Locking Hub Conversion

[Iron Duke II]

Has anyone here installed the Ram Man kit and what components should it protect from wear?
https://therammaninc.com/products/shop_list/Locking-Hub-Conversion-Kits-135

 

[Matt42]

I am also curious. This is on my list of upgrades. An additional question, though, is the bearings. The link says something about unit bearings. Those don't seem like the kind that can be taken apart and greased.

 

[Iron Duke II]

https://therammaninc.com/videos/Locking-Hubs-Greasing-DodgeGMC-17

 

[JMcCoy]

They do look good, but for anyone with a 94-99, I would just source parts from a 92-94 or 95-97 Ford F350. Better bearings and much better Ford dual piston calipers. I do like the ease of service for greasing the unit bearings with a zerk fitting.

 

[Matt42]

They do look good, but for anyone with a 94-99, I would just source parts from a 92-94 or 95-97 Ford F350. Better bearings and much better Ford dual piston calipers. I do like the ease of service for greasing the unit bearings with a zerk fitting.

I'm guessing that would also require different rotors and pads.

 

[JMcCoy]

I'm guessing that would also require different rotors and pads.

It would. But that's a good thing. The Ford pads are way bigger.

 

[2Farr]

If you want to go with the Ram Man hub you might want to check him out with the Better business bureau.

 

[Matt42]

If you want to go with the Ram Man hub you might want to check him out with the Better business bureau.

Well, so I looked up the outfit's Better Business (BBB) profile. First off, they are not a BBB member. That's not necessarily bad. They got a rating of F from the BBB. That's interesting, but it's often based on old situations and even then only a few. There are twelve complaints and they aren't old, two of them from 2021. The locking hubs idea is an eventual thing for me, so this isn't a big issue right now.

Here's the BBB website: https://www.bbb.org/us/tx/fort-worth/profile/brake-service/the-ram-man-0825-235980452/complaints#0

 

[Ozymandias]

Oh Boy....
Good to know, thanks for posting!

 

[2Farr]

On my 99 3500 I went with spin tech hubs. I also up graded my front axle to a 2002 off a 3500 to get the better brakes.

 

[Thomas (Steve) Dixon]

How did the Spin Tech hubs work out so far? I'm going to install some kind of serviceable bearing lockout type hubs on my '96 2500 as soon as it warms up a bit and it looks like that's what Geno sells. They have treated me well in the past so I was thinking of getting them from him. I also want to replace the "broken" axle on the passenger side with a solid one, any thoughts about where to get one of those?
Thanks,
Steve

 

[JMcCoy]

Yukon makes a nice chrome moly set in 30, 32, or 35 spline. Since I was putting in a locker, I went with 35 as well as the 35 spline stub axles.

 

[Regcabguy]

Well, so I looked up the outfit's Better Business (BBB) profile. First off, they are not a BBB member. That's not necessarily bad. They got a rating of F from the BBB. That's interesting, but it's often based on old situations and even then only a few. There are twelve complaints and they aren't old, two of them from 2021. The locking hubs idea is an eventual thing for me, so this isn't a big issue right now.

Here's the BBB website: https://www.bbb.org/us/tx/fort-worth/profile/brake-service/the-ram-man-0825-235980452/complaints#0

The BBB is like a Mafia protection squad. Pay up or we give you bad reviews.

 

[2Farr]

Have a set on my 98 and now my 99. No problems so far. I keep a extra set of bearings and seals in the truck just in case. They are easy to change if you have to and they are a fraction of the cost of the oem type.

 

[Thomas (Steve) Dixon]

It's good to know about the Yukon hubs, but I don't think Genos sells them. Looking at their web site all I saw was Spin Tech. There are also several other brands, but I thought if the Spin Techs were good I would buy them from Genos.

I haul a camper around 7-8k miles per year with our truck and would certainly feel better knowing I had serviceable bearings on it than what Dodge installed at the factory. I'll probably get the Spin Tech.

All my previous trucks had serviceable bearings much like the kits, the last being a '89 W250 we had for 23 years, a great truck, but with no noticeable suspension.

Thanks for your help.

Steve

 

[Ozymandias]

There is no real benefit from moving away from the unit-bearing, especially not with such a low annual milage.
A well maintained unit bearing from a trusted brand goes also fine up to 150K and sometimes even beyond.
The only reason I run the Hubs is because I wanted 2LO ability, otherwise i would have stayed with the stockers.

 

[Thomas (Steve) Dixon]

For me those miles are between OR, WV, SD, AL and back to OR with side trips in between. The truck has 137k miles on it now and will be getting close to 150k on our next trip this coming summer. I would rather fix it at home than somewhere on the road, plus 2LO is a good option also. I used it a lot on the old '89 W250.

Steve

 

[JMcCoy]

FYI, I will be posting some hard to find Ford free spin parts on the classifieds soon.

 

[Diesel Gunner]

It's good to know about the Yukon hubs, but I don't think Genos sells them. Looking at their web site all I saw was Spin Tech. There are also several other brands, but I thought if the Spin Techs were good I would buy them from Genos.

I haul a camper around 7-8k miles per year with our truck and would certainly feel better knowing I had serviceable bearings on it than what Dodge installed at the factory. I'll probably get the Spin Tech.

All my previous trucks had serviceable bearings much like the kits, the last being a '89 W250 we had for 23 years, a great truck, but with no noticeable suspension.

Thanks for your help.

Steve

Yea, my 2001.5 did not and has not won any awards for ride quality either.

 

[Ozymandias]

For me those miles are between OR, WV, SD, AL and back to OR with side trips in between. The truck has 137k miles on it now and will be getting close to 150k on our next trip this coming summer. I would rather fix it at home than somewhere on the road, plus 2LO is a good option also. I used it a lot on the old '89 W250.

Steve

Put in a 2Lo Kit from BD Diesel, that works perfect, I installed one of these in my buddy's 2nd Gen.
Together with 2 new Bearings from SKF or Timken you are good for the next 150k Miles.

But it's absolutely your decision, for me it's a waste of money and a downgrade of the vehicle as there is never a problem to source an OEM replacement part but often a problem to find them for aftermarket solutions.