J10 Hub conversion

[[]V[]AXX]

My '79 has Dana 44's on both ends, and I'm looking for a hub conversion kit to convert it over. I checked out the Warn kit, but it's pricey. This thread is to see if any of you have any experience with this conversion, and what your favorite conversion kits are. I've seen Mile Marker, Warn and a couple others, but have no experience with them. I'm looking for the cheapest kit that's good quality. This isn't a crawler, its just a basic pickup that'll see a little off road duty, and maybe beach running. So, what are good kits and where can I get them? BJ's isn't showing a conversion kit on their site, just hubs and hub parts. Unless I looked in the wrong place...?


http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/ab109/maxx55svx/S4020402.jpg

[[]V[]AXX]

wow, thread isn't showing..

[J300Zack]

I'm curious about this topic too. As much as I like not having to get out of my waggy to go into 4 wheel drive, i have heard of a 1-2 mpg increase when switching to manual hubs.....

[Gambler68]

Yeah..you just buy the hubs, remove the drive flanges that are in there, and install them.

Superwinch hubs are cheaper. Grew up near the plant in Putnam, CT, and they are a good shop. Should be around 80 bux.

[[]V[]AXX]

seriously, just pull the cap and the guts and install them? a guy I talked to down here said that he had to change his spindles too. He had a Chevy K5 though... Superwinch was cheaper than Warn and about the same as Mile Marker. One guy said that the Mile Marker are junk, had no input as to Superwinch, and said Warn was godly....I have to wonder if it's just the name..

[[]V[]AXX]

Ok, I just looked up the instructions for the Warn kit. Superwinch does not yet post the installation instructions online. I only need the standard kit. The other kit is for auto locking hubs that have the 3 bolts retaining the outer cap. It requires a special inner lock. My standard hubs just need to be dropped in and tightened down. That's good news:).

I would still be interested on opinions of the various hub manufacturers and kits out there if anyone has any suggestions or comments. Thank you.

[fulsizjeep]

i have heard of a 1-2 mpg increase when switching to manual hubs.....this is mostly myth in my humble opinion






Maxx - Do you have a stock QuadraTrac in your 79 J10? If yes, why would you put manual hubs on it?
We have 2 FSJs with MileMarker hubs and have been happy with them.

[threepiece188]

If your vehicle still has the original equipment and has an auto trans, it has a quadratrack transfer-case. I believe the hub converson is not as simple as replacing the hub contents. I think there is a conversion to the transfer-case that should be done as well. I have never done this conversion but I have heard of people who have only converted the hubs on Qtrack equiped FSJ's and not the T-case without problems (although I don't know for how long).
Dan

[freeincolorado]

My Jeep has Superwinch hubs installed by PO. They seem to be ok. The right side is a little harder to turn than the left. I think I need to pull them off and repack with grease, other than that they work fine. Of course I have a 208 t-case not Q-trac.

[Tornado230]

I agree that the mileage increase is overstated.
I have free-wheeling hubs on the J-20, but leave them in the locked position.
The only time I dis-engage them is when I take them off to grease the bearings.
I have watched people pull to the edge of the paving, get out, lock the hubs, drive around a little in the "dirt", come back to the paving, and dis-engage the hubs.
I have had fewer problems with axle u-joints by keeping the front end locked in.

[Thomas792]

I have never converted a Q-Trac t-case for unlocked front hubs. All my t-cases in my Jeeps have been part time units. I'm pretty sure that you have to install a MileMarker kit so that it stops sending the power to the front axle. With the Q-Trac in its factory configuration it splits the power to the front and rear through a set of cone washers that will wear out REALLY quickly if the front is unlocked. I've heard of people just driving in E-Drive but again, I have no experience with this.

[Casey]

I have never converted a Q-Trac t-case for unlocked front hubs. All my t-cases in my Jeeps have been part time units. I'm pretty sure that you have to install a MileMarker kit so that it stops sending the power to the front axle. With the Q-Trac in its factory configuration it splits the power to the front and rear through a set of cone washers that will wear out REALLY quickly if the front is unlocked. I've heard of people just driving in E-Drive but again, I have no experience with this.
Yep.

Installing the hubs is as easy as Gambler described...take out flanges and install new locking hubs.

But, don't drive it with the hubs unlocked while not in E-drive. Make dang sure your QT case is in good working order or you'll be searching IFSJA for a replacement.

The mileage thing is a myth when you use the FSJ factor.

[Gambler68]

Yeah you can drive in just E-drive 2WD with the front disengaged. I drove one around for 6 months with the front shaft OFF and it worked great as a last ditch lets keep the jeep moving' type of thing.

replaced both qt and th400 after that though ;)

I see you guys are wondering about the AUTO hubs..yeah I don't think they work with our jeeps.

[jaber]

Yeah you can drive in just E-drive 2WD with the front disengaged. I drove one around for 6 months with the front shaft OFF and it worked great as a last ditch lets keep the jeep moving' type of thing.


Drove a QT J-10 for over 2 years like this. It sucks in the snow, but does great everywhere else as a DD.
I just put a QT w/ part time into the J and will be doing the hubs very soon.
This thread just saved me from asking the same dumb question....:thumbsup:

[COLOFIREMAN]

I only thing different about the big three hub companies is the "look". I've seen a lot of guys here in the mountains with the "junk" standard one's and the "awesome" brass ones, there all plastic or pot metal under the cap. If one wants their hubs to last.....service them....service them....service them. If you can't turn the knob at 10 below with just you fingers, then it time for a parts washer and some good dead dinosaur juice....


http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd218/COLOJEEPGUY2K/Emotions/22525252520CENTSacf.gif :huh: :D

[fulsizjeep]

Make dang sure your QT case is in good working order or you'll be searching IFSJA for a replacement.Yep.

This unlock hubs and lock Edrive thing is also a good way to get home if the front output is shot on a stock QT too. That is how Krista drove home from Ouray in Phoebe 3 years ago with an eBay "rebuilt" QT I put in it detonated after 300 miles. She did manage to get 1 mile from the house before it just about spit out the front driveshaft. :rolleyes:

[[]V[]AXX]

Good info, guys, but my truck is a base model. It has 258 I-6, T15A 3 speed manual, with a Dana 20 t-case. I was looking at the manual hubs because of the awesome deal BJ's has on EZ-lockers. I was told that with a front locker you HAD to have the manual hubs. The other reason was the mpg advantage that you supposedly got from converting to manuals with a part time case like the D-20. Mine have had new bearings installed, I just didnt' know that it was that easy to install manuals.

[Casey]

V[]AXX']Good info, guys, but my truck is a base model. It has 258 I-6, T15A 3 speed manual, with a Dana 20 t-case. I was looking at the manual hubs because of the awesome deal BJ's has on EZ-lockers. I was told that with a front locker you HAD to have the manual hubs. The other reason was the mpg advantage that you supposedly got from converting to manuals with a part time case like the D-20. Mine have had new bearings installed, I just didnt' know that it was that easy to install manuals.
And it doesn't have locking hubs? Weird?

You don't HAVE to have manual hubs. When you're in 2wd the front shaft isn't sending power to the front end so the locker won't be very noticable.

However, it would be best to install a set of locking hubs. Again, you most likely will not see a difference in economy.

[Ristow]

i just put a new set of superwinch hubs on the '83. about 60.00 from summit. takes about 20 minutes to put them on.

I think I need to pull them off and repack with grease you do not pack the hubs with grease,it will ruin them.

[[]V[]AXX]

And it doesn't have locking hubs? Weird?

You don't HAVE to have manual hubs. When you're in 2wd the front shaft isn't sending power to the front end so the locker won't be very noticable.

However, it would be best to install a set of locking hubs. Again, you most likely will not see a difference in economy.

Haha, when I got the truck, the front end was noisy. The front axle u-joints were gone. There were no rollers left in them and they'd managed to tear up the yokes. When I set out to fix all that, I pulled the cap off of the hub, and while working it off I noticed it was kinda mangled.:confused: It finally came free and the spring flew out and bounced off my chest. He had put the drive flange in right up against the bearing retainer nut, and then took a chisel to the inner lip of the hub dust cap to flare it out where it would stay in with the pressure of the spring against it. He'd also taken a grinder to the inner bearing retainer nut and ground off the locator pin.:banghead: I had to replace all of that. The bearing retainer nut was torqued to about 50 ft lbs, so the bearings were cooked too. It's possible someone swapped out the manual hubs, but there's no way of knowing that, and I kinda doubt it. The T15A tranny being in it behind the six banger is also kinda unusual, I'm told. They were supposedly only used behind V-8's. :rolleyes:

[Casey]

The 'standard' trans (pun intended) was the three speed manual and my $$$ says it came with locking hubs, too. 4spds and autos were options.

I had a '74 J-10 with the same drivetrain. 258/T-15/D20

[Gambler68]

The mileage thing is a myth when you use the FSJ factor.

http://www.uni.edu/earth/EECP/mid/findings.gif


Fsj with brow: parachute.
Fsj sans brow: brick

adding hubs to either..yeah, don't think it'll save much.

[freeincolorado]

i just put a new set of superwinch hubs on the '83. about 60.00 from summit. takes about 20 minutes to put them on.

you do not pack the hubs with grease,it will ruin them.

Good to know. I'm just going off what my brother told me...but...he is a Toyota guy. (I think he was switched at birth.:D)

[Hubjeep]

i just put a new set of superwinch hubs on the '83. about 60.00 from summit. takes about 20 minutes to put them on.

you do not pack the hubs with grease,it will ruin them.
What part number would work with my 1989 Grand Waggy D44?

Why not coat hub with a bunch of grease? :confused:

Thanks, John

[KnuckleBuster]

Just blew out my original Cutlas manual hubs on my 63Gladiator and bought a set of Superwinch manual hubs to install as replacements... The instructions sheet is pretty worthless but it DOES say that packing the hubs with grease will VOID the warranty!! Says they are "permanently lubed" at the factory and NOT to grease them.... FWIW