How good are the stock locking hub mechanisms?

[HIPCHIP]

I have a 90 Ranger XLT 4X4 with the 4.0 L V-6. Don't know if you need all that info, but I figured too much info is better than not enough.

I noticed on a site that they were selling the Warn locking hubs for the front axle. I was just wondering how good the stock Ford ones were or if I should consider changing them to something better? Most of the wheelin I plan on doing will be Cow-Trailing, or as I guess it's called in the wheelin world SUV trails ( I'm a dirt biker who's converting, so I gotta learn the lingo).
Thanks all for the help.
Dan'o :}

 

[Jspafford]

If you have manual locking hubs (ford) they are made by warn. They should do just fine for offroading a stock truck.

If you have the auto locking hubs, they stink.

 

[HIPCHIP]

Yep, I have the Ford manual hubs, so it's nice to know they are Warn's.

I had a Datsun that I converted to 4X4 and the company that did the conversion used Jeep stuff for the conversion, and I believe the hubs were Warn. I also had a Dodge D-50 with Warn, and my 90 Toyota I believe also used Warn. But with all of them it seemed to be much harder to turn the engagement knob than with the Ford one, so wasn't sure.

I had a buddy check mine today and he felt they turned real easy too and didn't think they were engaging, so we locked them up and went playing in a field and the front was definitely locked, so they are working.

Just wanted to double check that I didn't have to spend more $.
Thanks again,
Dan'o :}

 

[4x4junkie]

There are stronger versions available that fit your D35 axle, although unless you're running oversized tires and a locking front diff, the original hubs generally are fine.

Yeah, they don't take much effort to turn, which I kindof like. The brass-dial ones can be a PITA, especially in the cold.

 

[hitech_hick]

Honestly I have had better luck with stock manual hubs than I have with Warn's standard hubs. If I break any more though I am definitely upgrading to a set of Jeep hubs.



hick

 

[HIPCHIP]

There are stronger versions available that fit your D35 axle, although unless you're running oversized tires and a locking front diff, the original hubs generally are fine.

Yeah, they don't take much effort to turn, which I kindof like. The brass-dial ones can be a PITA, especially in the cold.

I'm running stock everything for right now. I'll start upgrading as I need new stuff, and probably won't go much bigger than 31" tires as I can't really afford to do a big lift kit, etc, nor do I want to get that crazy (I have a bad back and the doc said NO to doing anything that bounces my back too much, so have to stay pretty mellow).

I definitely remember my old hubs being a pain to turn at times, so unless something goes "PING, Tinkle Tinkle Plink" while I'm playing, I guess I'm OK for now.

Thanks
Dan'o :}

 

[HIPCHIP]

Honestly I have had better luck with stock manual hubs than I have with Warn's standard hubs. If I break any more though I am definitely upgrading to a set of Jeep hubs.



hick

Aren't the Jeep hubs just the Warn's?

 

[mkpecor]

no they are made for the rear axle in a jeep, [full floating axle] they look the same but are way heavyer and stronger, than the standered top hat warn hub. they are good if you are going to run 35'' tires or bigger, no bigger than 37''s.

 

[metalmacguyver]

no they are made for the rear axle in a jeep, [full floating axle] they look the same but are way heavyer and stronger, than the standered top hat warn hub. they are good if you are going to run 35'' tires or bigger, no bigger than 37''s.

Not that you would want to put tires that big on a D35 TTB....

 

[HIPCHIP]

Thanks, being a FNG to all this I have a lot to learn. 40 years of riding bikes allows me to know that stuff, but this is all new to me, even though I thought it was pretty similar.
It's good to know that my stuff is good as long as I just keep it mellow, and now I know that if I want to get a little more crazy that I will need to do some upgrades.
Dan'o :}

 

[hitech_hick]

Aren't the Jeep hubs just the Warn's?

The factory Ford hubs and the Warn hubs are supposed to be one in the same. Last year I broke a Warn hub on the trail and replaced it with a junkyard hub. Next outing I broke the Warn hub on the other side and replace it with another junkyard hub. Not saying that the factory Ford hubs are stronger than Warn standard hubs, just stating my personal experience. As for the Jeep hubs, as mentioned, they are made by Warn as a conversion kit for rear D35's. They are considerably stronger than Warn's standard front hubs. BTW, I am running 35's, 4.56's, and an Auburn posi.


hick