hub conversion

[Louatlvc]

Greetings,
I've been reading the information on hub conversions. Based on what I've read on these threads, the Warn brand seems like a good choice.
I have a 95 Ranger 4X4 3.0 v-6. Love the truck but the 4wd switch is finicky so I'm planning to convert to manual locking hubs.
My question: Currently, the auto switch permits changing from 2WD to 4 LOW AND 4 HIGH. after installing the manual hubs will I be limited to 4 HIGH? It looks like the hubs are either ON or OFF. If I disconnect the electronic system (which I'm assuming happens during the conversion) I can't understand how I will be able to switch between HIGH and LOW? Any wisdom would be much appreciated. Thanks!

 

[JoshT]

I'll let someone who is a little more familiar with the earlier model trucks give you the details, but I can tell you that doing a hub conversion will not help your switch problems.

The hubs control whether or not the front axles are engaged and the front wheels are receiving power. The transfer case controls high or low range. Both work together to control 4wd. The hubs can be locked in, but if the transfer case is not sending power to the front wheels you will not have 4wd. Same goes for the Transfer case, it can be in 4wd mode, but if the hubs aren't locking you get no power to the wheels and thus no 4wd operation.

Installing manual hubs will not affect how your transfer case works, when you turn them "on" (locked) all it does is manually lock in the front axles, when you turn them to "off" (free) it manually unlocks the front axles. You'll still have 2wd, 4wd High, and 4wd Low. You also effectively add 2wd Low by putting it in 4wd Low with the hubs in the free position.

If you disconnect the electronic system you will not have any 4wd, high or low. Without the electronics you won't be able to operate the shift motor that moves controls the transfer case.

 

[adsm08]

If you were to lock the transfer case in 4-hi and then disconnect the shift motor eletrically and swap to manual hubs to use as your point of disconnect then yes, you would effectively be limited to 2-hi and 4-hi.

While you didn't specify this as your plan it seems to me to be the only logical conclusion given your questions.


There is a set of locking cams in the auto hubs that move to engage the axle shaft to the wheel hub when the axle shaft starts spinning. There is no electronic/electrical action inside the front hubs of your vehicle, so using manual hubs in and of itself will not affect the operation of the transfer case. I don't know if or how much you know/knew about that but it does commonly come up as a point of confusion among people who want manual hubs on an e-shift t-case so I thought I'd throw it in for good measure.

 

[RonD]

Yes +1 ^^^^

The Auto hubs are not electric, so 4WD switch doesn't control them.

4WD switch controls an electric motor on the back of the transfer case, this motor turns the shifter shaft in the transfer case to select 2WD, 4WDhigh or 4WDlow.

When 4WD is selected the front driveshaft and axles will turn as you move, when front axles turn the Auto hubs will also turn and that causes them to engage the front wheels, if an Auto hub doesn't engage you will hear a clicking noise or simply no connection so no 4WD.
When you switch back to 2WD the front driveshaft and axles will be disconnected from engine power, Auto hubs, if engaged, would now be dragging the front axles and driveshaft since they are no longer "powered" by the engine, this causes them to disengage........most of the time, you often have to back up 20-50ft to get them to fully disengage.

Changing to manual hubs makes the system more reliable, as the Auto hubs worked OK when new, but time and wear did make them unreliable.
And new parts for rebuilding are scarce now.

But this change doesn't make the electric 4WD shift more or less reliable, there is no connection between the two.

And as said above it also doesn't effect what selection is available to you, 2WD, or 4WD high/low.

Many with Manual hubs leave them Locked thru the winter and run transfer case in 2WD, if they need 4WD then they just shift into 4WDhigh or Low without having to get out of the truck.

This doesn't hurt anything, and only causes a .3MPG loss when running front axles all the time.
All 2001 and up Rangers run this way, front axles/wheels are always Locked, no way to unlock them.

 

[Louatlvc]

Thanks for sending these detailed responses. I think I understand now. Now that I know what's going on I think I will install the manual hubs and, during winter months, keep them locked and use 2wd. Really appreciate the feedback. This is an incredible site.