Just did the pulse vac. hub fix as shown in the How To section on my '99 Ranger. Working great so far...just may want to add for those looking at this fix that I re-installed the springs in my pulse locking assys....it's not real clear in the How To article what you need to do about the spring, but it's pretty self explanatory once you get into it. It's a bit of a three handed affair, as the spring clip you remove is what keeps the inner and outer white locking pieces together while getting the locking tabs past the rubber seal, but with a bit of patience I was able to get it done.

Thanks for a great forum! -Al

 

It works for a bit.. Mine went on me.. Prolly from being poorly greased.. but it was like 1/2 engaging.. and making a terrible grinding sound.. thank god it did that backing out of my driveway not on teh highway!.. Real way to fix it is get AVM hubs.. By FAR the best investment I ever put on my truck.. cost 118$ shipped to my door.. now my truck has manual hubs and when i lock them in.. there in! no worrying aobut wow did I do that right crap.. do what u did for now.. but seriously if u wanna save your Hubs get the AVM's.. I get a sweet discount at my job for hubs and it still would cost me over 200 a side.... NOT WORTH IT!

 

With the AVM hubs does that mean you have to get out and manually lock them every time you want 4wd? Sorry I dont really understand what the AVM hubs do compared to the stock ones.


Also, Im trying to do the hub fix but cant get the damn black part off with the screwdrivers...anyone else have trouble getting that part off?

 

Yes with AVM you have to get out every time you want 4WD. You could get these and then say when it is the threat of bad weather just lock them and then if you are going to go wheeling lock them regaurdless of in 2 or 4wd.

The black part is difficult just work at it slowly and somewhat gently. you don't want to break any of the tabs off. but at the same time it will prolly take a lot of strength to get it off. Good luck with it study it analyze it and work at it don't just jump in and muscle it.

With the vac hub fix I don't even notice the difference in MPG. I have actually hit over 20mpg highway with stock tires, a body lift, and the "live" axle mod(vac hub fix)

 

If you have done this mod or are planning to. In other words if you have removed the metal clip, can you still put in avms later. That is one question that I just can't seem to find the answer to. Id like to do the mod, but if I get a 100 bucks anytime soon, avms are high on my list..just curious. thanks.

 

Yes you can replace them with avms. The avm's completely replace the pulse vacuum hubs.

 

but with the hub fix does the 4wd still work automatically with the shifter inside the cab?

 

yup

 

i did the hub mod over a year ago and mine still work good, thats why im hesitant to spend 118 dollars on the hubs, why fix something that aint broke.......

 

I second that brother. My plan was to fix my broken hubs only until I could by some AVM but now I realize I don't need the new hubs the ones I have now work fine. If those ever break then I will get AVM's

 

if i had the pulse vaccum hubs, i would invest in the $120 AVM hubs.....MUCH stronger than the stock vaccum hubs, and you can unlock your axle.......fuel milage shouldn't be a concern, but when your axle is "live" then you are turning the parts inside the axle and wearing them out faster.......

 

I look at it more as Im constantly lubricating as opposed to wearing out. Makes me feel better about it. haha.

 

I was thinking this too.

I wonder what is worse never using the 4wd having it cease up without your knowledge then not being able to use it when you need it. Or having it wear out faster and knowing when it breaks so you know you need to fix it.

 

alls you have to do it lock it in 4wd every now and then to lube it up good......i lock mine in about once a month....and you know i dont use it...

 

^^ too true. Its always a good Idea to test out the 4by every so often and lube everything up..
But I look at the late 00 and up models, their front drivetrain stuff lasts just as long if not longer than my 98 stupid pvh. And they all have live axles, so It can't be THAT much more wear and tear, and honestly if/when I get manual avms, They'll be locked 95% of the time, the only time they won't be is when I go out for a long stretch on the freeway.

 

what/where do you lube? Should it be done when doing the hub fix?

 

Just did the pvm hub fix. Took about 30 minutes, had a little trouble with the outer caps, untill I realized that they only turn about 1/4 to 1/2 inch to unlock. I was thinking they need to be "unscrewed". I will eventually put in the avm hubs but with snow and ice on the roads i can get where i need to go. Thanks for the great info and how to!!!!

 

Do you think it will work on mine? This is all I have left of it.