QuestionQUESTION: I set up a 1997 Suzuki sidekick with manual front hubs to tow. I haven't really towed it, or used 4WD in the past 4 years. Now the car is in Utah, and I locked in the hubs today for snow. The front wheels are not driving. I jacked the front, and locked in and out the hubs while turning the wheels and they do lock in and out... I didn't raise the other end, and see if the drive shaft to the front end works in gear.. I saw a couple of your other answers, how would I go about checking this out, checking the fluid in the transfer case, and what lube goes in the manual hubs, as I had one apart today that was hard to turn to lock. I cleaned it, put some light oil in there and put it back together... Looking forward to your expert answers, with thanks!
ANSWER: Generally, the hubs have grease, much like wheel bearing grease in them. Although this makes them a little stiff to turn the locking lever, it does have the beneficial effect of keeping water out. A great number of issues stem from the use of pressure washers forcing water into the hubs, which all too often prevents engaging the axle to the wheels below freezing.
The other question is whether the driveshaft to the front differential is being given power when the t-case is in 4wd. You merely have to jack up both ends, and see if you can stop it with your hands at idle in gear and in 4wd. Let me know what you find out.
scotty
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QUESTION: Ok, my son-in-law and I figured out, that when moving the lever from 2wd to 4wd High, that it doesn't really engage. It tries to engage, you can hear gear sounds... but it doesn't... he moved it up into neutral, and with trial and error, bring it back barely from N to 4wdH, he can hold the lever there and it will engage, some of the time. There is the same problem up in 4wd Low. it doesn't engage... it does go into low... the transmission shifts quickly, into 3rd by only 15mph, so we know it's in low, but not the 4wd. We are now thinking it is some linkage problem, mis-adjustment, with that rail. I saw something online about bushings/pins on the shifter, etc.... can you point us into the right direction to fix this shifter/linkage problem?
Thanks, Don
Answerthere could be an issue with the quality of the bushing for the 4wd shift lever. If you remove the lever and use a screwdriver or other tool to move the shift rail, does it engage properly and completely?
There are numerous people selling bushing repair kits at izook.com Just look around in the "links"
scotty
The site is izook.com usr the "links" and go to a manufacturer and find what you need in their drivetrain section.
