PVH vs. live axle
 

Which do you prefer PVH or live axle?

I might have an oppertunity to swap axles with a 2000 xlt 3.0 that has 4.10s and an 8.8 rear. But its live axle and my truck is PVH. Is it possible to swap both trucks and have both functional? Can you just swap the differentials and keep the PVH on my truck and the other truck as live axle? Im not really sure what the live axle is so if any body can help or have an info that would be great.

Live axle setups lose the hubs. The wheel always turns the CV shafts, diff and front driveshaft. Basically its like driving around with the hubs locked in 24/7. I would like to have manual locking hubs but from what I hear the AVM hubs that are available are a bit weak.

live axle for strength and reliabilty. the gas mileage lost do to the front always spinning is so small you will never notice. i tossed around the idea of switching to the old style so i could have manual hubs but decided against that after hearing how weak the AVM's are

From a guy who has PHV's, get the live axles. There just isn't any good options for the PHV's.

The locking hubs are unreliable as well.

I have the vacume hubs right now and i havnt had to many problems with them except every once in a while when i cut a vacume line. but it is becoming more on an off road rig and moving away from the daily driver life. is it possible to swap my truck which has vacume hubs to live axle and make the old live axle truck vacume hubs?

You would need the proper wheel bearings(I think) and CV axles(for sure).

Here is info for switching to a manual setup. Just follow it backwards: https://www.ranger-forums.com/forum2...ad.php?t=49101

You can just swap the front diff and keep everything you have.
I like the IDEA of manual hubs, but not ford's idea of manual hubs. I prefer the live axle. But your auto hubs won't work on his truck.
To make your live axles you need cv shafts from a live axle truck and wheel bearing/hub unit.

I'll be the odd ball here... I like the PVH better.

Reasons...

I like being able to choose from 2wd, 4wd, 4wd LO, and 2wd LO. It has come in handy.

I like that if I break a CV I can unlock the hub and keep going, not worrying about the broken CV binding up, or flopping round beating on other suspension parts.

I like that I don't have to have the hub or axle to hold the bearing together. I can pull the whole unit out and drive around like normal if I had to.

What I don't like is the poor way the hubs attach to the bearings. If they could have fixed that it would be an almost unbreakable system.

I've been out with trucks with trucks with broke Live Axle CV's, it pretty much sidelines them for the entire rest of the trip. Where as I ran around with a broken CV for almost a year and I couldn't even tell it was broken (and it was DESTROYED) besides the fact I didn't have 4wd.

So there you have it, probably the one guy on here that likes PVH.

EDIT: Though, I must say, I have gone through three AVM hubs in the last year. Two fell off and one sheered in half. So I too wish there was a better option, like say Warn. But whatever.

so your saying that if i just swap the diff and mine will still have the hubs and his will still be live axle just to clarify?

Yes. The differentials will swap right out and everything will work the same for both of you.

As far as I know the diffs are the same. I could be wrong.

I <3 my warn hubs ;)

Yup, they are exactly the same... I have an '02 diff in my '99 :wink:

I had a standard explorer diff in my sport trac, and Shane has the diff from my sport trac in his ranger.

How would one identify PVH versus live axle?