I have an 87 F150, and a couple of years ago, I was driving in a snowstorm, and I had the front hubs locked, but I was driving in 2WD, as the road was fairly clear. All of a sudden, (fortunately, I was only doing 25 mph), one or both (not sure) of the front wheels locked up. After stopping in the middle of the road, I unlocked the hubs, and backed up to get off the road, and they released. I have not tried locking the hubs or using 4WD since then, assuming that something broke inside the diff.


Anyway, I am wanting to get in there and identify and fix the problem. Does someone have a service manual they can scan the front differential disassembly section? I can probably figure it out, but I figured knowing in advance of anything to look out for would be helpful.


Also, is there anything else that could have caused the lockup? The 4WD worked just fine, no noises or anything, before this happened. There was no noise, no warning; the wheel(s) simply locked.


Thanks,
Importsmasher

 

Nobody? Oh well, I am sure I can figure it out. I was just hoping for some advance information on what I might want to look out for.


Importsmasher

 

Might not be in the hubs. With your hubs locked up, your drive shafts have to be able to turn (as well as your diff and trans case to diff driveshaft). It's possible to get something (ice?) jamming a d/shaft, which would lock the wheel if the hub is locked.
Just something else to consider.
But if you haven't been into your hubs in a while it's probably a real good idea to repack the bearings etc. anyway.
With manual hubs you should have 2 spindle locknuts and a special lockwasher between them.
The locknuts usually require a special socket which is available at most parts stores for about $20
Once the locknuts are off the rotor will come off, then the spindle is bolted to the steering knuckle - there's another bearing and seal on the backside of the spindle that everybody forgets about greasing.
I'm assuming you have a dana 44 twin traction beam axle
Lots of posts and videos online - just google "87 f150 change spindle" or something like that

 

87 has a top hat style locking hub. Its different from the rest of these trucks.

 

Thanks, guys. I have had the hubs off and repacked/replaced bearings, but that's as far as I've had it apart. I have the socket for the nut. My question regards disassembly beyond that. I have had many rear differentials apart before, but I haven't done a front. Do the axle shafts just pull out once the hubs are apart? Do I need to remove spindles?


I am assuming that something broke in the differential itself, and I just unlocked the hubs so the differential is no longer turning. I need to get the pumpkin out so I can figure out what the problem is.


Thanks,
Importsmasher