welding auto hubs - The Ranger Station Forums


WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS I HAVE AN EXTRA CET THINKING OF DOING THIS

 

I DONT KNOW. I WOULDNT DO THIS ON MY TRUCK

 

To me, it sounds like it would be just like a Manual Hub left in the locked position permanently. And I did that every winter after I got my AVM Hubs on the 99. From November to April, I never unlocked the hubs and didn't really have a problem.

Worst that can happen is you blow one up when driving on pavement and if it's just an extra set anyway, no worries.

Granted, if it's just a pavement pounder most of the time I don't see a reason to do it. Would only really help you if you were having issues with the Hubs not activating in 4wd (i.e. you'd need to have a reason to be in 4wd).

 

Worse gas mileage, shorter tire and front drivetrain life. I wouldnt. But if you like it then by all means hit it up its all about what you wanna do to your truck.

 

So essentially, you'd have a live axle in the front. Hubs always locked in, so you have your differentiation in your open differential in the front..

 

i dont see the problem with it. its like what beard did with the his front axle puts in those gears so you have have hubs

 

just till i find a set of manual hub and a job to buy them i give it a shot

 

his technique is a little odd, just welding it. but they make drive slugs for all kinds of axles/hubs.

he wont have any issue on the street and he wont really notice it that much imo.

 

As stated in that thread the 01 and up truck with live front axles are hubless. So basically the diff and driveshaft is spinning all the time.

 

Only thing I'd be worried about it that the hubs are cast aluminum and the steel's not all that great of quality to begin with. I personally think that it would be taking a weak hub and making it (possibly) even weaker, but I have no experience with it. Give it a shot, its only an already dead auto hub blown if it does frag. LR

 

If you weld them and later get manual hubs you are gonna find it a PITA. You are ruining the splines on the axle and will have to replace them for the manual hubs. i would just buck up and get manual hubs or wait it out till you can afford them.

 

how are you ruining the axle splines? youre welding the peices of the hub, not the hub parts to the axle. im pondering this myself, having recently blown up a manual hub and still have the auto's laying around.

 

I had only seen people welding the hub locking part to the axle itself. Its still a better Idea to just install manual hubs. IMO