Hello all,
I have a bad wheel bearing on my driver's side. Per usual, when I replace it, I'll be doing both sides. 1AAuto has a kit with wheel bearings and a bunch of other suspension parts. The only hold up is that they only offer the kit with the 4WABS hub assemblies. My truck doesn't have ABS up front, could I simply cut off the ABS wires from the wheel bearing hubs? I don't know off hand what goes into having ABS on the hub versus not having it, is that something that could work, or should I not risk it? Thank you.

 

I take it this is the "lifetime" one piece hub setup, 1998 and up Rangers.

No it won't matter, and you don't need to cut the wires off although you can

Difference is that ABS hub has a tone wheel, looks like a gear, and a sensor that reads that gears RPM as "teeth" of that gear pass by it.

And the "kit price" is less than just 2 non-ABS hubs?

 

The wheel bearing hub assembly, yeah.

Two hub assemblies are just under $100, while the kit that also includes lower ball joints, sway bar links, and inner and outer tie rods is $136.

2 hubs: https://www.1aauto.com/wheel-bearing...=636859&y=1999

kit: https://www.1aauto.com/steering-and-...1132964&y=1999

 

I would highly recommend getting timken or skf wheel bearings. They are both considered oem replacements. You could also convert to a live axle setup in the front with 1995 ford explorer cv joints and wheel bearings they bolt right up.

 

I've always been told that I have pulse vacuum hubs. Now, calling around to dealers, they say I do not have them. When I pop off my wheels, I see the little black hub piece, what I have always thought is the indication of PVH. Or is that just the locking hub? Are those two things the same thing? The first time I looked at it, it came off with very little pressure (regardless of that, my 4WD works great). Can anyone show me what they should look like, or what I should look for? I read somewhere that the shaft of the bearing has splines if it is PVH, and would be threaded if it was non-PVH, is there any truth to that? I'm really confused on what piece to buy for this repair. Thank you.

 

1998 to 2012 4WD Ranger got the new Dana 35 SLA front axles

This is what PVH hub looks like: Permanently Lock Your ?98-?00 PVH Hubs : The Ranger Station

Here are pictures of the Dana 35 SLA with Nut only axle, called Live Axle(2001 and up), and right below it a picture of PVH setup(1998-2000): http://www.therangerstation.com/stoc...xle-1998-2011/

So easy to tell them apart

 

Awesome, thank you! I definitely have the PVH hubs, I have no idea why the dealers are now telling me otherwise.

What exactly does locking the hubs do to the truck?

 

With locked hubs the front axles and drive shaft turn when wheels do, same as the back axles.

The transfer case sets 2WD or 4WD same as always

2001 and up front axles are always locked, doesn't hurt anything
The thinking for many years was that MPG drops dramatically with front axles locked.
But the studies showed .2-.4 MPG drop, not 0 but really not that much

In fact alot of cars are now AWD(all wheel drive) so have locked front and rear axles full time

 

Ron D,
Is the Ranger Station still there.
I tried your links and got the first page but the Timing Indicator never went away ! I waited a little while thinking it was my download speed but still it just sat there.
Thanks for the info though.

 

Yes, still there but they changed server a few weeks ago so some of the old links may no longer work

This is the link to their How to tech area: http://www.therangerstation.com/how-to/

 

Tried the Link... no-go !
Still the Time-Out thing !

Must be my internet service !

Thks