When putting truck into drive there is resistance

[kaw700zn]

I went to lunch today with my Bronco. While driving I felt like I ran over something. I didn't pay too much attention to it. I thought something was on the road or something fell off from the car next to me. I still don't know if what happened next is related to this. After lunch, when I started the car and moved forward, I felt the resistance. Like something is underneath my car. I heard grinding noise as well. It felt as it was coming from the front wheels. It felt like I ran over something. Almost like when bicycle skips the gear. I got concerned and tried to recreate the issue. It happened as I was backing up too. I tried to recreate it again but I was unable. The car drove fine home. At home I tried to recreate and was not able to.

I am thinking something with steering or wheel bearings. I don't think it is the transmission but not sure. Also it is worth mentioning that I left the car with locked hubs since the winter. I totally forgot to free the hubs.

What do you guys think?

 

[ba123]

It's not designed to be driven with hubs locked on dry hard pavement. You might have done some damage.

Others might have other opinions, but I would say to jack it up off the ground and see how the wheels spin with both the hubs locked and then without. Then with the xfer case in gear and then in neutral.

Check everything.

The good news is that it should be fine with the hubs unlocked and ok unless it's wheel bearings. Those are the only things that turn with the hubs unlocked. So, if you get resistance while unlocked, that's your problem.

 

[kaw700zn]

Well I took it to a mechanic. It turned out it is broken transmission mount. I guess that's what I heard when it broke off. The mechanic said it should be an easy fix. They are waiting for the part.

 

[ba123]

That's fantastic!!!

 

[half cab]

Yeah it's still not good to drive with hubs locked in. I have to check mine periodically because someone has locked one side in on purpose around here at least twice over the last 4 or 5 yrs.

 

[Johnnyb]

Yeah it's still not good to drive with hubs locked in. I have to check mine periodically because someone has locked one side in on purpose around here at least twice over the last 4 or 5 yrs.

I have to question / disagreeing with the statement about driving on pavement with hubs locked. Many early four by's didn't even have lockable hubs, and as long as it's not a locker up front, why could there be any damage for leaving hubs in?
In fact, I feel far too many four by's suffer front driveline issues because they never spin the drive shaft or the gears.
Sure, if you run with your hubs in you're going to be putting ware on the front axle components and driveline, and reducing fuel economy, but as long as you're aware of the implications there should be nothing wrong with leaving hubs locked in.

Sorry to Bogart the thread @kaw700zn ; good luck on the transmission mount, it's a good diagnosis and fits your symptoms exactly.

-JB

 

[DirtDonk]

You are absolutely correct.
In fact, the owners and shop manuals all state that you should lock the hubs once a month to get everything turning.
What you don’t want to do on the street is have the hubs locked AND the transfer case in one of the four-wheel-drive positions. That’s when things start to bind up.
You can run with the hubs locked all the time if you want, or all winter as many do where weather dictates.
On the flipside of that, you can also just shift into four-wheel-drive occasionally to get the things lubricated and exercised.
Just make sure the hubs aren’t locked before you do it!

 

[half cab]

Guess I was just going off the fact that with the one hub that was locked in each time on mine made a loud clicking sound both times and I knew what it was both times. After the two incidents with that I'm just always checking to make sure their not lock in.

First time was the right side and couple yrs later was the left. I don't know if grandkids or someone pilfering while I was gone.

Don't think the grandkids would even know to look down there to see the locks on the hub.

 

[DirtDonk]

That’s a common problem. Both of the clicking, and the grandkids!
But frankly, it’s not supposed to click. You’re supposed to be able to lock the hub in, either one or both, and have no additional noises, or steering difficulties.
Assuming that you have an open diff that is.
If it’s a locker or limited slip, then all bets are off.
But to click when just driving means something is wrong with the lockout mechanism.
Were they originals, or were they by any chance aftermarket?
Somewhat common issue with factory hubs. A much more common occurrence with aftermarket.

 

[half cab]

It's the almost 50 year old factory hubs. I've driven it with both locked in and it don't click.

So I just figured it was the single side locked in. Idk the front end all works fine when in 4 wheel drive.

Could be I need to drive it some with hubs locked in to lubricate?

Hijack over Kaw700zn lol

 

[Johnnyb]

I would do a hub and wheel bearing service. Just to be sure.

 

[Broncobowsher]

Don't forget to check U-joints while in there. If one is binding and needed to be powered through...