Hi folks!

I'm going NUTS here and all my local shops are telling me different things. So... I hope you can all help me out! I have a series of really dumb questions, and a series of maybe not so dumb questions. Regarding a 98 Ranger, 4wd. I had some issues with the blower air coming out the defrost vents (and not the dash) on acceleration. Also had sudden issues with drivetrain (sounded like I was driving on rumble strips). Took it to local mechanic, he cleaned out the hubs (which were super dirty) and 4wd high worked. I forgot to mention to him the blower issue (and at the time I didn't think it was related). A few days later got it heinously stuck off road in the middle of nowhere at 2 a.m and 4WD wasn't working. So. I did the liveaxle mod that I remembered reading about where you break the clips off the little plastic deal in the hub. I suddenly lurched out of the mud as if I wasn't ever stuck.

Took it back to mechanic so he could find the vacuum leak. He tested a bunch of lines and then narrowed it down to the vacuum reservoir. He put his little vacuum testing device in one of the lines going into the reservoir and plugged up the other line, and the system held vacuum, so he figured the reservoir was busted. Replaced it and it still doesn't work. He gave it back to me no charge and said he didn't know how to fix it.

I got annoyed with my liveaxle mod and put my hubs back together with the clips, after I cleaned them out really well. But I think I might still be stuck in liveaxle mode though.

1) ... Newbie question ... Can you put your clips back in those hubs and still have them work okay? They seemed to work as I was pressing them with my fingers, but ...

2)... Newbie question ... When I drive in 2WD, the front axles spin. Does that mean my hubs are still locked? If so, how do I unlock them now?

3)... Newbie question ... Based on what I described, how do I find that stupid vacuum leak?!?

5)... Newbie question ... I'm assuming the AVM manual hubs are the way to go. Yes?

ANY help is GREATLY APPRECIATEd. I'm going insane with these problems.

 

i am going through the stuff with mine i am getting the the new avm hubs and a new drive shaft this week the one that has the u-jiont by the transfer case i take that is the way to go