hub slop on this side...

So I'll probably need to do both sides to be safe.

12-29-2008, 10:24 PM	#1
Shaffer4 Strange Cousin From The West.. Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Walla Walla, Wa Posts: 248	Bad Hub(s)? My truck's front axle (D44) stopped engaging today in either high or low range. The drive shaft spins, but it is putting nothing to the ground at either wheel in gravel, nadda. It is supposed to be a Detroit Locker in the front (and rear, according to the P/O) and all tires were spinning when in 4-wheel previous to this. There is no noise or grinding and I can feel the Transfer case hitting the detents when engaging it. It has Warn Locking Hubs. We were using it today to move a non running car around our yard, it was working fine until we were trying to "Parallel Pull" the car over the curb (chain from my front hooks, across to the front frame of the car and pull it along side the truck). I had put it into 4 low to drive up into the slush beside the car and it was working then. But once we got to pulling the car forward (was working and would have if the 4WD stayed working... as odd as it sounds) the front stopped turning and I didn't hear or feel anything break free. Being fairly inexperienced I bring forth my Delema to the 4 Wheeling Gods.

12-30-2008, 12:48 AM	#2
Mudder Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: East Central, MO Posts: 11,336	Re: Bad Hub(s)? Could be the hubs. The need a lot of attention lubbed and cleaned to work right.

12-30-2008, 04:48 AM	#3
partyncwby Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Edwall, Wa Posts: 36	Re: Bad Hub(s)? Kinda seems weird that both hubs would pop at once. If one hub went, the other would continue to pull because of the detroit. I'm wondering if the P/O put locktite on the ring gear bolts when the detroit was installed. If enough of them backed out he may have not been able to hear the last two shear. Had the same thing happen to me. P/O put a detroit in my rear D44 in my CJ, no locktite. Sheared three bolts and after I pulled the carrier I was able to spin the broken bolts out with my finger. I'd pull the cover and have a look-see. __________________ '68 K20 '71 C20 '79 K20 '77 CJ 7 '89 XJ jacked and beat '93 F250 (it's only ford on the outside)

05-23-2009, 08:06 PM	#4
Shaffer4 Strange Cousin From The West.. Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Walla Walla, Wa Posts: 248	Re: Bad Hub(s)? Finally(!) got around to taking a closer look at this issue. Pulled the front cover and everything looks fine... better than fine, like brand new. everything spins right with the hubs unlocked, but only the passenger side engages with both hubs locked. So I assume this means that the driver's side hub is caput. On another note, how much play should there be in the hub itself? the passenger side hub has some slop before the axle begins to move.

05-23-2009, 09:13 PM	#5
Shaffer4 Strange Cousin From The West.. Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Walla Walla, Wa Posts: 248	Re: Bad Hub(s)? Well.. its not the hub... not exactly... I think I brokeded it.

05-23-2009, 10:12 PM	#7
Eturnit3 Bloodied Knuckles Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Grass Valley CA Posts: 273	Re: Bad Hub(s)? wow... both sides? good job buildin that engine...

05-24-2009, 12:40 AM	#8
Shaffer4 Strange Cousin From The West.. Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Walla Walla, Wa Posts: 248	Re: Bad Hub(s)? I think it was mostly broken before I bought it. I was really hoping I wouldn't have to dig too deep into the axle ($ is tight), but that appears not to be the case.

05-24-2009, 02:32 AM	#10
Shaffer4 Strange Cousin From The West.. Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Walla Walla, Wa Posts: 248	Re: Bad Hub(s)? so, anyone know of any good tear down articles? Wish I were a rich man, because golly those ORD pieces look nice....

05-24-2009, 03:19 AM	#11
Shaffer4 Strange Cousin From The West.. Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Walla Walla, Wa Posts: 248	Re: Bad Hub(s)? got the end of the stub shaft out of the hub, the hub still looks like new... the stub shaft twisted off right were the splines end... the amount of twistage makes me wonder what the rest of the axle shafts look like...

05-24-2009, 04:02 AM	#12
Shaffer4 Strange Cousin From The West.. Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Walla Walla, Wa Posts: 248	Re: Bad Hub(s)? Okay, Okay, last one, I swear... OCD + Digital Camera = well... I wasn't ever really good at math... you weren't lying about those Warn hubs... you can see the second row of cracks, they start just above the mesh marks where the hub splines rode.

05-24-2009, 06:06 PM	#14
Shaffer4 Strange Cousin From The West.. Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Walla Walla, Wa Posts: 248	Re: Bad Hub(s)? Pulled the passenger side out of curiosity, everything seems to be intact, but it is pretty hammered... dunno if the stub is supposed to be that sloppy and the splines are pretty worn but the look of it and also by the look of things in this next pic. This Hub has taken a bit of damage, which most likely explains the hub slop on this side... So I'll probably need to do both sides to be safe.

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