Ok guys,

I have a 2005 Edge 4x4 4.0 auto. The Avm site lists hubs for 97-2000 but the mazda lists applications for 97 to current if i am not mistaken. I want my hubs to be fully manual. I saw a conversion kit for that too. somebody explain. I have had tons of nissan trucks, they were all manual. Can this be done with my ranger, or am I stuck with a front drive shaft spinning all the time. and everyone has told that my vac pulse hubs will break it is just a matter of time. Plus, I have the 5 spoke aluminum rims, will I have to have new wheels or can I take the center out of the wheel.

 

Welcome.

Your '05 does not have the PVH system. The AVM hubs that are available here in the US are for the PVH ('98-'00) systems only.

As far as I know, you're stuck with the the front drive shaft spinning all the time.

 

k, you dont have vac hubs, you have a live axle where the axle spins all the time, yes you can change to maunal hubs by converting your front end(hubs and half shafts) but that would be stupid cause its a weaker set-up, your not losing mpg or anything like that so dont sweat it, and to answer your last question, yes you would need new wheels if you were to go that route......

 

I appreciate the quick rsponse. I've always liked being able to disconnect completely. Plus, it would allow me to jack the torsion bars without worryig about the cv boots and the joints. Oh, well, little crank I guess won't hurt.

 

no man you will be good to crank them, ive got mine cranked up and everything is find, right along with alot of others on here......

 

A member over at offroadrangers.com just converted his live-axle ranger to an AVM manual hub set up, but it isn't cheap. It is cheaper with used parts but still... Best I can tell, you need the pvh halfshafts, and possibly the hub/bearing unit from a PHV ranger, and of course the avm manual hubs.
Nothing is wrong with the live-axle setup, most you might lose is 1mpg or so. There are some advantages to manuals, less wear and tear on the front axles, diff and driveshaft. If you break something up front while wheeling (ie cv-shaft) you can disconnect the hubs and drive home. Also you can use 2wd low range (not really needed but it's cool).
You could also say that if the hub-locks themselves are the weakest points, you would break them before the cv-joints. Seeing how the hubs are only $97 per set it wouldn't be horribly expensive to replace a broken one.
You shouldn't need to replace your wheel, most all aftermarket wheels have centercaps that you can just take out.
You should be okay either way to crank the torsion bars a small amount. Too much will be bad reguardless of the hubs, and will wear out suspension components faster, and ride harsher. Mine are adjusted about 1" higher, and I wouldn't do more than that, since our front ends don't have much travel as it is, the suspension will top out fairly easily.
Here is the thread for offroadrangers.com;
http://www.offroadrangers.com/forum/...ad.php?t=25038

 

FWIW, someone posted in another forum that tellico4x4.com is sold out of the AVM Ranger hubs and "they don't know if they'll be able to get any more". Sounds like discouraging news, if it's true. Glad I picked up a set from them already.

It makes me wonder though, are the AVM hubs available anywhere else?

 

live axel is better

 

ebay
search avm ranger
96.99$

iain

 

damn, nice find......

 

Wow, thanks for the informative post.