Replacing automatic locking hubs with manual hubs on a 1998 ford ranger
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- Опубликовано: 26 авг 2024
- an easy and simple improvement to the ford ranger. if I can do it, you can to - i'm 16 and the only other mechanical experience I have is a couple oil and filter changes and bolting on new rubber in the spring and fall. Total time including dealing with the crappy jack that came with the truck, taking on and off the tires, torquing to spec (100 ft/lbs) and wandering around to find tools and materials to get a level surface to jack from - 75 minutes
reason for replacing: a common problem with many rangers-a seal in the vacuum system was blown preventing the hubs from locking- I was quoted by a mechanic $1200 to fix and it would probably happen again, he recommended going to manual hubs, of which i am a proponent of.
bought from summit racing for $175
if you go to manual hubs, its a good idea to disable or remove the axle vacuum pump to avoid having mud and water be actively sucked in past the new hub seals.
!!!!Every time you drive through deep water or mud: remove, clean and re-grease!!!!!
12 years later but thank you all the same. i just bought some manual hubs for my 99 ranger and was expecting this to be a much bigger job. had no idea it was this easy, so it really puts my mind at ease!
Thank you. I didn't have to watch a 20 video of some guy explaning how these work before installing them. You just got into it thank you
if your transfer case is still in 2wd (the switch) only the rear tires will be powered. if the front hubs are locked, the front axleshafts and driveshaft will rotate when the vehicle is moving, but the front tires will not be powered. if the hubs are unlocked, the front axleshafts will not be locked to the wheels. as long as the t-case is in 2wd, only the back wheels will be powered. unlocking the hubs while in 2wd will give you better fuel economy.
I had a trouble with one of this because felt off from the wheel
i still clean them whenever i switch tires for winter/summer but haven't had any problem since i plugged the vac lines that go to the hubs. they look kind of like flexible brake lines, i just cut them, found these barbed vacuum fitting plugs at a buddys shop, smeared them with RTV then zip tied the fittings in. then i just had to zip tie them up out of the way and good to go. not the best solution but it worked.
@tanman57 if it is the hubs that are the point of failure, switching to manual hubs would allow you to have 4x4. the main function of the switch is to control the transfer case, so yes, you would still have to use the switch to put the truck in four wheel drive and to select between high and low range. also check if the shift motor of the t-case isn't faulty, which can cause a clicking and problems shifting into 4x4 or low/high range. Good luck!
I have a 93 Isuzu Trooper that has autohubs. It doesn't kick into 4 wheel drive anymore. Now that I saw your video, I think I'll go with manual hubs and install them myself. Thanks for posting!
@Ready2Run1 nope on the dana axel the truck the locking mechanism was a little farther in the hub so its just an extention that makes a regular locker be able to reach, basicly if you dont have the extension there will be an empty space from the locker and the actual locking mechanism in the axel, its kinda hard to explane
@davidsquall351 thank for your concern- i can see now how much it was wobbling- usually when working on my vehicles i set them right down on the stand but this jack was a pain in the butt-just wanted to get this job over with (my hydraulic jack finally started leaking and wouldn't lift more than about 4.5-5 inches, got a new one now) .
I had that in mind when I was doing this- more than half the weight was still on that little bottle jack which is why you can see the truck shaking a little at one point in the video. the jackstands were more there as a failsafe. thanks for the compliment thou!
That looks way easier than I thought
Fr, doing mine tomorrow and thought it would require more than a flat head and 5 minutes of my time
the hubs have been great but you have to understand that if you go through water or anything, to take them off and clean them, then re-oil with lithium grease. i didn't do that and after two Canadian winters and driving through mud and water above the rockers and not cleaning them once, one rusted and jammed, it blew apart inside. summit racing sent me two new ones free, so there good as long as you take care of them. also, its a good idea to disable the axle vac pump to help w mud geting inside
@Dubboyy you might need a new switch (inside the cab) but you can check if that is the case with a volt meter, try that first. in my truck the t-case is electronically shifted: when my truck initially refused to engage 4x4 it was the t-case...i had the solenoid/shift motor changed out and that resolved the problem. if your switch is still working i would check the vac-pump for the differential, which is a harder fix.
good luck!
@Ready2Run1 I will have to agree with it being a relay inside the cab, With push btn 4x4 you will hear a relay clicking, if you do not hear the relay, you can check fuses, make sure power is making it to the relay with a multi meter or power tester, if the relay has power and is no longer functioning, replace.
@TheJerzyrebel thanks for your comment, the original hubs are just sitting in my shed. i was thinking of keeping them as spares but for a few bucks id be happy to mail them to you, or if your around my are you could stop by and pick them up, one in a while i travel to Montana/Idaho, Vancouver, Lethbride, Okanagan valley and around the kootenay reigion, i live in the east kootenays so i might be able to bring them to you. send me another message or your email address and we can talk.
my auto hubs stopped working due to a leak in the vacuum engagement system. the automatic hubs are more convenient, but i would rather know for sure that they are going to engage when i want them to.
Ready2Run1 My 4x4 went out. I modified the stock hubs to manual, but would still work normally if there was vacuum. I plan on getting it fixed to where I don't have to get out all the time, take the hub caps off and push the button. It will still be converted in case it ever goes out again, but will work normally when fixed.
you absolutely can remove the hubs with stock aluminum rims or many steel rims. not all centers allow for that clearance.
I have a problem with my 99 ranger 4x4. My ABS kick in at low speeds when I coming to a stop. I get no light on the dash. Could the hub be the problem?
Hello, thanks for the video. I was wondering if you still have to engage the electronic switch in order to engage the transfer case (probably?). what if you leave the hubs locked and disengage the transfer switch? please I just ordered those.
Kim Champoux I know this is old but maybe it will help some one watching it in the future, yes you still need to activate the switch on the inside of the cab. Leaving them locked is fine however it will cause more ware on your front end (front differential in specific) but not so much that it will affect anything. Rangers made from 2001 and up essentially have there hubs locked all the time without the ability to unlock them so there should be no issues leaving them locked with the acceptation of drag on the front end reducing your gas mileage.
Preciate it michael cera
@Dubboyy my old s10 did that, you could here it go into 4wd but the front wheels wouldnt spin, it was a bad vacuum plunger. easy fix on mine. easy to find out if that it or not, just see if it depresses or not
Hey man, nice video. Do you know if this is the same procedure for the 97 Mazda b4000?
how do you disable the axle vac pump?
why do you have to clean and re-grease these hubs every time you drive threw deep water or mud? should'nt the O-ring keep all that crap out? please respond. i have a 98 ranger with the same problem and am thinking of just throwing these on there
honestly, i'm not sure if those hubs will fit. the ranger went through a major redesign of suspension and such from the 97 model year to the 98. after looking at some pictures, it seems the bronco 2's used the same hubs as the old rangers, but those hubs will only fit on pre 98 vehicles. they use a flange which bolts onto the actual hub as opposed to having a few plastic locking fingers to hold it on.
haha thanks man, i guess! there is a stack of boards under the low-ass cross member but cant see them on the video.i try to be safe.... worst thing iv dome so far is go into some soft snow beside a trail last winter and end up high centered on a stump, two tires in the air and the other two spinning on glazed snow. tried to winch with a nylon rope and a racheting strap puller(edges of flat decks [for lumber])- the rope snapped and nearly caught me upside the head, scarred the shit out of me
@Ready2Run1 It is my vacuum lines that are broken i checked and found two breaks. im ordering manual hubs. ~Thanks
almost any modern vehicle that switches between 4x4 and 2x4 will have locking hubs for efficiency, there are exceptions with some cars and suv's. most modern ones are automatic; they engage by vacuum or electricity with the same lever/button/switch that engages the transfer case
ah okay thanks for splaining it. So funny how people think automation is so great
i just got those hubs for xmas, they're pretty nice
Nicely done no bullshit no going around the bush👍
Cool looks like an easy fix.I might do that later on. But man @ 2:30 do not work on a truck supported by the jack only. Put it down on your jack stands.
i still haven't so i cant help you there. the hubs still serve their purpose but i don't trust the seals with that vacume on them to drive through any puddles deeper than 12"-14" if you manage to find a quick fix that doesn't require delving into the differential centersection, i would love to hear about it!
Thanks, saved me a lot of work. GREAT info.
@sovietsks45 for what vehicle is this? for this ranger i did not disable the vacuum pump that engages the auto's but that would be a good thing to do-the conversion might include the c-clips needed to do this(the originals often break) and seals/o-rings. my hubs included everything needed to make them work including the o-rings. if you contact the manufacturers of those hubs they should be able to tell you where to get a "conversion kit" and what it actually is.
@sovietsks45 for this application i didn't use nor need a conversion kit. if it is recommended, i would get it. the dana 44 is a far more simple platform that the ranger's torsion bar ifs so i cant imagine what the kit would include beside the hubs and new o-rings, maybe a bypass for the vac-pump? let me know how it works out.
oh NOW i understand how locking hubs works... that's why full time 4WD, AWD, or automatic AWD doesn't have locking hubs. One more question: will the locking hub of a part time 4X4 be at the rear wheels if the vehicle is base on a front wheel drive car platform?
ok, power flows from the t-case down the front drive shaft to the pinion which turns the ring gear. the power is split to both axle-shafts through the differential, out to the wheels. when i take off the hub, see the splined shaft in the middle? that is the end of the axle shaft, without a locking hub, it would spin with no ability to transfer power to the wheel. the hub locks the axle shaft to the ?hub/tire/wheel? assembly. does this make sence now? some 4x4's use drive flanges which dontunlock
Hi, i am new in the world of 4x4, i have a Mazda B4000 1999 it is same as a ranger, nice your video , but i have a doubt, wich brand do you use of manual locking hub, do you have the part number?, second question; i have to turn the switch in the dash to 4x4 hight and go out and turn the locking hub on, it is correct ? or i turn it always on , and turn the switch in the dash when i need the 4x4 ?
My98 ranger 4x switch seens to work and also hear a thump when I try to engage how ever front wheels don't spin when in 4x mode so that means I have a problem ,any suggestion would be appreciate,thank you.
Any reason mine have trouble staying seated? They go all the way in but the driver side one has a tendency to shake loose and I have to push it back in again
Mail me your old hubs..they are still good..also you have to leave the canter cap off or drill it to switch to manuals
When i switch to manual hubs do i lose the ability to switch from 4 hi and 4 low? Im curious how that works
so if i have the 2HI 4HI 4LO Knob on my ranger and i do this will that still work or would i need one with the 4WD shifter. im new to Rangers and 4X4's and Vacuum lines scare me
I have 1998 Ford ranger, I want to know how to put in 4wd? turn the knob to lock or free?
How are manual hubs an improvement? More durable?
I have manual hubs now but I thought autos would be more desireable :S
Need the inside hub on a 2000 Ford ranger I got some pics gone so where can I get them
How do you disable the vac?
i understand what's the use of differential lock but never understand how or what locking hubs are for...
Hi friend nice video, two questions: Original hubs doesnot have any automatic or electric system right? what you do is to set the mechanisms of vaccum fixed to the position 4WD (i mean you got under the car and put the actuacting vaccum system to always 4WD but adding the manual hubs you free front wheels) Ok? so there are 2 steps to this modification. Firts installinh manual hubs and SECOND. Move the actuactin mechacnism under the car to always 4WD right?
Thanks for sharing man
You can swap the hubs without taking the wheel off, all I took off was the center cap. Does anyone know of any decent looking center caps that allow access to the manual hub? I hate having to take my centers off every time I want to roll the hubs. Also if anyone has found a way to disable to the vacuum to the hubs without messing up the rest of the vac system, I would be glad to hear about it. For now I just have the hoses plugged and sealed.
@Ready2Run1 yes it did need a conversion not hard at all
Quick question. When I switch my 99 ranger to 4x4 I hear it click but the front tires don't spin. If I put manual hubs on would I have to still use the switch to put the truck in low gears? Or do I put the auto transmission in 1st or 2nd to have it in low gears
If you have them locked in will it always be in four wheel drive? Or only when you have the switch on to four wheel drive?
Did you take off the tire before the wheel?
What brand are they and where did I get them?
I put these hubs on and they just don’t work they put back into free when In lock when I go to put them in can anyone help
im looking at these mile marker hubs and it say i need a conversion kit what do they mean and where can i get one?
can i use that for my Kia sportage old model 2006,? my 4wd is not functioning
i'm pretty sure the hubs are not the problem. sorry i cant be more help. i would follow the lines down from your master cylinder and try and find the abs actuator. i could be that, or, more likely it could be the speed sensor
What manual hubs did you use? Everyone I see shows for the international model only. Please help with the part number
did you need a conversion kit? cuz i have a 95 F150 4x4 with a d44 axel it said i need a covesion kit
hi nice video! great info! I got a problem with my locking hubs on 1999 ranger 4 litre,the guy that owner it before me had issues with it and disconnected the front hoses to the wheels and installed a bolt in the hose.(possibly to prevent vacuum leak) si Im thinking water and dust has gottten inside there after a few years....the Question I have is: will manual locking hubs off a 1985 Bronco2 (Small style/ with 2.8 litre engine) fit my 1999?? ty for your help and input
Has anyone put manual lockouts on a 2000 XLT Ranger 4x4 5 speed manual transmission w/4.0 liter engine? Dose not have manual or auto hubs. Front drive train rotates all the time.
SGPDWP if it was made in 2000 it DOES have vacuum hubs. If for some rare occasion it was a 2000 produced very late then I guess there’s a possibility it would have the 2001 and up design which is a live axle. There is no way to unlock them
what do you mean by TTB? I'v never seen this acronym before, but this truck is bone stock at this point, so a upper and lower A-arm torsion bar IFS system. this is the exact same system as your truck, only 98 and 99 had this, maybe '00 but never had to deal with one of those. the only downside with these is having to climb out of the truck after some impromptu 2wd fun on a flooded skid trail to get out of a little hole- i should learn to lock the hubs BEFORE i hit mud! good luck!
TTB refers to the Twin Traction Beam front end the 4x4 rangers used up to 97. 98 and up were equipped with the a-arm ifs torsion bar suspension. A twin traction beam is like an axle that's been cut down the middle kind of, the ttb pivots in the center and uses coil springs along side a shock absorber like solid axle vehicles often do.
@sovietsks45 so what all was in that conversion? seals and plugs?
so how is it important to lock when off roading?
where I can buy?
Hey when you switched to these are you satisfied with the manual hubs themselves? have aany problems with them ever or anything? I need to get these for my 98 ranger. my auto hubs are pieces of shit and with all the mud and water i go through they break and fail all the time
. lol
Where did you get the hubs from?
i took 'em off and left them off-not digging the gaudy chrome plastic in the first place.
id clean it with brake cleaner before u install the new hubs in to make sure u dont have any metal shavings or dirt inside there good video tho!
where do you live?
What do you do with the vacuum lines after you remove the auto hubs?
I didn't do anything to the lines. Shouldn't be a problem.
Cap them.
They only "suck" for a few seconds when you activate the 2HI-4HI-4LO switch... they're not leaking vacuum all the time, so you don't even have to cap them, BUT... it might be wise just to keep dirt out.
So you no longer have 4 wheel drive?
He has 4 wheel drive, but instead of turning the nob inside the vehicle to engage it from 2 wheel drive to 4 wheel drive, now he has to walk outside and engage it from the hubs.
Anthony you still have to engage from inside. You have to engage 4x4 hubs first the from you interior control. Don't engage 4x4 while your hubs are in free.
Takes longer to Jack up and remove tires then it does to install. Simple
Just tear the screen off the automatic hubs and the tabs it becomes puss button just look up how to turn automatic hubs to manual
That's all there is to that?... Omg lol. My ranger's hubs were held on by more... And my f250 is a lot different.
David Wark you probably had a pre 98 that came with manual hubs from the factory and cannot be removed unless the wheel is taken off.
Sell me your auto hubs Ready2run 1
if you do not lock the hubs, no 4x4.
@999equalizer And what your little mind cant seem to grasp is the fact that the red jacl stand is in grass and dirt...Not concrete...Jack stand or not it still has a good possibility of sinking in the ground and falling.....moral of the story is "He still has a large set of nuts for doing this"...
99 kia hubs
Washington state