any one tried oil bath hubs on their 2wd?

[Captain Ledd]

This sounds like a great idea, I'll be following this very closely.

Once (hopefully) you're satisfied PLEASE do a write up on this with all the parts and numbers.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I know the 4x4 bearings are close to if not the same size inner and outer, where as the inner on a 2wd are twice the size of the outers, which i believe is the reason im having the wear problems.

That is something, I know my D28 uses two of the exact same bearings.

 

[kryptonitecb]

4x4 ttb d35 uses the same bearings inner and outer on the spindle.

Sent from the road while ignoring traffic

 

[Captain Ledd]

The 4x4 bearings are HUGE. The 2wd bearings are much smaller (even the big one).

Sealing the backside of the 4x4 hub isn't much of the problem, it's sealing the front where the knob is. I would guess the automatic hubs would be much more easier to convert due to the front being solid. Maybe they'd actually work better with oil?

 

[ForOffRoadDriving]

Well ive got a small leak on my drivers side seal, its not enough to fully coat the inside of the rim, just some splotches here and there. I saw them last night when i was dropping off a set of b2 wheels at my parents house so i topped it off and drove another 60 miles with no change in the oil level so im going to clean off the inside of the wheel today and continue to keep an eye on it. The passenger side is still going strong so im thinking the seal area on the DS may be slightly smaller after i cleaned it up with the emery cloth. The oil level was slightly higher than the bottom of the fill hole after i added the atf fluid so maybe it was that bit of excess fluid that leaked out, but so was the PS and its level is still where i left it after adding the atf? Stay tuned - ill keep updating this as time goes on

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

The 4x4 bearings are HUGE. The 2wd bearings are much smaller (even the big one).

Sealing the backside of the 4x4 hub isn't much of the problem, it's sealing the front where the knob is. I would guess the automatic hubs would be much more easier to convert due to the front being solid. Maybe they'd actually work better with oil?

Ya know, if it would work with auto hubs (and make them more reliable), I might be inclined to convert my 88 back to auto hubs... I have a couple sets collecting dust around here...

 

[kryptonitecb]

The problem I foresee with trying to convert 4x4 hubs is that they have a lot more places to leak. Plus on the inside of the knuckle where the stub shaft goes in there isn't a good way to seal it up.

Sent from the road while ignoring traffic

 

[ForOffRoadDriving]

I guess if you were to find a way to securely fasten and seal the hub to the rotor you could dril a fill/ level plug in the side of it, then make a reference line on the snout of hub so you know where the wheel needs to be so you can check the level when need be. I havent been exposed to the ins and out of the auto hubs as i have manual hubs and 2wds so my thinking might be flawed.

 

[PlumCrazy]

The problem I foresee with trying to convert 4x4 hubs is that they have a lot more places to leak. Plus on the inside of the knuckle where the stub shaft goes in there isn't a good way to seal it up.

Sent from the road while ignoring traffic

^^this is a good point. The axle shaft slinger/seal would probably not hold oil.

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[kryptonitecb]

But if you get this working I'll be doing it to my next 2wd. Pretty sweet so far.

Sent from the road while ignoring traffic

 

[ForOffRoadDriving]

So far so good, no new leaks and my oil levels are steady on both sides. I want to draft up an assembly drawing with every thing drawn to size and then draw a center line through it to see how much oil is actually covering the inner bearing and seal when the truck is at rest. Ill take a pic and post it when im done, plus ill post up links and part numbers. Im coming to the conclusion that as long as you have a good seal surface on the spindle ( smooth and not undersized due to trying to sand it smooth) a double lip seal such as the stock one is totaly adequate for sealing the gear lube in.

 

[ForOffRoadDriving]

Heres the link for the hubs
http://www.easternmarine.com/kodiak-1980-lube-dust-cap-for-10-disc-xlprolube10

Part numbers for the bearings are A2 (outer) and A6 (inner) and the seal is 6815.

 

[CHKNFKR]

awesome write up, follow up, and drawing. how much oil do you actually have in each hub?

 

[ForOffRoadDriving]

Im not sure how many ounces but im about even with the bottom rib at the base of the taper of the bear lube bottle, so maybe 6oz in each? I still have a small leak on the ds but im sure its because of the condition of my spindle seal surface on that side, i sanded it smooth and now its a little undersized in a couple places.

 

[CHKNFKR]

That doesn't seem like.much does it? As little as it is, i bet your bearings are happier than they've been in a very long time, cooler too.

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