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Question: 1999 Ford Ranger mileage: 35,000. Bob & Ken, I have a problem with the four-wheel drive on my Ranger. One day I was using the four-wheel drive and realized that only the two back tires were pulling. Also, there was some (rattling) noise coming from the front passenger side wheel (even after the 4 wheel drive was disengaged). I have since taken off the front wheels to check out the automatic locking hubs to see if there was something wrong with them. One hub looked a little suspicious like some of the metal had been worn down inside. I then jacked the truck up off of all four wheels so that I could engage the four-wheel drive to see what was actually pulling and what was not. The back two wheels were both pulling. The front on the other hand was not. The drive shaft leading from the transfer case would engage but the shafts leading to the wheels were barely even spinning. You could stop them from spinning by holding them still. My question is do you think that the hubs are bad and I need to replace them, or is something messed up in the "gear housing". I know you really can't know for sure from my description but if you have any advice that you think I could use, it would be greatly appreciated.

Answer: The automatic locking hubs seem to be a high maintenance item on these Ford Rangers. Yours may need to be replaced.

Question: 1997 Ford Ranger mileage: 91,000. I have automatic four wheel drive. Recently, the right front hub started to make a loud grinding noise whenever I disengage the four-wheel drive. The auto hub is not fully disengaging the four wheel drive and, or so I think. It engages roughly, and disengages smoothly on the fly, but once I stop and restart at say a stop light, there is an awful grinding, "whizzing" noise. Is this just the hubs that need replacement, or something more serious? I have been told auto-lockers are no good no matter who you get them from, be it Ford, Chevy, GM. Instead of replacing the autos, can I just put in manuals, if this is even my problem? The truck performs just fine once I get into 2WD.

Answer: It sounds like your hubs are bad and the only �fix� is to replace them. Unfortunately, the only hubs that will work with your 4-wheel drive system are the factory automatic units, which we have found to be high maintenance components.

Question: 1998 Ford Ranger mileage: 104,000. I am having trouble engaging the 4x4 wheel drive. When I press the 4x4 button, I hear a tick, tick, and tick from the computer behind the drivers seat, hidden behind the jump seat. I hit the reset button and that got the light that tells you the 4x4 is engaged to come on but the wheel did not engage and pull when I spun the back wheels. I reset the computer again and again but the wheel never engaged.

Answer: Try replacing the engagement motor on the transfer case.

Question: 1972 Ford-4x4-truck 390ci mileage: 115,000. My Dana 20 transfer case keeps slipping out of 2-hi into neutral. 4-lo and 4-hi work fine. How do I repair this myself? And what might be the cause?

Answer: The Transfer case shifter fork is worn out. Replacing it should fix your problem.

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Automobile / Ford / 4x4 Trucks