OK, for awhile my Tracker has been make a whirring sound when I make slight turns to the left.   Today it got much worse.   I tried locking my hubs and driving on pavement, not much sound, but some clicking.   The CV joints/boots look fine and in great shape.   My wheels are not rubbing.   Could it be possible my hubs are shot?   I have manual hubs.   Im confused as hell and worried.   My parents have been looking for reasons to talk me into trading my Tracker in for a brand new Scion.   I love my Tracker to death, its not a book value deal anymore, its all sentimental  :-[   .   This worries me because I dont want it to be something serious, but I want to pin point the problem before it gets worse.   Any thoughts?   I think its the hubs (original 1996 manual hubs) or the 4x4 cv axles.   Help!

My guess is front wheel bearings. The CV's don't turn in two wheel drive.

BUT, since you said it is clicking in 4x4, then maybe your CV's are shot too.

Shit, ends up were almost sure its a wheel bearing.   Well, it could have been worse.

Hoo ha, got my Tracker back from the shop.   The wheel bearing had been going for some time.   The right front brake was on almost the whole time, almost was down to the steel!   Limped to the shop today, they fixed it and gave me new brakes.   Now I can put together my new repainted interior, neon stuff, and Im going to paint the brake calipers red tommorow.   

Hopefully, the brake being on almost the whole time can explain why I only have been getting like 25 MPG max average.   We will see 

What did they charge??  Wheel bearings are fairly simple..  Do you have a FSM?

25 is pretty good for a Kick, isn't it??

Well, ended up the final bill was $258.   They did the wheel bearing, seals, and the front brakes.   They called and told me my right front brake where the brake had been rubbing (My brake assembly might have been the only thing holding my wheel on!) it was almost to the steel.   So they asked if I wanted new brakes, figured what the hell.   Without brakes, it would have been around maybe $70 cheaper.   I was so happy to get my Tracker back, no rubbing sound!   

Oh, 25 isnt good in my opinion.   It weighs 2200 lbs, should get higher!   I was averaging 25 with that brake constantly rubbing.   I hope to hit 30, maybe not the way I drive though 

That's not too bad, sounds like an honest dealer.. if you had done it youself, it would have cost about $70 total, front bearings are $40 or so, and brakes are $20 or so.


2200 pounds??   Wow, how did you get your Tracker so light??  Mine is over $3000 with my gear in it., even more with me and my boy.

I think they are what 2700 stock?

I'd be lucky to get 22 out of mine, but I have heavy tires.

In 92 the conv. 4wd Tracker was 2238 lbs.   Stock thats about what they have weighed.   I figure my wheels are actually lighter than my last set, dropped a lot of weight.   Added some stereo weight.   My Tracker is probably around the stock 2200 or so pounds.   Im testing my mileage with the new bearing, so far 140 miles on a little less than half the 11 gallon tank.   Ill usually hit 230-240 miles before I fill up, but I always fill up with like a gallon left.   I hope to hit 30 MPG.   Ive seen someone claim they hit 38 MPG on a Tracker.   Im not so sure about that, but I wouldnt mind seeing that.

Damn, you are right, I thought the base weight was over 2600, and it is under 2300 as you said..


Let us know what MPG you get, I have never heard of a 4x4 model getting over 27...

I was getting 30mpg when I first got my four door. I am serious. Original factory tires, babied. The lady I bough it off of towed it twice behind a motorhome and thats it. It sat in a garage until they took it out to sell it. After I had it, it was in the shop every night where I'd check everything once, twice and again and again. Then I neglected my baby and now I get around 24 consistantly. Heavy foot!


steveo

I got 29.38 mpg once, but it was mostly freeway style driving at high altitude(mountains). I usually average 25 to 26 for every day driving, and will occasionally see 27 or 28. I get 22 to 24 when I drive with a lead foot though. I figure it is pretty good for something that isnt all that aerodynamic(although more so than the samurai), is rwd (in 2 hi) and has a body on frame design(less aerodynamic) At least it gets better mileage than the honda CR-V and most awd subarus(although they have a lot more power)

We had a CRV...... it almost always got around 25 or 26.   Doh!

(but it was unibody..... dumb.)