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Manual Locking Hubs

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Chris72

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I curently have manual locking hubs on my Jimmy and i hate how the catwalk when i turn with my 37"s. I was wondering if i just pute in some warn manual locking hubs do i have to do the part time kit in my 203?
Also how hard is it to pute the hubs in never done this kinda swap?
:zombie15:
 
if still full time 203 yes needs kit to make part time.

1 of 2 kits cheeper simple swap in http://coloradok5.com/milemarkerpt.shtml

other was a full tail shaft replacement . dont know if thay still make them.

or you have to fun locking hubs locked all the time.

and drive slugs out from front end is simple. pop cover off and pull snap ring and pop out drive slug and big spring.

then get a good set of locking hubs and basic install simple.
 
So even if i just replaced my auto hubs with manual hubs it wont work unless i do the part time kit also. I don't understand that, wouldn't just the front drive shaft spin without the hubs locked it would be 2wheel drive, then lock the hubs and its 4x4. wouldn't it just get rid of the vacuum hub set up?
 
thay are solid steel drive slugs. NOT vac stuff like dodge did.

and the 203 acts like a open diff axle if you unlock the front with no part time kit in it.

if you search 203 tcase or part time kit lots of info will pop up.
 
You have drive slugs, not vacuum hubs. If you install lockouts with an NP203 and no part time kit, you will have to put the transfer case In High Loc or Low Loc, because otherwise the differential in the transfer case will just unload and power the front axle which has the least amount of resistance.

Martin
 
if i recall reading your NOT to run the case in loc position all the time like that.

but all i realy know of 203 is how to use the front half in a doubbler setup. :thumb:
 
factory my 203 if always spinning the front drive shaft. i just have 3 open difs front middle back.
meening my front is like a rear open dif its confusing.
All the 203 does is act like a open dif to the front and rear axles i tink.
 
ya so if i had manual hubs and had it in low or hi unlock it should drive like a 4x2 but with the front axle still spinning and just the rear would have power to the wheels, right?
 
Ok
So all I wanna know is can I putt manual locking hubs on my truck and still be able to lock it into 4x4 without the part time kit.
I ask cause I need to know what to buy first only got enough money for one thing at a time.
 
Chris72 said:
ya so if i had manual hubs and had it in low or hi unlock it should drive like a 4x2 but with the front axle still spinning and just the rear would have power to the wheels, right?
Click to expand...

No, if you had manual hubs disengaged, and the t-case in your normal driving range, without the part time kit, you would go exactly nowhere.

If you want to do this, you need the part time kit.
 
It will run with manual hubs unlocked if you put the transfer case in high loc.

The main reason they say do not run in high loc, is because it puts a strain on the system with the front hubs "locked" with the drive slugs. Without the slugs in, and the front hubs unlocked, it will not hurt anything.

Just be sure you are in soft stuff when you turn the hubs unless you put it back into regular high.
In other words, if you take the drive slugs out, put on hubs, and lock them, it will drive exactly like it does now.
If you unlock the hubs, you have to put it in loc to make it move.

The reason everybody puts in the kit, is for gas milage and wear.
With the truck the way it is now, all the front parts are turning all the time.
This cuts into your gas milage, though not as much as most people think, plus all the front end parts are wearing as they go.
If you put in the full kit, then when you unlock the hubs, and put it in 2wd, then none of the front end parts are driven anymore until you lock it back up.

If you just want to improve the driving characteristics, then putting on hubs, unlocking them and putting the transfer case into loc, will cause it to drive like a part time 4wd.
All the front end parts will still be turning, they just will no longer be driving the front wheels.
 
Chris72 said:
factory my 203 if always spinning the front drive shaft. i just have 3 open difs front middle back.
meening my front is like a rear open dif its confusing.
All the 203 does is act like a open dif to the front and rear axles i tink.
Click to expand...
If both driveshafts are still bolted up and the front shaft spins while the truck is stationary, you have other problems. The front axle shaft splines or spider splines could be stripped.

I found out the hard way with a Ford that had the fulltime 203 and solid hubs. Went to back out and leave one day and put it in forward, the front shaft started spinning like nuts. Towed the truck back home and tore into the front. Pulled the shafts out and found both shafts and spiders had all stripped splines.
 
if the hubs are unlocked,you will not go anywhere in hi or low unlocked as the power will go to the front end and not move the truck.with high lock it will move,but the front axle will still be powered and moving but not put power to the wheels.with the part time kit,it will lock the rear in and not power the front axle.
 
Ok so if I buy the kit is there a link to a build thread on part timing a 203?
And how hard is it, I was told the hardest part is getting the transfer case out.
 
I put a Mile Marker kit in my '76 back sometime in the '80s. I didn't have to take the transfer case out. I just did everything under the truck. It wasn't hard at all. I don't know if the kits have changed since then though.
 
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