4x4 Manual Hub Knob

[wildbill23c]

Is there anyplace to get just the manual lock-in hub knob? Apparently after 30 years mine was too brittle to turn in this cold ass weather and it kind of just snapped right off. I temporarily super glued it for now and it seems to be holding.

Anyhow, is there a place to order just that knob, or am I stuck having to order a whole new set of hubs? I'm thinking of heading to a pick a part Sunday and getting one that way anyhow.

 

[UrbanRedneckKid]

Sounds like a good excuse to indulge in a set of Warns...

I've not seen a set of knobs or any parts available for the hubs, and if they were available they are most likely discontinued now.

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[wildbill23c]

^^Well if I had money to blow on this rig I wouldn't mind swapping out stuff. However, the hubs on it now work just fine, so why spend money I really don't have replacing stuff that isn't broke LOL.

I think I will look around the parts yard this Sunday and see if I can grab the knobs off one of the trucks there. I found a brand new air filter last time I was there and they charged me $1.50 for it. I also got a ton of fuses, light bulbs, and some random fasteners as well while I was over there. Got the radiator for $40 because I didn't think to bring one over to get $5 off on the core charge, but $40 instead of $220 is a great save already LOL.

I may look at a set of Warn Hubs someday, but right now it needs major body work, that is if I even end up keeping it. I'm thinking of scrapping it, and saving up money and getting into an early 80's 4WD Ranger, or another Bronco 2. Been finding several on Craigslist lately with good bodies, and just simple repairs needed. Example. $600 for an 86 Bronco 2 that needs a new ignition control module ($50). Has new tires, and best of all the wheels match LOL.

 

[UrbanRedneckKid]

I wish I could find a B2 that cheap...

Sounds like your stuck buying 30y/o salvage yard parts.

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[wildbill23c]

I wish I could find a B2 that cheap...

Sounds like your stuck buying 30y/o salvage yard parts.

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Yeah that's what I'm thinking LOL. Well not necessarily 30 y/o. But older model anyhow, the Hubs I think were the same on the B2's, Rangers, and early explorers so I shouldn't have to go extremely old. I'm guessing it would be pretty risky to buy the whole hub assemblies?

 

[UrbanRedneckKid]

You might want to look into what had the D28 axle, before you pull the wrong parts. The Ex always had the D35.

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[97RangerXLT]

I believe that the 4x4 early 80's Rangers and B2's all had D28 front axles. Some time around 89 or 90 they switched over to the D35 front axles, so Explorer front axle parts are not likely to fit. But...if you get the entire D35 setup off of a 1990 + Ranger/Explorer/Navajo it should bolt in fairly easily

Not sure if the later B2's had D35's or not... but that is something to keep in mind when doing a parts run.

AJ

 

[97RangerXLT]

Lol UrbanRedneck beat me to it

AJ

 

[black_demon69]

I believe that the 4x4 early 80's Rangers and B2's all had D28 front axles. Some time around 89 or 90 they switched over to the D35 front axles, so Explorer front axle parts are not likely to fit. But...if you get the entire D35 setup off of a 1990 + Ranger/Explorer/Navajo it should bolt in fairly easily

Not sure if the later B2's had D35's or not... but that is something to keep in mind when doing a parts run.

AJ

my 91 navajo had a d28 not a d35

 

[ab_slack]

I had an issue with the knob melting on one of mine due to overheating caused by a collapsed brake line.

If you find a source to replace I be interested...cause the hub works otherwise. One can still take a vice grip and turn in. I would like to restore it.

I have replaced my hubs with warn replacement ones. While the warn ones are very nice, if I can get replacement knob. To me having the black warn manual locking hubs is just wrong they should be red!!

If you don't find a source to replace that red plastic knob, since I kept the old hubs and have replaced what I have, you are welcome to my old ones. After all if you don't find replacement knob I won't so I will stick with the new ones.

One is perfectly fine. The other has the melted knob requiring vice grip to turn but works. They are off an 87 BII. I figure you could either use the knob off the working one or just put the whole thing on.

 

[wildbill23c]

Hmm, yeah completely forgot about the stupid D28/35 differences. I'm going to take the old part with me so I can compare. I'll also post up results as the pick a part I go to has many different generations of RBV's so I will certainly post what I find. I thought all the manual hubs were the same regardless of D28/35, just when you got into the F-series trucks the hubs got larger and thus the center lock in knob was larger as well.

I've searched online and can't find just the knob, you have to buy the whole damn $150+ hub, there has to be a better way, I have 2 good hubs why would I spend $300 on replacing parts that are still working, on a truck that I've dumped way too much money into as it is ugg.

 

[ab_slack]

On second thought, knowing the struggle you have keepin the old girl running, you are welcome to my old hubs. I am pretty sure they should fit.

 

[wildbill23c]

^^LOL, I'm not looking for handouts just ideas for finding just the part I need. Problem is a new set of lock-in hubs I believe is worth more than the truck itself LOL.

Pretty much gave up any hope in getting it restored, I don't even make that much money in a year for a proper restoration .

Thinking of driving it to the pick a part and leaving it there for someone to grab some parts off an actual operational vehicle. And using the money from that to save up and grabbing another B2 or Ranger in better shape.

If it wasn't for getting myself into unneeded trouble I'd run across the road and grab a hub knob off the neighbor's Ranger that they totalled a couple months ago. Or I'm pretty sure its totalled given it seriously looks like the frame is bent, bed would need replaced, lots of cab work would need to be done. It does still start and drive though. Interior would need some work as they didn't bother putting anything over the passenger side window that was broke out, so I'm pretty sure all the stray cats have been using it.

I also need to fix the Hubs so they don't come off when you take the wheel off, that's what got me in trouble this time, the hub got stuck in the center hole of the wheel and I was trying to get it to come out and of course instead of hitting the edge of the hub that is metal I smack the plastic Knob LOL. I still have 1 good knob, I guess I could take it off and use it on both sides if I need to LOL. Haha a secret hub key LOL.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I have gotten a couple sets of Warn D35 hubs for $10/pair from the local u-pull-its. I have never seen them on D28's, usually they are gone or automatics.

They originally had infernal clips that went on the wheel studs that held the hubs on when you took the wheels off. They are a pain to get off/on if you need to go deeper than just taking the wheel off.

 

[wildbill23c]

I have gotten a couple sets of Warn D35 hubs for $10/pair from the local u-pull-its. I have never seen them on D28's, usually they are gone or automatics.

They originally had infernal clips that went on the wheel studs that held the hubs on when you took the wheels off. They are a pain to get off/on if you need to go deeper than just taking the wheel off.

Ahh, I can't remember last time I was over there at the pick a part if there were any left that still had the hubs or not. Figured I'd make a trip over and hopefully get lucky and find one, if I do find one, I'm certainly getting more than 1 LOL. All the old trucks I see running around are mostly manual hubs, the later 80's models were fairly common to see the auto-hubs which I'm not a fan of at all.

As for those clips they're long gone off my B2 of course so when I take off a front wheel the hub comes off as well. I remember someone on here had mentioned drilling and tapping holes into the center of the rotors and then putting screws in to keep the hubs from coming off with the wheels I may try that so this broken knob issue doesn't happen again.