Manual Locking Hubs Question

[Patrick]

What does it take to convert my 87 GW front to manual locking hubs? What parts are required?

[Stuka]

i think this should be right ;p

You need to buy a set of manual locking hubs (get warns, preferably warn premiums...do NOT get super winch hubs) The cap on your front auto hubs will pop off, in there is a hub lock type thing (name isnt comming to mind at the moment) that has to comeout..the warn hub will go right in to my knowledge.. I have rebuilt my front warn hubs once on my rig. And our axles are just about the same, otheer then mine being passenger side drop.

Other people here feel free to correct me ;p

[Kris]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Stuka:
i think this should be right ;p

The cap on your front auto hubs will pop off, in there is a hub lock type thing (name isnt comming to mind at the moment) that has to comeout.. ;p<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I've always refered to it as a "drive dog"
:D
Anyways...
Thats about right, except that in an 87' chances are that you have an NP229 transfer case. This is a "full time" case that utilizes a viscous coupler to transfer power from front to rear axles.
If you were to engage 4hi while your hubs were unlocked, great damage would occur within your t/c as the coupler trys to give your rear axle the power (basically, the coupler will overheat and fail very quickly) :(
There has been debate here wether or not manual hubs will save wear and/or increase mileage. My experience has been little or no increase in mileage and there would be almost no wear in a diff that was not powered as long as it was maintained properly.
Hope that helps...
kris.

[WillyPete]

note to self: do not install manny hubs until PT case is in...

can you explain how a VC works? i hear how bad it is to run the golblamed thing with no front dshaft in FT mode, but i don't understand it. thanks smile.gif

[porchpiggy]

The VC is basicly a limited slip differential between the front drive line and the rear drive line. In the hi or full time mode it will allow slip between the front and rear diff the way your diff allows slip between the left and right tires. If you unlocked the front hubs while in 4hi your transfer case will think your front tires are spinning and because the VC is not a "locker" it will slip some and overheat and go kablooy. I tested my VC just for fun when I had my front driveshaft out. It moved the truck without slippage, as long as I didn't give it two much go pedal. You can definately feel when it slips, and I think the average driver would notice right away and say "whoops, I forgot to lock the hubs". The one advantage I can see for manual hubs on a NP229 is this: the front axel is always connected, and thus the front driveshaft is always turning, even in 2wd (being driven by the axle), and turning the front shaft in the transfer case. So, the chain and all moving parts are always turning, though not under load when in 2wd. With the front hubs unlocked and in 2wd, the front axel, driveshaft, output shaft, and chain are not turning, saving some wear, and maybe a little in fuel savings. I think you will get many opinions on both sides as to if the money/time spent on manuel hubs is worth minimal savings, if at all, on wear and fuel. :cool: