So last december after 4x4ing I blew my drivers side hub assembly out, no big deal I thought, just get it fixed and Im good as new right?... WRONG. Cost me 600 bucks for a new one plus labor, plus an axle, and rotor that I wrecked when the hub blew .3 months later the same NEW hub blew out again on me, after only about 200 kms(the truck was barely driven in that time). Took it back to the shop where I had it replaced and thankfully the hub was warrantied for a year but the labor was only warrantied for 100 days and I was just over so I had to pay for that . The truck was then parked and uninsured for 3 months until this month. Well after driving it again this month and about another 200kms once again the SAME hub has given out AGAIN!! WTF?? Now I have to go in and get them to warranty this hub and get another but once again I am just over the 100 days for the labor and will have to pay that.

My question is WTF is going on with this hub? Is this just bad luck or what? Or could something else be causing it? The manager at the shop was kind of a jerk the last time they had to replace it saying that it's cuz my truck is lifted it is hard on the hub. I have a hard time believing this as it is only a 3" body lift, lots of people have them with no problem. And also shouldnt the other hub have blown out too by now if this was the case? Ive had the truck 3 years and no problems before. Now I can only get 200kms out of a NEW hub? I dont think so...Something's not right here...

The truck goes back to the shop in the morning to show them the hub so they can warranty it but I have a feeling they are going to give me a problem about having to fix this again and Im worried about if it blows again they might not fix it.

BTW if they dont waive the labor this time I will be taking my business elsewhere. The only reason Im staying with them now is because I want this fixed free of charge.

Can you guys please give me any advice on what other things could be causing this one hub to keep going so quickly and also maybe some advice on what to say to this jerkoff manager at the shop if he tries to give me the run around or tell me its my trucks lift doing this...Also if he doesnt waive the labor do I still have the right to get my new hub so I can take it to my new mechanic?

I would really appreciate your input guys on this situation as I dont really know what to do and am by no means a mechanic here... Thanks in advance

 

It could be a faulty install. Get some AVM manual locking hubs. They are stronger and you won't have to worry about the vacuum hubs failing.

http://www.tellico4x4.com/product_in...ducts_id/26509

 

if its a body lift the only thing could be your tires that are really going to be a problem. You should tell them to thoroughly look through there work as it seem THEY are doing something wrong. With all these parts going wrong and only driving that many miles they must be doing some wrong. 32's are only 1" bigger than what the fx4 has and I'm sure it doesn't have different hubs.

 

Why did you post the same thing in 2 different threads?

https://www.ranger-forums.com/forum2...ad.php?t=68809

 

Well the 01 and up trucks have a live axle setup. There are no hubs that unlocks the front wheels from the differential. The vacuum hubs are a know problem in the older trucks.

 

I wish I knew about the AVM hubs when the original hub blew out, as the auto parts store(Lordco) told me that there was no manual locking hubs for the '98 ranger...dumbasses... And yes I will probably end up going with the AVM's sooner or later but i already spent the $600 plus labor on the new vacuum one and since its still under warranty Id like to get what I already paid for before I just kiss the $600 goodbye and start over. But I totally appreciate what you are saying... But in the meantime I need some help to figure out whats going on with this hub. Is there anything else I need to look at that could be causing this new hub to keep going so quickly.

 

[QUOTE=08XLT4x4;1017207]Why did you post the same thing in 2 different threads?

Yeah I knew that was coming...Sorry about that guys, I originally started the thread in this forum for suspensions thinking thats where it belonged but then noticed when I searched the forums that most of the threads about hubs where in the drivetrain forum so I figured I better post it there to get the most help. Sorry about that and I will just be sticking to the drivetrain forum now where it is probably more appropriate...

Maybe the moderator can just delete this thread from this forum altogether, as I made a mistake...Again I apologize.

 

There not tourqing the axle nut properly and the bearing is seperating. the Hub nut needs to be tourqed to I think around 200ft lbs of tourqe, im prolly wrong. If is not tourqued properly it will fail everytime, its just a matter of time. I'd try another repair shop. My dad owns an auto part store and we see this happen alot.

 

???
I don't think that's the prob.

The hubs are very weak, although the failure of the 'new' hub does sound outlandish. Honestly, get the AVMs for like $120 and install them yourself (I promise you can do it by yourself). I did that and then never looked back... It will save you cash in the long run, and you don't have to deal with this manager hustling you for 600 bucks!! That is CRAZY expensive.