New to Site! Question on simple mods.

[OL Crony]

Hello to all! I am quite pleased to find this site and to read all of the support that fellow Explorers have for one another. I have a couple of simple questions and any input would be very appreciated. Please keep in mind that I am not the most mechanical person you have ever met. I have a 92 Eddie Bauer and love it alot. No modifications have been done. I am just an on-roader type person. I hope that doesn't offend anyone here. ;-) I put on many miles with a newly acquired position. It has 124K miles and going strong, yet there are some issues with the front end and transmission, but nothing serious or impending. I am weighing the option of fixing or upgrading to a newer model. I am told by my local mechanic that the auto lock-outs on my truck are not only expensive, but also not reliable, and that I should go to a manual. When I do have the front end rebuilt, what suspension tricks should I have done given my driving profile. I've read about stabilizers and tighter sway bars & such. What are the opinions on the control trac models. Also, I have read many things about the intake mods and the HP and MPG gains. Are they true? Sorry for the length. I just had to get it all out in one breath. Again any input to upgrades or modifications given my driving profile will be very appreciated. Thank you for your help.

az

 

[jimbo74]

your mechanic is right..the auto hubs suck!!! go to manuals..........also mpg and hp gains are easily had you just need to know how to do it... they can get very expensive though so watch out.......

 

[mdrut]

Welcome..As far as the front end, start with poly bushings and quality shocks..As far as engine mods, simple KN drop in, and cat back system will probally be your best bet...If you are staying on the pavement, and don't plan on running larger tires, the auto hubs should be fine..

 

[Dbirl528]

I upgraded my '92 Sport with both front and rear sway bars from Explorer Express and thought it made a big difference. There are many good shocks on the market, and opinions vary as to which are best. As for performance modifications I would say a K&N drop in filter, computer chip, and a cat-back exhaust.

 

[Ray Hutchinson]

Auto Hubs

Ol Crony,

Sorry Jim Abena, but I have to disagree. With proper maintanance, the factory Auto Hubs are amazingly reliable for typical highway driving. I still have mine after 70K mi including some fairly serious offroading, as well as highway use. I expect mine to let go sooner or later, and I will replace them with manuals, but if I only did highway, I would replace them with another set of auto hubs. I have a number of friends that only do highway, and never have had a single problem with the Auto hubs. One thing you should do is disassemble and clean/grease the innards of the hubs at least annually. especially if you operate in cold climates, or on the beach (salt water). IMHO, the ability to "shift on the fly" for snowy/icy roads far outways any advantages of manual hubs for a vehicle that mainly stays on pavement.

 

[jimbo74]

ok fine wait till you get stranded in the mud somewhere and have to use an entire paycheck $450- for off road recovery! i did and my parents were pretty p.o.ed too.......

 

[Ray Hutchinson]

Missed the point

Jimabena,

I think you missed the point... you said stuck in the mud and needed "off road recovery". Ol Crony stated that he pretty much stays ON the highway, and the auto hubs work great for that.
Actually though, I have been off roading and rock climbing at places like Truckhaven, Crab Flats, Los Coyotes, Moab, Death Valley, Anza Borrego, etc, pretty regularly since '93 with the original auto hubs. My driving style may have something to do with their longevity, as I tend to be an "easy does it" driver, and prefer to "finesse" over and around obstacles with skill rather than power through with brute force.... tends to be a bit easler on the vehicle, and the wallet. ;-)

Frequent maintenence also helps.

 

[jimbo74]

me using them that day was really my only time using them...i got stuck in wet dirt not really mud on a hill well one side of a 15 foot ditch and the fronts didnt do anything but both backs were spinning..........i guess if you never go wheeling they are fine...at least he found a mechanic who told him that they have a tendency to fail...sounds like this guy knows what he is talking about........

 

[Ray Hutchinson]

Use and Maintain

Jimabena and all,

One thing that is key no matter whether you have auto or manual hubs, is to both use and maintain them. It's probably more important with auto hubs than manuals, but it's also important for the rest of the 4X system. I'm told by reputable and knowledgeable mechanics that you should engage the 4X and drive at least few hundred feet on a loose surface (sand, gravel, dirt, snow, etc) road regularly, and at least monthly just to keep the grease and other lubricants distributed in all the 4X drivetrain parts. It also keeps the auto hub mechanisms from seizing. Also. as I stated above, the hubs should be diasaembled, cleaned and regreased at least annually, or more often if you submerge them in water, or drive where the roads are salted, or on the ocean beach.

Drivetrain fluids such as Diff oil, trans fluid, etc should be changed every 20K miles or more often, if you 4X a lot.
Do thiese things, and drive prudently, and you'll likely get lots longer service out of all the drivetrain parts, including the hubs.