Manual Hubs

[zhanx]

ok i was browsing one of the other boards and found this thread on them

http://www.offroadrangers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20619

which points basicly to here :

http://www.avm.com.br/products4.htm

it is a company in brazil that makes manual hub conversion for our 2 gens, they only list up to 97 so maybe the guru's can tell us if a 97 or later front axle is the same as a 98,99,00 axle.

the price info is in the first post. maybe we can get one of the uk guys to find out more info and stuff on this.. makes a front locker an easy thing to do.

 

[gijoecam]

ummm, not applicable for a second-gen Explorer. We don't have PVH hubs like the Rangers do. It would require replacing the spindles and hubs in order to do it, but odds are the mileage gain would be minimal.

I also believe that the transfer case wants to turn the front driveshaft even if it's disengaged with the brown wire mod. (long story, but probably has to do with the shearing of the fluid through the transfer case clutch) If that's the case, there will be some movement of the front drivetrain anyways.

Personally, I don't see the need. I'll happily sacrifice 1mpg (if that) for the reliability of a full-time front end. It's two less components to fail on the trail.

Now, if I already had the PVH front end, this would certainly be something I'd consider. Since I can't eliminate it alltogether without new spindles, why not convert the vacuum hubs to manuals..... that makes good sense IMHO. I'll trade the convenience of the PVH for the reliability of the manuals, but I'm not willing to trade reliability for 1 or 2 mpg.

-Joe

 

[zhanx]

i wasn't worried about the gas mileage.. it was just something i found i thought others may want to know about.. manuals = front locker in a safer way i thought/think just an idea i am tossing out for those that want to retain thier ifs

 

[gijoecam]

aaaaah.... I hadn't thought of it in conjunction with a locker..... interesting concept, now that you mention it.....

-Joe

 

[zhanx]

thought other may like the idea of a being able to run a min spool and just lock the hubs when they want 4x4 or another locker....

 

[zhanx]

bring it back up again.. after all i got a locker..

Ranger 97--00 = Explorer, for the front axle right?

 

[bplein]

Watch out. If you look at ARB's application list for front lockers, you will see that they count 91-97 as first gen, and 98+ as second gen.

I would bet that outside North America they sold the first gen Explorer through 1997.

 

[kert0307]

anyone find more info on this?