Manual Locking Hubs

[gazza 1]

Gooday guys, i talking to a guy at work today who owns a 2.8 turbo diesel nissan wagon . I have a 4.2 nissan wagon turbo, he suggested to me to change over my auto hubs to manual hubs to reduce wear on the drive chain etc. i was wondering if any of you experts could advise me of what to do. And may be what brands to dont or to buy. I dont do hardly any 4x4 driving but want that to change. I live in the s/e suburbs of Melbourne
Cheers Gazza

[BIG GQ]

Mate a brand called AVM are fine if you don't do much heavy 4x4ing. If you do serious 4wding then the only way to go is genuine nissan manual hubs.

AVM are available through ARB for probably around the $300 for the set. Genuine go for around $220 a set second hand ($500 each new) and to convert from auto to manual hubs you will need a bush and spacer also that go behind the hub (which is fine as most wreckers include that free of charge if you ask for them)

[gazza 1]

Mate a brand called AVM are fine if you don't do much heavy 4x4ing. If you do serious 4wding then the only way to go is genuine nissan manual hubs.

AVM are available through ARB for probably around the $300 for the set. Genuine go for around $220 a set second hand ($500 each new) and to convert from auto to manual hubs you will need a bush and spacer also that go behind the hub (which is fine as most wreckers include that free of charge if you ask for them)

Big GQ , mate thanks for your help, so do i assume it is the way to go, to change from auto's to manuals
thanks Gazza

[Vanne]

mate, just finished doing mine today.

Id suggest going to a wreakers, and pulling them off yourself. Probly save yerself heaps.

The job at hand isnt too hard, but id suggest depending on the age of yer car, to do the front wheel bearings while your there.

at any rate, its the way to go

oh and if your doing it to reduce wear on the drive train, dont bother, i drove around with them for just shy of 400K and no signs of wear.

Id be doing it, to make sure you have 4x4 available to you when you need it out in the sticks.

[gazza 1]

mate, just finished doing mine today.

Id suggest going to a wreakers, and pulling them off yourself. Probly save yerself heaps.

The job at hand isnt too hard, but id suggest depending on the age of yer car, to do the front wheel bearings while your there.

at any rate, its the way to go

oh and if your doing it to reduce wear on the drive train, dont bother, i drove around with them for just shy of 400K and no signs of wear.

Id be doing it, to make sure you have 4x4 available to you when you need it out in the sticks.

thanks mate it looks like the next thing on the shopping list
Cheers Gazza

[macca81]

it wouldnt reduce wear on the drivetrain, as auto hubs are still unlocked when not in use. the advantage is that there is alot less to go wrong, and you know they are locked when you get out and lock em in yourself

[gu01]

manual hubs are stronger. but you can still use your wheel spanner to put auto hubs in the lock position. especially if rocking back and forward to get out of bog because they have habit of jumping out.

[canuck]

My Safari has Nissan auto hubs but they can also be manually locked in. I usually lock them in after leaving pavement, just cause I don't want it popping in and out if I have to try and rock my way out of a hole. Are there any issues with these hubs if you manually lock them or are they just as strong manaul Nissan hubs?

[raptorthumper]

GU Hubs can be converted to manual locking without spending a cent.

Have a read of

http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/phpBB2/vi ... light=hubs

[gazza 1]

GU Hubs can be converted to manual locking without spending a cent.

Have a read of

http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/phpBB2/vi ... light=hubs

Mate thats fantastic, i really appreciate your trouble and help, i feel so much more comfortable with that info , especially the pictures chucked in for good measure. thanks again.
Cheers Gazza

[gazza 1]

Gooday guys, i have tried using the free wheeling hubs and find it good. But miss the luxury of sitting back and changing to 4x4 using the auto switch in the cabin. So i ask the question , has anybody changed back to auto hubs after going free wheeling manual hubs.(replacing the ratchet mechanism).Are there any things i should look out for.
Thanks Gazza

[bogged]

Gooday guys, i have tried using the free wheeling hubs and find it good. But miss the luxury of sitting back and changing to 4x4 using the auto switch in the cabin. So i ask the question , has anybody changed back to auto hubs after going free wheeling manual hubs.(replacing the ratchet mechanism).Are there any things i should look out for.
Thanks Gazza

you must be crazy.
I cant wait to go to patrol wrecker in packenhm for $90ea GQ manual hubs.. best thing since sliced bread.

[gazza 1]

Mate, i have a new set of nissan hubs (from wreckers) in the garage but couldnt be bothered using manual hubs anymore. Maybe oneday i will try again but for now i think i will go back to auto hubs.
Thanks Gazza

[twodiffs]

My Safari has Nissan auto hubs but they can also be manually locked in. I usually lock them in after leaving pavement, just cause I don't want it popping in and out if I have to try and rock my way out of a hole. Are there any issues with these hubs if you manually lock them or are they just as strong manaul Nissan hubs?

None whatsoever in my experience, I used them for years doing hard stuff, I only ever used them in auto mode when on gravel roads. When I locked them in manually - they never failed!!!!!

[bogged]

Mate, i have a new set of nissan hubs (from wreckers) in the garage but couldnt be bothered using manual hubs anymore. Maybe oneday i will try again but for now i think i will go back to auto hubs.
Thanks Gazza

what a complete GQ setup ready to go on GU?? How much?

[gazza 1]

Gooday again, i managed to replace the ratchet mechanism back into the hubs tonight with the help of my mate. Everything seems to be working back to normal, except a small clicking noise when in 4x4 mode. Is this normal ?.
( The hubs i have in the garage are for a GU 11, i think they are the same for the GQ not sure though. )
I tried using a hammer to nock the units into the hubs but was going nowhere real quick. I then had a brainwave and used the vice to push it in .
It worked a treat .Took probarly half an hour each side.
Thanks Gazza