Stuck Auto-Hub on '99 Sport

[BruteXJ]

One or both of the hubs are stuck locked on my '99 Sport. I've tried the old in-and-out of 4H/L trick, but she stays stuck this time. Any ideas or tricks other than a hub rebuild for the time being.....?

Also, I've looked around, is $500-600 the cheapest a manual hub conversion can be found?

 

[Eagle]

Errr ...

I hate to be the one to break this to you, but ... you don't have auto hubs. The Cherokees never had locking hubs. Some of them through 1989 had a sliding disconnect on the passenger side front axle shaft, but that was discontinued long before your model year.

Your hubs are always engaged.

 

[rockwerks]

Errr ...

I hate to be the one to break this to you, but ... you don't have auto hubs. The Cherokees never had locking hubs. Some of them through 1989 had a sliding disconnect on the passenger side front axle shaft, but that was discontinued long before your model year.

Your hubs are always engaged.

LOL... you shoulda told him to rebuild the hubs...he would have been shocked when looking for the parts

 

[8Mud]

Most all of us learn by our mistakes.

 

[BruteXJ]

Ok, no auto-hubs. Thanks, Eagle.

I've experienced this problem once before, and putting it in+out of 4wd while stopped with the manual trans out of gear resolved the situation. I've tried shifting it in and out of 4Hi while rolling, both in and out of gear. This time, no luck. The steering feels just like it does when turning sharply in 4Hi. The transfer case does not seem to be staying engaged, as there's a noticeable difference when the T-case shifter is in 2wd or 4Hi/Lo. There are no noticeable problems otherwise, just a noticeable "clunkiness" from the steering when turning sharply.

Thanks in advance for any advice or information.

For the "other" comments, I admit my ignorance when I ask a question. You admit your stupidity when you post asinine comments.

 

[Matthew Currie]

Ok, no auto-hubs. Thanks, Eagle.

I've experienced this problem once before, and putting it in+out of 4wd while stopped with the manual trans out of gear resolved the situation. I've tried shifting it in and out of 4Hi while rolling, both in and out of gear. This time, no luck. The steering feels just like it does when turning sharply in 4Hi. The transfer case does not seem to be staying engaged, as there's a noticeable difference when the T-case shifter is in 2wd or 4Hi/Lo. There are no noticeable problems otherwise, just a noticeable "clunkiness" from the steering when turning sharply.

Thanks in advance for any advice or information.

For the "other" comments, I admit my ignorance when I ask a question. You admit your stupidity when you post asinine comments.

If you're quite positive that it's disengaging at the transfer case, but it still feels "engaged" then you may have one or more worn-out axle universal joints. In a similar thread recently, someone else mentioned a similar problem from a bad spider gear in the differential, less common but worth checking.

Try jacking up the front wheels, and see how they turn with the steering at full lock.

If you have been lax about rotating your tires, or if the pressures between front and rear are too far apart, it will be difficult to get out of 4WD, and may even require backing up to get it to disengage. It should disengage more readily if all four tires are well matched for rolling diameter.

 

[BruteXJ]

The tires are relatively new, but I never did check the pressure after they were installed, I'll have to check. I suppose it is about time to get her off the ground and give everything a good twice-over.

Thanks.