New here.....4wd question

JbenX16v · 12-03-2007, 08:26 PM

Hey guys,

Just joined, I have a 1995 suzuki sidekick jx 4door that i got for free, and needless to say it has had a pretty rough life. When i got it it had no exhaust, needed new wheel bearings, and both rocker panels were completely rotted and made of bondo and newspaper. It had 172,000 miles when i got it and now it has 176,000 miles. It recently snowed here and i am not sure if my 4wd is working. When i engage the 4wd and my wheels loose traction, just my rear wheels spin. Is this normal. Oh and when i went to turn the hubs to the lock position i noticed that my right front hub was already engaged, so i guess i was driving around with it locked for a while, would this cause any problems?

thanks,

Ben.

glinn · 12-04-2007, 01:26 AM

my 89 was almost as bad when I got it and had the same symptoms with only the rear wheels spinning in the snow. Turns out the locking hubs weren't locking. The PO had trashed the left one by flipping the springs around and permanently locking it. The right one was just gummed up with old grease and wouldn't engage anymore. Given that I couldn't ever unlock the right one (without spending more than the vehicle is worth to get the hub fixed) I just flipped the springs and permanently locked the right one too.

If the PO didn't do anything stupid with your hubs, you should be able to clean and regrease them and get them working properly again. Or just do what I did. It will cost you in mileage driving around with the front wheels locked all the time though.

jtgh · 12-04-2007, 01:40 PM

PO's are a pain huh?

clean and service the locking hubs, should have been done with the wheel bearings.
after they are clean (inspected for damage) and then only lightly lubed with marine GP grease.
Never pack them full , never use Front Wheel Disc brake grease or any wheel bearing grease.

see:

The 4WD Locking Hub caps (auto or manual):
here:
hubsbearings

JbenX16v · 12-04-2007, 06:41 PM

So if i understand correctly, all i should need to do is open up my hubs and check them for damage and regrease them? sounds easy enough. The car did sit for quite a while before i got it so old grease sounds reasonable. Would driving around with the hub in the locked position when not in 4wheel hurt anything?

jtgh · 12-04-2007, 11:25 PM

no hurt,
it will keep everything nice and lubed up in the axles . (very good)
it will reduce MPG a tad.
but no real hurt.