Manual hubs

[Element]

Someone school a noob - what's the difference between the OEM manual hubs, and a set like the Warn "premiums"?

I don't really know how manual hubs work - I know you spin the selector into lock and it locks the wheel to the axle, I'm assuming via a sliding sleeve that slips over the axleshaft and the short shaft going to the wheel - but are the Warns just better parts? Or are there other differences between stockers and aftermarket?

 

[Muddytazz]

You'll get a debate on this one. Warn's manual hubs are the next best thing to OEM.

Me personally, every rig I've owned (no-a-days anyways) I remove the factory spicers and install warns. I can't count the amount of spicer hubs I've blew up and have never broke a set of warns. But that is just my experiences.

And your description of the manual lockouts is correct.

 

[Element]

How hard is it to switch the lockouts? All my previous 4x4s have been IFS, so I never had to deal with them.

I'm assuming the Warn setup uses higher-quality parts, better tolerances, etc?

 

[Muddytazz]

Like I said, your going to get different views on this.

Changing them is easy. Remove the cap screws, remove a couple of retaining rings (1 big, 1 small) and pull the body out. Reinstall new or old in reverse order.

 

[Element]

I really don't trust the stockers to be that strong, but experience had taught me that aftermarket parts aren't always necessarily stronger, thus the question.

Just making a list of goodies to get this winter to put on the truck, and I figured I might as well swap the lockouts. Interesting note - when I drove the truck for the first time while it had 39s on different wheels on it, it had auto hubs. When I got the truck, with 35s and stock wheels, it was back to the OEM manual lockouts.

 

[dyeager535]

I've had good luck with the stock pieces (Spicers) BUT, if the seals fail, and/or you don't keep them greased up, they rust up solid, and you don't have 4WD. Don't ask.

I took some Warn's apart at the wrecking yard, was pretty impressed with how they are designed. 100% different than stock, at least when talking about 1/2 ton stuff, and appear to be pretty resistant to failure, based on corrosion alone, on two sets I took apart.

 

[Element]

I've played with 4wd a bit and it's not rusted up (at least, not bad enough to disable anything), but given the previous owner, I seriously doubt they were either maintained or greased.

Kinda up in the air as whether to get the normal Warn hubs, or the "premium" ones, since they're only $15 more.

 

[AJMBLAZER]

I've played with 4wd a bit and it's not rusted up (at least, not bad enough to disable anything), but given the previous owner, I seriously doubt they were either maintained or greased.

Kinda up in the air as whether to get the normal Warn hubs, or the "premium" ones, since they're only $15 more.

Get the premiums. Common...$15 bucks more? Skip Mickey D's or Burger King twice this week and you've saved that much.




Haven't bought any manuals for a SFA GM yet...HOLY CRAP ARE THE D60 HUBS EXPENSIVE!!!!...but from experience with other vehicles the Warn Premiums are ALWAYS at least as good as the stockers. Quality is always good and they usually have lots of nice extra features.