Warn Manual Locking Hubs On A 1979 Ford Truck - Nine Great Parts You Can Install Now

1. Our axle with the shattered... 

   

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1. Our axle with the shattered hub was a Dana 44 out of a '79 3/4-ton Ford. It uses an external hub, but Warn makes hubs to fit just about every vehicle under the sun. Our first step was to unbolt the stockers.

Replacing your factory hubs, which tend to not be as strong as aftermarket items, is an easy process. But of course, we didn't replace our stock hubs until it was too late. A little too much gas in a bad spot shredded the internals of one of 'em like cheap balsa wood. With no spares on hand, our day was done, and we were left limping off the trail in three-wheel drive.

Once we got back home, we decided to replace our hubs with premium manual hubs from Warn. These are designed for those who are looking for the maximum in strength from a hub. Their all-metal construction and ZA alloy dial make them plenty stout, and ensure reliable operation. The dial requires a full 9/10 of a turn to ensure positive engagement of the inner drive gear. A thick internal wave spring, along with heavy dial detents, is used to ensure engagement. Other good features include dual dial seals to keep contaminants out and chrome plating to resist corrosion.

Taking off our hubs and upgrading to the Warn units took us a total of 30 minutes. Best of all, now we really don't have to worry about breakage on the trail. Follow along as we show how easy it is.

2. The new Warn hubs completely...        read full caption 2. The new Warn hubs completely replace the stock hub assembly. After getting the snap-ring out, we removed the whole assembly.	3. With the old hub out of...        read full caption 3. With the old hub out of the way, we installed the new Warn hub. In addition to its all-metal construction, we also liked the fact that it comes with Grade 5 bolts.	4. Hub fuses from Warn also...        read full caption 4. Hub fuses from Warn also are a good idea. A Warn premium hub can take about 80,000 inch/pounds of pressure, and a 297X U-joint takes about 55,000 inch/pounds of pressure before breakage. The fuse is designed to break at 46,000 inch/pounds, thus saving your U-joint and hubs. Best of all, the hub fuse is easy to replace.
5. With the cap installed,...        read full caption 5. With the cap installed, you should check to make sure the hub is working properly by giving the dial a turn and making sure it engages.