Locking front hub's

[RVTRKN]

I just couldn't stand it anymore so I got out the plastic ,called Dynatrac and my kit

is supposed to ship next week. Does anyone know if there is a greasable u-joint available for these axle shafts yet ? What is the best wheel bearing grease to use ?

I've tore down more than a few of the old 70s' fulltime Dodge and Chevy front axle

assemblies with fairly high mileage and most of them ended up as scrap metal because

just about every component was badly worn and I don't think these new fulltimers will

be any different. As a matter of fact with the unit bearing, they'll probably be worse.

Let us know how it goes when completed and a few miles on them. My brother has an 03 gasser 2500 4X4 and lost the left front U-joint and had it repaired for $700 and was ****** when I informed him of the kit. His truck has 56000 miles on it. He will probably change over when the other side fails. My warranty is the 75000 mile extended and must wait for that before I change. The way the big 3 cancel warranties, I must wait.

 

[trucknut]

2WD to 4WD

After the hub kit is installed the hubs must have to be locked in before the transfer case is switched to 4 x 4. What kind of damage would happed if the transfer case was switched into 4 x 4, hubs unlocked and driving down the highway. Would not be good for the wife.



AS far as the cost goes it could be worth it,( as the truck miles get up their) if the truck would have any front wheel bearing or u-joint problems off warranty. If something breaks when a guy doesn't have any time to due repairs, then the factory parts and labour will be costly.

 

[steved]

I just couldn't stand it anymore so I got out the plastic ,called Dynatrac and my kit

is supposed to ship next week. Does anyone know if there is a greasable u-joint available for these axle shafts yet ? What is the best wheel bearing grease to use ?

I've tore down more than a few of the old 70s' fulltime Dodge and Chevy front axle

assemblies with fairly high mileage and most of them ended up as scrap metal because

just about every component was badly worn and I don't think these new fulltimers will

be any different. As a matter of fact with the unit bearing, they'll probably be worse.

If serviced correctly, the 70s dodge fulltime units were usually problem free... the only difference between the 70 dodge stuff and these newer ones is the fact that the 70s stuff has a zerk fitting.



If you do a search, you will find a greaseable Napa and Precision joint for the front axle... keep in mind you will need to use the included shims with the AAM axle joint as they are slightly shorter accross the cross than the stub shaft yoke...



As for grease, I used Valvoline because I already had a 5# tub of it...



steved

 

[steved]

After the hub kit is installed the hubs must have to be locked in before the transfer case is switched to 4 x 4. What kind of damage would happed if the transfer case was switched into 4 x 4, hubs unlocked and driving down the highway. Would not be good for the wife.

Nothing will happen if the tcase is in 4wd and the hubs are unlocked... everything is riding on lubricated bearings... in the "old" days, they recommended driving in 4wd (with the hubs unlocked) to keep the front pieces lubricated if you didn't use 4wd often... also, guys here use 4wd low (hubs unlocked) for manuvering purposes (gives more control)...



I personally drive about 15 miles once a week with it in 4wd and the hubs unlocked (a short stretch of stop and go before the highway)... just to keep things lubed... you got to remember that if you decide to run 4wd with the hubs unlocked, you got to pull the stick in at a dead stop since the front driveshaft will not be spinning (during driving) and therefore it will cause bad gear grinding...





steved

 

[ACoffel]

The guy at dynatrac says they are selling these kits as fast as they can put them together. He said they get a ton of orders for the superduty version because there

is an epidemic of bearing failure in these trucks. I'll keep you guys posted on the install

and after a few miles, but might also point out that STEVED has I believe been running

them for a while and seems to be very happy with the conversion.

As far as the warranty goes , I don't see how this conversion could affect that other

than as it concerns the hubs and wheelbearings themselves. I hope it doesn't void the

warranty on the entire axle assy. even though I hope I don't have to use it and probably wouldn't any how. I would rather do my own repairs as far as my ability allows

so that I know it's done right. I have 28k miles and haven't had to visit the dealer yet

(knock on wood).

Now I just have to figure out how I'm going to get funding for the RICKSONS !

 

[RACE427]

Might be worth it !

600 gallons of fuel at $3. 00 per gallon equals $ 1800. 00. 600 gallons which can yield about 17 mpg in fuel mileage will give you about 10,200 miles to travel or about 6 months of driving. Just a thought !! Have fun !!

 

[JHenry]

I requested info on ordering this product, and here is the answer I got:Thanks for the recent e-mail. We have installed this kit on a 2006 Mega Cab, with no problems. I guess at the time of printing the '06's had not yet arrived. The part number for this kit is the same, CR60-2X1104-E. I have attached the instructions we use for the kits. Unfortunately, the Supply/Demand for these kits is a little off course. Currently I have a 2 week back-up on all new orders, so I really do not want you to get your hopes up before your trip to the Great White North. Sorry, but it is the honest answer. Maybe when you get back we will have a better handle on supply. Thanks again, have a good trip, please let me know if you have any questions!

I currently am experiencing a real fiasco with Banks on an Intercooler I ordered May 17, and was told 3 times it would "ship next week". Still haven't received it. I hope the Dynatrac people are better about their word.

 

[ox1]

600 gallons of fuel at $3. 00 per gallon equals $ 1800. 00. 600 gallons which can yield about 17 mpg in fuel mileage will give you about 10,200 miles to travel or about 6 months of driving. Just a thought !! Have fun !!

I guess you can talk yourself into anything that you want - and this sounds like a feasable setup for the time that your stockers die - and the lockouts would certainly be nice for 2wd low as mentioned - but... .



... even if your truck got 15mpg stock and you bumped it up to 16. 5 with:



90,000 miles x 15 mpg = 6000 gallons of fuel



90,000 miles x 16. 5 mpg = 5454 gallons of fuel



So the payback is there just in fuel - no doubt! But it will need to be ammoritized out over a few yrs instead.

 

[steved]

I guess you can talk yourself into anything that you want - and this sounds like a feasable setup for the time that your stockers die - and the lockouts would certainly be nice for 2wd low as mentioned - but... .



... even if your truck got 15mpg stock and you bumped it up to 16. 5 with:



90,000 miles x 15 mpg = 6000 gallons of fuel



90,000 miles x 16. 5 mpg = 5454 gallons of fuel



So the payback is there just in fuel - no doubt! But it will need to be ammoritized out over a few yrs instead.

It all depends on how much you drive... you also got to think that one hub bearing, currently only available from dodge, is $400+ (and most dealers DO NOT stock them, so don't have a failure on the road)... and again, to me the elimination of the 70mph vibration was priceless. The benefit of increased mileage was only a bonus to me.



I have had the Dynatrac kit installed since March (for about 17k miles currently)... it has two trips to Aiken, SC (3000 miles)... one to Manitou, OK (3600 miles)... and two to Gallup, NM (8400 miles)... as well as the typical local driving I do. The kit has performed as well as advertised, my only issue was dealing with Dynatrac themselves.



And again as I stated already, the hardest part of the installation was removing the old bearings... have a plan "B" to rent a very large puller and a propane torch to slightly heat the knuckle where the bearings fit. Besides this, the next hardest part was changing the ujoints out... mine were froze and made a 20-ton press work. The remaining work is simply bolt together... remember neversieze is your friend...



steved

 

[ACoffel]

I would have still bought the kit even if there was no mileage gain simply

because I detest the lack of serviceability and the factory fulltime operation.

I plan on keeping my truck for a VERY long time or as long as the GOOD LORD

allows so I consider this a very sound investment. If one does not plan on

keeping their truck until it's wore out or at least several years, this kit might

not be such a good investment if you were to look at the payback aspect.

The only thing I really dread is changing out the u-joints because I know

that they are going to be pesky as STEVED has pointed out. I have half a

mind to install greasable balljoints while I'm at it so that I shouldn't have to

tear into the front axle for quite sometime.

As far as delivery goes DYNATRAC said the kit would ship on 6/28 , but I'm

fully aware of the worth of a salesmen's promise and I've read the horror stories about dealing with both DYNATRAC and Banks. They are all about

customer service until they get your money!!

 

[MorrisN]

install greasable balljoints

I install them on my 94 and they did not last as long as the oem. They are not made of the same high quality material as the non greasable ones

 

[steved]

I install them on my 94 and they did not last as long as the oem. They are not made of the same high quality material as the non greasable ones

Then you got a bad set of aftermarkets... my dad only got 85k miles on his OEM... he currently has 130k on his Spicer greaseables which are still smooth and tight...



My driver's side joints are loose, simply going to wait until it needs inspected and then buy a set of Napa joints (made by TRW) which are greaseable... my OEMs were loose at 50k...



steved

 

[ox1]

In '87 I just aboot bought a new '86 1/2 ton Ford stripper + tach and headliner for $6500 all told. Believe it or not - I back out of it as it was just too much debt for me. I felt much more comfortable with the '81 with 100K for $3100.



Now I just put two G's in the front axle alone on this truck last fall. ??? I'd'a liked to uh thought that I could get the whole bloody axle setup for that kinda $! :--)



T'aint it crazy sometimes?

 

[C M McCormick]

Will have a set on my 04 DRW on Tuesday, shouldn't be that tuff of a job with 65,000 miles. Had the front wheel bearings, U-joints and outer axles replaced last fall at 57,000 miles. The truck sat in the garage January-May while deployed to Northern Iraq.



Craig

 

[steved]

Will have a set on my 04 DRW on Tuesday, shouldn't be that tuff of a job with 65,000 miles. Had the front wheel bearings, U-joints and outer axles replaced last fall at 57,000 miles. The truck sat in the garage January-May while deployed to Northern Iraq.



Craig

They finally got the DRW application figured out? In January/February they were still figuring that out... one of our group buy guys got this for his 01 DRW 3500... the adapters were a PITA to figure out (because DynaTrac didn't offer them)... he sourced his out from someone other than DynaTrac.



steved

 

[JHenry]

Be ready for things to be stuck together. My son recently had his front axle u-joints and bearings go on him after 80000 miles. The hub assemblies were stuck so tight from corrosion that it really took some work to get them off. It seems water and road salt worked betweent the two surfaces. The mechanic coated the two surfaces with silicone when putting them back together, and ran an extra bead around the surface after it was together. I am going for the Dynatrac assembly for my '06. JH

 

[ACoffel]

In '87 I just aboot bought a new '86 1/2 ton Ford stripper + tach and headliner for $6500 all told. Believe it or not - I back out of it as it was just too much debt for me. I felt much more comfortable with the '81 with 100K for $3100.



Now I just put two G's in the front axle alone on this truck last fall. ??? I'd'a liked to uh thought that I could get the whole bloody axle setup for that kinda $! :--)



T'aint it crazy sometimes?

I totally agree ox1 ! It's really sad that we have to lay out this kind of cash

on a $40k truck to correct the factory shortcomings and what some consider

a " convenience" . I consider the unserviceable/ fulltime arrangement to be a

complete nuisance , but my wife is at a complete loss as to why someone

would want to do a conversion that requires getting out of the truck to

use 4wd. She does really like the six speed however and we both wish sometimes we had went that route.

 

[CSilkowski]

Has anyone got the kit from Dyantrack(sp)? A some what new Diesel Truck magizin had some really good picture's of this kit... Soooooo, anyone...

Eric '03 HO QC 6SP LIMITED SLT SWB SRW WHITE FUEL TNK MOD 4X4 STOCK - HAVE TURN SIGNEL MIRRORS

Got mine installed last fall. Did not notice any measurable benefits (e. g. , mileage, driveability, etc. ), however, I do like the servicability of the hubs now and the lack of wear on the front drivetrain.

 

[EXSTROKER]

yup bout 8 tanks these days Oo.

 

[JHenry]

I wish another group buy for this kit would take place as I am chompin at the bit to get

one. I can' t afford it , but yet I feel I can't afford not to have it either. I believe it would be the most important drivetrain upgrade to be made on these trucks next to the transmission as it would

prevent so much unnecessary rotation , lessen driveline vibration and save a little on

fuel. HOW DO WE START A GROUPBUY !

I am going to order a set soon. Is anyone else interested in buying now? The question above is asked: HOW DO WE START A GROUP BUY? I would join in if it can be done soon. JH