permanently locking my hubs?

99nwranger · #1 03-22-2010, 12:34 AM

i have a 99 ranger 4x4 and my 4wd started acting up after putting into 4x4 to jack up the rear end of my truck.

first off, when i was all done working on it, i took it off the jack and left it in 4wd and drove it down to my house, which is about 50 yards away, pushed in the clutch and just before i stopped it made a loud clunk sound and kind of jerked. i put it back into 2wd with the truck out of gear and left it over night. drove it around the next day and every once in a while the auto locking hub on one side would engage and rattle the truck a little bit( like a was driving on a grave road or some thing). so im thinking my auto locking hubs are going out or some thing, but im not really sure. does any one know what is going on? should i try the permanent locking hub mod and see if that fixes my problem?

what should i do....

thanks keaton

richarddhoward · #2 03-22-2010, 01:39 AM

Do you have manual hubs or the autos, the autos are notoriously weak. I switched mine for manuals and no more problems. I also can just leave them locked in during the winter which is good. I got Warns. Search the other threads for fixes, there are plenty of threads on the hubs in these trucks

99nwranger · #3 03-22-2010, 01:10 PM

ya i want to eventually switch to manual locking hubs, but i just wanted to make sure that the hubs were my problem and that its not something in the transfer case

01_ranger_4x4 · #4 03-22-2010, 02:09 PM

check out this tech writeup from TRS http://www.therangerstation.com/Maga...04/offroad.htm

AVM is the only company as far as i know that makes a manual hub kit for the 98-2000.5 PVH hubs.

99nwranger · #5 03-22-2010, 03:18 PM

i have seen this write up before, that kinda what i was basing this thread off of. i wanted to know if there are any cons after doing this mod?

01_ranger_4x4 · #6 03-22-2010, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 99nwranger

i have seen this write up before, that kinda what i was basing this thread off of. i wanted to know if there are any cons after doing this mod?

what are you concerned about from having them locking in?

99nwranger · #7 03-22-2010, 04:38 PM

mileage, excessive wear, strength, etc i will eventually get manual locking huds but i need to use my truck in the mean time

01_ranger_4x4 · #8 03-22-2010, 05:36 PM

if it makes you feel better the 2001+ rangers have a live axle, which means there are no lockouts that disengage the front wheels from the rest of the drivetrain, the front drivetrain spins all the time and as long as ive owned my truck ive never had any issues related to that. if youre worried about strength you could swap in 01+ hubs and CV's and have a live axle, its far stronger than the PVH hubs could ever dream to be, even with the AVM manual lockouts. as far as mileage with it locked in all the time, the difference is barely measurable. you will have no issues running them locked until you get the lockouts.

richarddhoward · #9 03-22-2010, 10:44 PM

I have manuals, the conversion cost me 230 bucks for the hubs, spindle nut conversion and the socket for the spindle nut, got it on ebay. I have warn hubs but I don't know if this kits fits your truck. Took about 45 minutes to do the whole thing. I also changed the wheel seals and repacked the bearings while I was in it.

My hubs have been locked in for 3 months now, you lose the advantage of shift on the fly with manuals, and the winters here don't always allow you to get out on the highway and switch them over. Mine are still running strong and I lost about .5 mpg. I had manuals on my old K5 that I don't think I ever unlocked and they held up the whole time I had it.

Dantforth · #10 03-30-2010, 05:00 AM

I had the very same noises as you describe on my 1990 Ranger. The hubs weren't going all the way in at times and certainly weren't coming all the way out when I asked. I replaced them with the Warn manuals and have no problems now. I leave them locked in all winter and just push the 4X4 switch when I need them. I do understand that Rangers changes over the years so mine would be different than yours. Dave