Okay, I've got manual locking hubs on my 1993 Ranger. I liked them because they reduced the vibrations in the steering wheel, and I figured they must also reduce some form of internal wear? Anyways, think they'd fit inplace of my auto-hubs on my 2002 FX4? If so, would they work just like my 1993's system? Any input would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

no sorry there is no manual hub on the 5th gen rangers. from what I understand is they are free floating hubs

 

Right, but it seems I can hear and feel a vibration in my 02's stock setup. So, the question is: Can would the Old MANUAL hubs fin in place of the Current ones? I'm aware they dont come manual, as most nothing does these days, thats why I want the old style

 

Vibration in the steering wheel can be from alot of things, I kinda doubt its from your hubs. Never noticed any in mine

 

u can not use, fab or adapt manual locking hubs to a newer ranger. unless u swap out the entire front end. trust me, if it could be done, sarahs would have em already.

the new trucks use a vacuum type actuation for 4wd engauagement, thus no hubs.

 

when i say there is NOOO manual hubs from the 5th gen I DONT mean from factory I mean COMPLETELY

i bet your vibration is coming from a bad bearing, or unbalanced tire or bent wheel, or about 5 more things i cant think of not your "hubs"

 

Okay, well, thank you. I appreciate everyones prompt replies. This seems like a very tight-nit community, I like it. Thanks!

 

have ur wheels and tires rebalanced. have them do a road test if the balancer is so equiped to find if ur wheel is bent.

 

Alright, will do, thanks!

 

From 2000 1/2-on, 4x4 Rangers have had live hubs, meaning that the front axles, differential and drive shaft turn with the front wheels at all times. There is no option to disengage them at the hubs. No one makes a kit for selectable freewheeling hubs for these years.

The Ranger 4WD is not vacuum actuated. Most Rangers are shifted into 2HI, 4HI and 4LO by an electric motor (Electronic Shift-on-the-Fly). Manually shifted transfer cases have been available on selected models/years.

Vacuum was used to engage the troublesome automatic Pulse Vacuum Hublock system found only on 1998~2000 1/2 4x4 Rangers.

 

i didnt know when the change over was. oh well it still sucks IMO :-D.

Ford got it half right with the manual transfer case in the FX series trucks...why cant they offer manual hubs? oh ya thats right, for all the lazy bastards or dumbasses who dont know or wont get out to use them.

 

I, too, wish my truck had manual hubs. My opinion is that Ford just got tired of the warranty expense. The majority of customers don't want manual hubs, so Ford tried conventional automatic hubs, then they tried PVH. Now they are using non-selectable hubs. Cheaper to make, less to go wrong and the customer doesn't have to engage them. Too bad it had to come to this.

 

id be happy with the system the SuperDuties use...

 

Tthis question is for who ever wants to answer it, I have a 1996 Ford Ranger rear drive 2.3litre, I was wondering if both tires moved when I accelerated? I know that many rear drive mustangs are read drive but only one wheel usually the rear right puts power to the floor, is it the same case for the Ranger?

 

The SuperDuties have either Manual Locking Hubs or Pulse Vacuum Hubs. The S/D MLH and PVH are made by Warn, the same folks who supplied Ford with the disastrous 98~00 Ranger PVH. I guess you just have to hope they did a better job this time.

 

You probably have an open differential which will allow one tire to spin when it has significantly lower traction than the other. Certain 96 Ranger models had a limited slip differential (Traction_Lok) available as an option. They tend to send power to both wheels in an unequal traction situation.

 

I read this over at ORR just the other day. Seems there is a south american company that offers an alternative for PVH folks. ... Of course that does nothing for us 2000+ folks.

I see a lot of super dutys around w/ manual hubs. I have to suspect that it is a popular configuration.

 

i was under the assumption that the S/Ds had lock outs BUT they were also auto hubs...like u can enguage 4wd and it'll work but u can still use the lock out for hard use...:shrug

 

the super duties have two setting on the manual hub itself. Auto and lock.

 

No 'unlock' setting? That blows. That means no 2Lo for them.. unless the t-case supports it.

 

Nope. The switch in a Duty looks just like ours. (friend owns one/wheel with another)

The PVH on Rangers is actually a very good/strong design. The problem with them was in the vacume seal. They would lose their ability to seal thus letting vacume out and junk in, which is why I suppose they did away with them. The design of the hub its self is good.

I'v seen more SD Hubs explode than I have Rangers... but the SD's allways lock..

 

ah yes, auto and lock...thats what i was thinking of.

 

I almost guarantee you could fab and adapt but it would like a lot of R&D and a lot of machining expertise. but i guarantee it could be done.