my 98 4x4 with pvh is currently modified so its a live axle, i don't have any problems with it but i'd prefer to be able to disengage the front axle, no way in hell im going back to pvh, so i've been searching for manual hubs and the only thing i've come up with is AVM, they seem good enough but the fact that they are from brazil scares me a little bit, i know a few members here must have them so im looking for your opinions, do they work well, are they built good, reliable? what do you think?

 

If your pvh system is flaky and you want your mpg back buy them.

I ran them last winter had 4wd when i needed it.

 

i have the avm hubs. i really like em. i havent pushed them that hard yet but they seem like they will take the abuse

 

i *think* i managed to blow one up a few weeks back.. woke up after night wheelin and it was gone, and there were metal shavings around the cv shaft in the hub...

but besides that they work really good, sometimes it takes a kick or smack with a rubber mallet to disengage if you want it done w/o driving at all

 

I wouldn't be turned off by this since he has 35's, is locked, and has 4.88. The front of a ranger is not built to handle that.

AVM's should be fine for your situation and if you go bigger expect things to break. I am going to be gettting the AVM's very soon.

 

from what i have heard and seen, they are good hubs...and they are fairly cheap compared to TTB hubs...

 

Just dont forget when you hit the trail get out and lock em in . Or leave them locked all the time . Or you will wind up having to do the hood crawl when you get stuck in 2wd.

 

thanks for all the info guys, you convinced me, i just ordered em

 

It should be kept in mind too that the the AVM replacement hubs for Ranger PVH 4WD systems have been around longer than most people might think. They were being sold in other parts of the world where there are PVH-equipped Rangers (Brazil and UK, for example) long before they became available here in the US. You have to think that can only be a good thing in terms of "real-world testing" and perfecting the product over time.

 

so how much is the kit?

 

good point rockledge and thanks for that info, thats something i hadn't thought about cause i forget rangers are sold all over the place

haoleranger03 - from tellico4x4.com they are about $105 plus shipping

 

i was just sayingggggg haha

i know im putting a TON more stress on my truck then was ever intended..i love em..i just have a locked in PHV hub on that side for now until i get $$ for a new set...

105 is good, i belive mine were 117 from the same place, and the day after i got my set the price went up to 179, it fluctuates

 

hey man don't worry about it, i wanna know as much about em as i can, and i always check signatures to see what setup everyone is runnin

 

if ya wanna only run one and send me the other feel free :D

naw jk, i like mine.. only problem is some passengers dont get "get out and turn the hub to lock" so i gotta go out and do it haha

 

according to UPS tracking i should have them tomorrow, so if they are here im putting them on as soon as i get home from work and then see if i can find some good spots to test em out at

 

Would i have to get a conversion kit to switch over to those because I have the automatic ones which suck and break easily

 

i THINK you can buy Warn ones.. aka better but more money

 

i'll have to look into it, automatics suck when you put it in 4wd stopped on a hill with a manual trans they tend to break or decide not to engage

 

yea you would need to buy the conversion kit, i have the same year ranger as you and had to buy, imo best purchase ive made for my truck. when winter rolls around i lock em and leave em

 

oh no doubt manual hubs are one of the best things to do in my book.

 

How hard was the install of the hubs and conversion kit?

 

not hard at all, bout an hour and some elbow grease and they done. just make sure you keep the parts together u take off.

 

I have the Warn conversion kit as well... I love it.

 

as far as i could find Warn doesn't make manual hubs for rangers newer than 97, missed it by a year cause they changed the whole front end in 98

anyways mine were here when i got home from work today, they aren't called AVM anymore, they are called Rugged Ridge, the logo looks kinda stupid but they work fine and they are built way better than the stock PVH units, easy install too