I've been asked to explain how I did my part time hubs on my truck. I'm taking a poll to see how many are interested. Here are some pros and cons.

Cons: 1- Hubs stick out about 1 1/8" each side.

2- 3" overall wider track for the front end requiring spacers for the
rear to keep the same track.

3-Since the tire/rim moved out a 1 1/2" per side than this will
also cause more strain on the ball joints and may cause the ball
joints to wear out faster than normal.

4- Some of the tools required are not common for the average garage

5-You have to do some running around to get all the parts, you won't
be able to get these at one place.

6-Some of the parts are from Dana 60 off of Furd and Cheby.

7-The Hubs will have to be machined on a lathe in three different
locations depending on if you have ABS or not. The machining will
not hurt the structual integrity of the hubs at all.

8-The ABS rings you will have to buy from Dynatrac and the only way
you can get it is say you bought the truck with there kit all
ready on it and the ABS rings were damaged by rocks.

9-Once installed no going back to the old system unless you buy new
OEM outer C's

PROS: 1-Increased fuel mileage (no joke; Dynatrace states a increase of 3 to
5mpg) I got a increase of 3mpg for in town and 4mpg for hwy. That
is a huge jump and with the price of diesel now days.

2-I had to replace one of my unit brgs over a year ago and it cost me
about $240. The hubs I got for this conversion were used and one
of the brgs were bad and it cost me $12.00.

3-You can now install a limited slip in the front end and you
won't have that pull to the left in 2wd.

4-The brake calipers remain stock, no modification.

5-Wider track equals better stability.

6-I did all the hard work and research and can pass it on to you for
free. To do this conversion it took me 2 months with me tearing
down one side to get measurements on the weekends.
Then put the truck back together so I could drive it to work during
the week. When I was finally sure I had it. I intalled it.

7-Cost $400 to $750 depending on how resourceful you are. More if
you decide to buy new. If you buy new might as well go with the
EMS Offroad kit, it would cost about the same.

If your interested let me know, if there is enough interested I will post how I did the conversion. I'll tell you right now that I didn't take any pics during the conversion, sorry. I finished the conversion 3 months ago and have not had any problems and don't forsee any.

 

I am definately interested in this conversion. Anything to get away from the unit bearings out front plus have 2lo seems worth it to me.
Joe

 

Yeah, I'm intrested also.........

 

Glad to hear some people are interested. I will get started on the write up it will be pretty big.

 

Interested in getting rid of unit bearings when they go bad. But I don't want to get out to lock and unlock hubs. Is it possible to use splined plates inplace of unlocking hubs, like my fathers '76 chevy had with fulltime 4x4?
Also I think ball joints and knuckles are different from '98 to '00 Will your conversion still work?
Jed

 

You have the hubs locked in all the time for the same effect. I did the conversion on mine with the inner and outer axles, not really that hard to do.

 

Does the EMS kit also move the wheel and tire out 1 1/2" on both sides?

 

The EMS kit does move the tire/rim out some not sure how much. Chevy 1 tons with the Dana 60 had the option of automatic hubs and would keep you from having to get out and lock/unlock hubs, they will work with Furd Brg hub. The big advantage to part time hubs is to not be turning the inner axle and carrier, so as to save fuel mileage, if your installing a part time kit just to turn around and install a full time hub that keeps the axle turning then your wasting your money. As for the different outer knuckles two things will come into play: 1- With my setup on the 02 I had to use Cheby outer axle stub shafts to keep the inner axle engaged with the spider gears in the carrier, so there is that measurement to deal with. 2- The spindle is held in place by the 5 bolts but the bolts are not taking the weight of the vehicle. The weight is placed on a lip that sticks out on the back side of the flange on the spindle, that lip has to fit very tight into the outer Knuckle. One way to check to see if your year will work is to go to the parts store have them pull the unit brg for your year of truck and the 02 and measure the diameter on the lips of the two and if there the same it should work out. A friend of mine has a 04 with AAM axle and wants to find out if my system will work on his, so in a couple of months were going to tear down one side on my truck and one side of his truck and see if this will work on the newer AAM axles. We believe there is only one company that has been making the inner and outer knuckles for all the solid axles being installed on all the domestic vehicles whether there Furd, Cheby and Dodge. We believe that certian measurements/dimension remain the same regardless of year and make.

 

You could do your write up and post it in the new DTR WIKI
It's the new technical site for the DTR.

 

I was looking at how to post in the DTR WIKI and I'm not sure yet how to do that.

 

Very impressive project... great write up....

The Hub conversion is a Great modification, ( I have the EMS kit )
I do not mind locking&unlocking the hubs, Do like the low range 2 wheel drive,
used more than 4x4 operation. I did not notice any wider front wheel spacing,
but the Locker do stick out, ( place to stand on to check engine )

But for most people the EMS hub conversation would be more
cost effective, especially if done BEFORE the hub bearings fail.

I would think the cost of fuel just to round up the parts would negate any cost savings, not including the cost of screw ups that would occur with an amauter
mechanic like myself.

 

I had already planned on collecting the parts to convert to manual hubs and swapping out the vacuum actuated shaft with a one piece shaft in the future just to get away from the unit bearing and vacuum systems.
Hadden't put any thought into the ABS system yet
This is just another incentive to stay with the plans.
I would be curious to what you had to machine down for this project.
Looking forward to the write-up

 

Part time Hubs DIY.. Parts and tools needed

Check out the first part of the write up. Title explains the first phase.

 

Maybe I should not have picked that color, I can't even read that, sorry here it is again in black.

Part time Hubs DIY.. Parts and tools needed

It is located in the forunm under 24v engine and drivetrain

 

nothing happens......... Link is D.O.A.