What You’ll Need:

1. Strong Fishhook and some sturdy pliers: To pry out first ring. (Illustration 1)

2. 4-prong hub socket: To get conversion kit in.

3. 1/2″ drive ratchet.

4. 1/8″ flat head screwdriver and needle nose pliers: To pull lock rings out. (Illustration 4)

5. Internal snap ring pliers: To get snap ring on that comes with new hubs.

6. Skinny fingers to get spacers out. (Illustration 3)

Locking hub parts view

For Information on diagnosing hub parts, click HERE

 

Procedure:

1. Support truck securely on jack stands

2. Remove front tires and set aside.

3. Remove the cap screws and remove hub cap. (See Illustration 1)

4. Remove everything up to the outer wheel bearing, exposing the side of the bearing. (See Illustrations 2 through 4)

5. Now, you can throw away all of that except the spacers and snap ring.

6. Place the spindle nut conversion kit in and tighten/adjust as needed.

Note: Automatic hubs held on by 3 cap screws will need the conversion kit (F-150’s). Rangers need them regardless, unless you already have manual hubs.

Note: The conversion kit differs in appearance and hardware depending on which brand you get, so I left conversion kit installation kind of open.

7. Now place the hub assembly/body on the splines and place the spacers as needed and install the snap ring.

8. Put the hub cap onto the hub body and insert screws and tighten to torque listed in instructions that came with the new hubs. Note: the cap screw torque is in In-lbs, not ft-lbs.illustration 1

Illustration 1

Illustration 2

Illustration 2

illustration 3

Illustration 3

Illustration 4

Illustration 4

This is what you won't need from the original automatic hubs

This is what you won’t need from the original automatic hubs

 

About The Author

Founder / Administrator at  | Staff Profile

Jim Oaks is the founder of The Ranger Station, one of the longest-running Ford Ranger enthusiast communities on the web. He has spent over three decades owning, modifying, repairing, and driving Ford Rangers on the street, trail, and cross-country routes.

Since launching TheRangerStation.com in 1999, Jim has documented thousands of real-world Ranger builds, technical repairs, drivetrain swaps, suspension modifications, and off-road tests contributed by owners worldwide. His work has been referenced by enthusiasts, mechanics, and off-road builders looking for practical, experience-based information rather than theoretical advice.

Jim’s hands-on experience includes long-distance overland travel, trail use, drivetrain and axle upgrades, suspension tuning, and platform comparisons across multiple Ranger generations. The content published on The Ranger Station is grounded in first-hand experience and community-verified data, not marketing claims or generic specifications.