Serviceable Lock Out Hubs

[EBottema]

YA. don't we love simple and reliable mechanical things? No more vacuum BS or electronic stuck on the fly shift button. I looooove those locking hubs boys. .

 

[banjoDave]

ford or Danacraft

Well, now its down to either a Danacraft conv, or a swap with a ford axle. What do you all think?

 

[randyn]

Hey Guys!



Well as you can see this is finally moving foreward. Got tangled up after getting Dale lined up for a test installation, but now we need three (3) more test trucks. Anyone that's interested and lives near Huntington Beach CA, please pm me. This "deal" is over two years old!!!!! It may be nearing fruition, but be aware that often there is a re-design after beta testing. We may have some time to go... . Dynatrac did say howerer they may have production for market in August. I'm hopeful, but know it may be longer.

 

[randyn]

Update!



After reading my last post, decided I needed to bring new people up to date. My interest in this is to get a "group buy" together to make these afordable and worth while for Dynatrac to make. I want them. I think in the long run they will pay for themselves in mileage increase, down time, repair and parts of; transfer case,u-joints,front differential, hub bearings, axle seals, whatever else. Vibration etc. is iceing on the cake. It's been a long time comming... ... ... ... As I said in my last post, we need three (3) more test trucks. If you live near the Huntington Beach Area, please PM me to set this up.



Randy Northcutt

 

[banjoDave]

I am interested, but live in TN

I DO have a months worth of VAC tim due. .

 

[klenger]

Any idea what the selling price will be (before group discount)?

 

[panzerkw]

count me in 05, 3500 stock quad cab. 4x4 with 750 miles. sweet as can be

 

[SamBrown]

I would love a set of manual locking hubs for my 98 2500. Is this dynatrac project only applicable to the 3rd generations rams?

 

[SamBrown]

It would all be worth it if it was in the neighborhood of 1000 dollars. The dodge design is just crap and needs to be replaced with a good set of warn manual hubs.

count me in on this project!!!!!

 

[RonsRig]

Is Arizona close enough to Huntington Beach?



What does it cost to be a "test" truck?

 

[SOLER]

I would love a set of manual locking hubs for my 98 2500. Is this dynatrac project only applicable to the 3rd generations rams?

This is specifically for the new trucks, as they have AAM axles. The 2nd gen's and older have Dana axles, and kits already exist for these.



SOLER

 

[banjoDave]

new

only till 98-99.



They are working on a kit for the 99-02, as well as the newer models.

There are "beta kits" out now, being road tested . I broke down & orderd one, as by the time I had to get the "new" bearing hub" assmb, it was getting close to the beta kit cost.



It will be nice to have real bearings, spindles, along with Warn super duty lock out hubs.



While I have her apart, putting in MOOG ball joints also.

Tie rod on the pitman arm. etc.

 

[Tim]

Tie rod on the pitman arm. etc.

That's called a drag link end.



How much is this hub thing going to cost?

 

[DAWG-1]

I'm In

only till 98-99.



They are working on a kit for the 99-02, as well as the newer models.

There are "beta kits" out now, being road tested . I broke down & orderd one, as by the time I had to get the "new" bearing hub" assmb, it was getting close to the beta kit cost.



It will be nice to have real bearings, spindles, along with Warn super duty lock out hubs.



While I have her apart, putting in MOOG ball joints also.

Tie rod on the pitman arm. etc.

I have a 2001 Ram 2500 4x4 and would love to get rid of the bearing assembly. I want hubs on my truck, but I "do not" want to lose my abs. I would write them a check tommorrow if the kit was available. Sam.

 

[banjoDave]

they have a veriosn that works with the ABS. Just checked Friday.

 

[DRenegar]

The kit is 1795. 00 I had them installed on my truck last thur and they seem to work very well. with my truck lifted I had drive line angle problems at high speed. I'll try to get some pictures.

 

[DAWG-1]

they have a veriosn that works with the ABS. Just checked Friday.

The kits work up to '99. They changed the front end in 2000-2002 2500 & 3500. The front bearing assembly is where the abs wiring is connected to. There is no tone wheel on the later trucks. Sam

 

[Matt400]

The kit is 1795. 00

Installed or just parts??

 

[klenger]

I'm just doing some arithmetic here and trying to figure the payoff in fuel savings based on an installed price of $1795. Assuming 18 MPG and $2. 30 / gal for #2, and an (optimistic IMHO) 10% savings from the locking hubs, the hubs would pay for themselves in around 138,000 miles. Not real tempting to me, but it might be to some.

 

[randyn]

Update!



Dynatrac now has the trucks they need for testing purposes. I previously used the word "beta" to describe these hub kits, but beta may have more specific meanings than just "test units". These hubs are very similial to their Super Duty kits, so there should not be any surprises, but they do want to check them out before they release a whold lot of them. Anyway, I'm now waiting to get some idea of when we could expect hub kits for a group buy. There will be a group buy price. The $1795 mentioned earlier was the retail price for the kit. This included installation for the test units only. The kits for the group buy will not have an installed price. I'm sure Dynatrac would install them for a price if you took your truck to them. I am very encouraged about this comming together as it seems to be doing.

I would be stunned if these hubs will result in anything near a 10% savings in mileage. If I were to get 5% I would be thrilled. I think the savings in fuel, parts, labor, down time, inconvenience, will all add up to a net zerro cost over the long haul. As I understand, the factory hubs can not be serviced. They are a throw away part! I've read where they cost about $400 each hub. It is unimagineable to me to have a hub that can not have the bearings re-packed or re-placed as necessary. These from Dynatrac can be serviced. AND I won't have to listen to my nineteen yr. old telling me that my front axles are turning all the time, all the time. He has my old Landcruiser w/ manual hubs... What I have to put up with... .



More later...



RandyN