Left Front Tire Not Pulling

Good morning long lost jeep pals.

I've a question for ya. And this is just speculation but your answers may get me closer to the solution to my problem and keep me from taking my jeep to the expensive drive train shop.

Back in the summer I replaced a front axle in my jeep...on the driver's side. Also replaced the hubs. Not because the hubs were broken but because the allen head screws were sort of stripped and I was afraid if I put them back in I might not be able to get them out the next time. When I called Superwinch to buy replacement screws they wouldn't sell them to me. Said they didn't sell the screws by themselves...but they would send me complete new hubs for free. I didn't argue. So...replaced the hubs with new hubs and a new axle.

Shortly thereafter went on a short trip. Found a mudhole and of course plowed through. Got stuck and noticed left front tire wasn't pulling.

Jeep has Detroit Lockers in front and rear. So what are the possibilities? New hubs...new axle (can't imagine how I might have put that axle in wrong).

Could there be an issue with the new hubs? That operation seems kinda simple. Wouldn't expect a problem there but...

Reckon the locker needs rebuilding or something?

 

Well, I think I did all that Glen. I've never done an axle install so I was just doing the best I could. I had to pull that locker out because I also replaced the inner seals. I was sure to put it back in just the way it came out putting the bolts back in exactly as they came out and it seems like there were shims and I put those back the same too. I always just observe the operation of the hub before I put them in. And by that I mean you can twist the knob and pretty much watch the gear that engages the axle shaft go in and out. I'm fairly positive everything was working properly. The only thing I can think of is that maybe that gear is stuck in its "unlocked" position. Seems to me like the only thing that makes it move is a spring but I could be wrong.

 

I don't think so Glenn. I replaced (actually had the drive train shop replace) the passenger side last year. Upgraded to a heavier duty axle. Chromoly or something like that and it has the larger u-joints. Supposed to be stronger.

Anyway, when the driver's side broke I ordered the axle from the same drive train shop and ordered the matching heavy duty axle. I trust the shop. They build rear ends for my brother's race car and are just a really solid shop. They told me the install would be easy enough to do it myself. Actually talked me through the process on the phone.

I'll pull that hub and see what it looks like.

 

Yeah, it sounds to me like the hub is not engaging. Easy to verify. Just jack up the offending wheel and see if the axle shaft spins when you turn the wheel. If it doesn't, its a hub issue.

also, I once had the same problem, and it turned out that I had broken the outer stub shaft where right along the start of the splines. I didnt even realize the axle was broken until I took the hub off and the entire splined part of the shaft came with it.

Did you lubricate the hubs? Too much grease can inhibit proper operation. I know warn says to use only a light coat of moly grease on their hubs.

 

I don't recall whether I greased it or not. I still have the old hubs and as far as I know there wasn't anything wrong with them when I pulled them. I just replaced them because they were free. If I have a bad one I can just put an old one on there.

I sure hope I don't have a broken axle. It's a brand new axle. Hasn't been on the road 5 miles before I dropped the lifter and had to tear it down to replace them.

The long story here is...I drove the jeep into my pond...in the shallow end, for a little crossing. When I got to the other side the bank was too steep and I just couldn't get my front tires to grab and pull me up the bank. I over revved the engine till something failed. Took the valve cover off and two of my pushrods were not under the rocker arms. My brother checked it out for me and thought perhaps they just slipped out because of the over revving. So...we put it back together. I also broke that driver's side stock axle. so...bought the new axle and the new hubs and buttoned everything back up.

Test drive revealed the one tire not pulling. Still could cruise in it so...

Had my carb rebuilt and it was running flawlessly so I wanted to drive it with the new carb. 1/2 mile from the house the issue with the pushrods re-occurred. We figured then that the lifter must be bad. Tore it down and sure enough one lifter was broken...so we replaced them all including new pushrods. It sat in the shop for 6 months but I've finally got it rolling again and I need to address the axle or hub or whatever it is.

Thing is...and this story is getting longer. Remember that I told you I had to replace the driver's side axle? Well the symptoms for that axle was a loud binding and popping in the front end while making a sharp turn. That's why I took it to the drive train shop and that's where they found the broken axle. After that the binding and popping went away. But...when I put the new driver's side axle in and tested it out I had that same binding and popping in the front end as before. Now, after I discovered this left front tire not pulling the binding and popping isn't there anymore so that's what's got me worried that there's a bigger issue. In my head it kinda feels like whatever was binding finally broke and that's why I don't have the binding.

Either way I won't be able to fix it with a keyboard so the thing to do is start by taking the hub off.

I'll give that a try this weekend maybe. Got a few other things I'm working on at the moment. Alternator, KC lights, oil change and things like that. Just depends on what I have time to get to.

Thanks for your help.

 

According to the instructions you are not suppose to use any grease on the hubs, only 30 weight motor oil. Also noticed that a locking differential voids warrenty. Maybe you blew the hub already with you detroit? http://www.andysautosport.com/additional_product_info/17106.pdf

 

Conducted a small test just now. Locked the hubs in and disengaged the rear drive with the twin sticks at the Atlas so I'm only in front wheel drive. Found a spot where I could stick the jeep and the axle isn't turning on the left side so the problem must be inside the locker.

With the hubs unlocked the axle is spinning at the wheel but I guess just the small amount of resistance of having the hubs locked in is enough to stop it from turning.

 

They're not indestructible. I had to have some work done to the rear locker last year. Not even sure what they had to do but I remember the shop saying they couldn't buy parts for it. They somehow managed to pull some strings and get the right parts. Not sure if they were dealing with the manufacturer or some distributor.

It's gonna be a few weeks before I can get it in to the shop. I'm figuring at least $600 so I gotta save up some lunch money for a few weeks before I take it in.