79 jeep 4 wheel issues

[Aaron S]

I think I have a possible problem with my 79 cj7. For starters I don't have much experience with 4 wheel/ axle,hub lockers. Here's the problem at hand. I feel like it's not locking the front wheels. I bought this jeep last spring, played with it once in the yard, got all 4 to dig into the grass,never put it in 4 wheel again till today. after turning the hubs and trying the 4 wheel out had a loud pop sound in the hub area.(drivers side) now its not doing what it did the one time back in the spring. the jeep is pretty rough and I don't drive it much. Had to put a radiator in it today, try'd to pull it out and the trans was locked up, got it undone? not sure what was going on there, but I thought now's a good time to try the rest out and its got issues, i can see the front drive shaft turning not sure about the axle. Its been a few months since last started/drove and its real cold here. I have not put it on jack stands yet to test. any in site would be great, thanks Aaron.

 

[Bounty__Hunter]

Could be as simple as a blown lockout hub at the wheel.

Which engine, transmission, and 4wd system does it have?

 

[Aaron S]

It has the 258 engine, 3 speed stick shift, and dana 20 trans fer case. It sounds like it could be like you describe. Simple? Thanks for your response.

 

[69jeepcj]

there are 6 allen head screws on the end of the hub. take those out and pull the end cap off the hub and see what you see in there, If you want to go further in the hub, There should be a snap ring under all the grease on the end of the axle shaft, take that snap ring off and the 6 9/16th head bolts out that hold the hub on and the hub should slide off, see if any of the teeth on the hub broke. Look at the axle ujoint as well.
You dont have to jack the jeep up or take the tire off to do this. You may have just not had the hub dial turned all the way. Do not drive the jeep in 4x4 on the asphalt or concrete while turning sharp, this can bind the front end and snap shafts or ujoints.