Jeepman Posted September 11, 2012 Share Posted September 11, 2012 Just getting Started on my long overdue Hub Conversion for my 89/98 MJ... This is an ALLOY USA Hub Conversion KIT with Chromoly Shafts and a Spartan Locker as well as the ALLOY USA Tube Seals... My MJ Ready to start Removal of the Old Knuckles Cleaned and Painted the Axle a little Pulled the carrier for the Spartan Locker and While in there changed out the axle seals and hopefully this time they will not start leaking again after a few months like the last set Carrier ready for the Spartan Locker Locker all Installed and Back into the Housing Cleaned and Painted up the Diff Cover which will be the same colour as My 4.7L Stroker that will go in Soon New Cleaned/blasted and Painted Knuckles to go on All Ready to button up and Install the New Knuckles and Hubs but that will be today and I will add New Pictures tomorrow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeepman Posted September 11, 2012 Author Share Posted September 11, 2012 OK Onto Day Two... I did not Finish up today as I had planned as I got busy with other things... The Chromoly Shafts While I was in there I thought I would do the Balljoints The New Knuckles installed ALLOY Tube seals Shafts in the Housing The New Spindles The New Hubs Spindles assembled That's it for Today Hopefully Ill Have time to finish it up tomorrow... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeepman Posted September 12, 2012 Author Share Posted September 12, 2012 OK I Got her All Buttoned up Today but No real Test drive yet... Hub and Rotor All Presed together Hub And Rotor Installed Locking Hub Installed New Calipers Installed Wheels Back On Tomorrow I will Fill her up with Fuel and Start testing the Fuel savings... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Comanche County Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 Nice, I need to do this on mine. Where did you get the hub conversion kit and how much did it set you back? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rymanrph Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 OK, I'm going to sound really ignorant here, but what is the advantage of adding locking hubs like that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Comanche County Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 No worries about a unit bearing flying apart and your wheel vacating the vehicle. Well some worries, but much less. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skidoo_j Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 No worries about a unit bearing flying apart and your wheel vacating the vehicle. Well some worries, but much less. I really hope it wasn't just for the "gas savings" 1k for the hub conversion is kinda steep. I look at is as gaining 2-low w/ out opening the transfer case. Decreasing potential wear on the transfer for long distance driving. Should make steering feel more free. allows 3x4 with the locker. I really debated doing this when i replaced my hubs, but arguing another $850 over new hubs was a very uphill battle with the wife. I'd rather get a select-able locker in the rear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeepman Posted September 14, 2012 Author Share Posted September 14, 2012 I own and operate a 4X4 shop so my cost is better then retail. The kit as mentioned in the first post Is the Alloy USA hub conversion kit with chromoly shafts both inner and outer purchased thru my distributor who owns Alloy USA. The kits MSRP is around $1500.00US but can be had for closer to $1300US and regardless of the nay Sayers fuel mileage will be the greatest advantage of a hub conversion not to mention the wear and tear on the drivetrain and the lockeris happier and has better road manors when the hubs are unlocked. I did the conversion for many reasons. - fuel savings - less wear and tear - less stress because of the lunch box Spartan locker - to be a demo to customers - to get real world fuel economy numbers since there is always a debate - because I can I have ran it with the hubs locked and am glad I have the ability to unlock them because the front axle locked is loud and uncomfortable so a quick unlock and she is driving manors are back yo before the locker otherwise I would pull the locker and replace it with a selectable. The fuel savings alone will pay for the kit all by itself, how long it takes is up to how much you drive and have to fill up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skidoo_j Posted September 14, 2012 Share Posted September 14, 2012 We did a hub conversion on my dads 2001 Dodge 3500. It made a world of difference steering. It made the truck track better and definitely improved response time. He only saw 1.5 mpg difference. And my dad is a very very easy driver. he logs his mpg ritually and notes any changes he made. For the dodge it was a no-brainer as it was only 200 more than replacing the uni-hubs, also replaced the axle disconnect that they put on them too. Who would have thought that 10 years after they removed it from the d30 they'd but a CAD on a dodge 3500. I'd jump on doing this conversion if you net 4mpg better ;) still 1300 is pretty spendy, that's both elockers. What size does the center hole on the wheels need to be? I currently have canyons so they'd have to be replaced as i doubt they could be drilled large enough to hold the hub. . It appears the alloy kit retains 5x4.5? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeepman Posted September 14, 2012 Author Share Posted September 14, 2012 Thats great and I am sure Your Dad Only saw a 1.5MPG gain because of the Axle Disconnect so it would have been a larger gain if his truck never had it... Anything with the axle disconnect will only net half the MPG gain of an axle without the disconnect... I will post up my numbers once I run a few tanks of fuel and see how much I improve, but I am not nice to my truck so it will be hard to behave with it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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