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How to Change Locking Hubs

Locking hubs provide four-wheel drive vehicles with the ability to adjust to different road conditions. Disengage the locking hub so the vehicles front wheels turn freely for street driving, and engage it to connect them to drive line for traveling off-road. You can purchase manual or automatic locking hubs. As with most mechanical parts, an owner eventually may need to replace the hubs due to breakdown and normal wear and tear. Off-road driving causes stress-related damage to most car parts, including the hubs. If you have some car repair experience you can change the locking hubs yourself at a low cost.

Instructions

Removing the Old Locking Hub

1

Put on the work gloves and turn off the engine. Place your car in "Park" if you have an automatic transmission or "Neutral" for manual and put on the emergency brake.

2

Loosen the lug nuts on the front wheel with the tire wrench. Use the floor jack to raise the car and place the jack stand beneath the frames outer edge. Take off the lug nuts with the tire iron and set the wheel aside.

3

Remove the hub cover using the appropriate socket wrench. Find the two snap ring holes in the hub. Insert the snap ring pliers into the snap rings and pull them out. Detach the drive flange from the axle assembly with the socket wrench.

4

Take off the six nuts securing the hub body to the axle. Tap the hub lightly with a hammer to help remove the gasket. Pull the old locking hub from the axle.

Installing the New Locking Hub

5

Apply carburetor cleaner to the axle mating surface. Use the gasket scraper to remove remaining gasket material and build up. Wipe all the cleaner and other particles from the surface with a rag. Apply silicon sealant on the axle mating surface. Avoid putting sealant in the thread holes.

6

Coat the bottom of the new locking hub. Align the locking hub body with the axle mating surface. Install the six nuts by hand. Use a torque wrench to tighten the nuts according to the specifications in your owners manual. Remove excess silicon sealant with a rag.

7

Install the new drive flange and fasten the snap rings into place with the pliers. Apply a small coating of sealant on the outside edge of the hub body and attach the new gasket.

8

Replace the hub cover using the socket wrench. Use a rag to remove excess sealant that may have leaked.

9

Put the front wheel back on the axle and secure loosely with the lug nuts. Use the floor jack to remove the jack stand and lower the car. Use the torque wrench to tighten the lug nuts according to the specifications in your owners manual.