We're sure that when automatic locking hubs were invented, the guys who developed them were walking pretty tall. They probably had a nice little party celebrating the fact that drivers could engage 4WD front hubs without exiting the cab of their vehicle. It's doubtful they ever imagined that people would spend hard-earned money to convert the hubs back to manual units. That's been the case, however, for decades now - and there are good reasons for it.
Sure, it's nice to shift into 4WD without getting your feet muddy or wet, but automatic hubs gained a track record for breaking - often. Simply put, they're just not as strong as premium quality manual hubs, like the set the Warn sent us for our project Bronco, The Juice. Plus, in certain cases, when an automatic hub fails, it binds up and there's no way to disengage it or roll further forward, leaving you stuck in place. As a byproduct of sorts, manual hubs also provide you with an entirely new "gear setting": 2WD low (attained by shifting into 4WD low but keeping the hubs unlocked).
Randy's Ring & Pinion sent us these hubs, as they are now a full carrier of the Warn line. We headed to Off-Road Evolution in Fullerton, California, to pop 'em on.
 Hubs really aren't all that...  Hubs really aren't all that complicated. There's an inner component, an outer, a couple of snap rings, and some bolts to keep the covers on. These premium Warn hubs require 0.9 turns to engage, which means that there's less of a chance of them ever getting clicked one way or the other by accident. |  Removing old automatic hubs...  Removing old automatic hubs is as simple as unscrewing the bolts holding the cover and then using a set of snap ring pliers to (you guessed it) pull out the snap rings. |  After both snap rings are...  After both snap rings are removed, the old hubs will slide right out. It's worth mentioning that replacing old manual hubs (rather than automatic ones) isn't any different than this. |
 There's a good chance that...  There's a good chance that you'll see a fair amount of well-used grease when you pull the old hubs, so take the time to clean off the hub cavity and the ends of the axles, and regrease if necessary. |  The new hubs are held in by...  The new hubs are held in by snap rings, just as the old ones were. This is one instance where putting a component back together isn't really any more difficult than taking it apart. These premium Warn hubs carry a lifetime limited warranty, which counts for a lot when you think of the abuse they receive. |  Off-road celebrity Mel Wade...  Off-road celebrity Mel Wade (owner of Off-Road Evolution) could easily order one of his shop guys to do all the work, but the dude's not above getting his hands dirty. He pulled the old hubs and put in the new ones while we worked the camera. Thanks, Mel! |