Hello everyone. I just bought a 2001 dodge quad cab 4X4 diesel 5spd. It is my first dodge as I have always driven fords. The truck is awesome but as far as I can tell the hubs are vacuum operated. This seems like a very poor setup to me. I use and depend on 4wd everyday and am just wondering if anyone has probs with this setup and if it is easily converted to manual hubs.

 

bdog;
I cant honestly say if they are vacuum hubs or not. I do know that on all of the newer (2000 and up) 4X4's I have seen or followed, the front drive axle's are turning all the time. Mine do it all the time, the drive-shaft isnt turning but the front axle's are always turning. I can watch the U-Joints on either side of the front hubs turning no matter what selection the transfer case is in. I dont know that the "hubs" themselves actually disconnect on the newer trucks, I believe they are engaged all the time. Someone else that has had these hubs apart can chime in here cause Im not 100% sure if they are supposed to disconnect.
keith

 

[quote author=bdog link=board=5;threadid=6510;start=0#60762 date=1036196171]<br>Hello everyone. I just bought a 2001 dodge quad cab 4X4 diesel 5spd. It is my first dodge as I have always driven fords. The truck is awesome but as far as I can tell the hubs are vacuum operated. This seems like a very poor setup to me. I use and depend on 4wd everyday and am just wondering if anyone has probs with this setup and if it is easily converted to manual hubs.<br>[/quote]<br><br>If you do not like the vacuum operated front axle, you can convert it with a manual choke cable, or go here.

 

I have a 96 gasser that I have had no problems with and it has seen some pretty rugged country.

There are actually no hubs per say.. As already said both of the wheels are permanently connected to their own drive shafts and are turning.. The vacuum actuator is a sleave coupling to connect the passenger wheel to the front drive output shaft. All the rest is manual at least in mine. When the 4WD lite is on, that coupling sleave is engaged.

I do like that pull cable retrofit at the above website...Hmmm..

J-eh

 

Get ahold of Superwinch and see what they have to convert your truck. I have them and love them. Only takes a quarter turn to lock them in.

 

The Dodge 4x4 setup is stronger than a manual hub locking system. The downs are the vacuum lines to operate it. But you can replace the vacuum lines with a manual line that you just pull and it locks the disconnect into place by your own means like said above.

 

I don't think you can use lockout hubs on the newer dodges due to the fact that no one makes them. You can convert the front axle but would cost alot.

 

a bit of maintenance cured mine and now works like a charm.<br>I pulled the fork mech out and found a bit of gear oil in the diapham which I think prevented full travel. Usually I check to see if it goes in every other day. Took it collecting wood the other day in some rough terrain worked great and I love that low end torque that wont stall the engine!