Hubs...

[90Ranger2012]

Im sure its been talked about before but concerning my 1990 ranger 4x4....have automatic hubs with push button 4x4, if i converted it to manual locking hubs will it still work fine with the push button? As in saying all i would have to do different when using 4x4 is push the 4x4 button an get out then lock in the hubs?

 

[Andy D]

Yah that is how my 94 came to me. Except the shift motor is missing. Right now it is in 4 wheel high and the hubs are unlocked. My Grand Wags had shift on the fly 4wd. Having to get out and lock hubs with a push button shift strikes me as kinda goofy. But I this is ny first Ford Pick up in 40 + yrs, so these new fangled ways of doing things are strange to me. I am using a pair of needle nose vise grips, that are safety wired in place, to shift modes. It is a cheapster. So having manual hubs works for me. It isn't a daily driver, so it doesnt matter around the house. It takes a little fiddling to get into 4 w high, so I'm leaving it like it is. for now,

 

[FritzTKatt]

Yup.

 

[lil'_big_truck]

yeah that's the only difference. I've got that setup with my 97. I also recommend getting Warn hubs. I love mine.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

My 88 has pushbutton and manual hubs. Mostly it has manual hubs because I didn't trust the auto hubs (more prone to failure when you need it most than manuals). I was originally planning to convert it to a manual transfercase, but I'm still looking for a manual/manual shift boot assembly for my choptop, so..... it's gonna stay auto for awhile, lol.

 

[Andy D]

I've already put 900$ worth of parts on a 600 $ truck. It still has issues , but it isnt getting anything. unless it wont go. I had automatic hubs that engaged when torque was applied by shifting into 4 wd . They worked until one wore out on the Willys. I replaced them with locking Warn hubs. That were all metal.

The stock plastic hubs on the 94 work fine, fugly but functional.

 

[racsan]

most of the time you know you may need 4wd, lock the hubs in haed of time, then when you need it, just push the dash button, driving around with locked front hubs wont hurt anything. if theres snow on the ground i keep mine locked in all winter.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I've already put 900$ worth of parts on a 600 $ truck. It still has issues , but it isnt getting anything. unless it wont go. I had automatic hubs that engaged when torque was applied by shifting into 4 wd . They worked until one wore out on the Willys. I replaced them with locking Warn hubs. That were all metal.

The stock plastic hubs on the 94 work fine, fugly but functional.

$900 into a $600 truck? Pfft....

My choptop was $160. By the time I got it to a point where it actually stayed like that for a significant length of time (it started with a 4x4 conversion, 2" suspension lift, and fixing the motor, then it was a 3" suspension lift, then it was a 5" suspension lift, then it got a 2" body lift and there it stayed for awhile) I had a total of $1670 into it. I did a lot of wheeling and dealing to pull that off. When it comes down off the jackstands this time, it'll have another about $2,000 into it (hub-to-hub rebuilt D-35, custom extended arms, custom trans x-member, 35" BFGs, new rims, rollcage, new windshield, pinned doors, etc). I also picked up most of the parts I need for a 4.0L swap that hopefully will come this fall/winter.