Does fitting manual hubs solve broken brake rings?

[Peasgood1]

Sorry for asking what has probably been asked many times but I can't find it in search.
I have damaged brake rings, if I take the rings off and fit manual hubs does that cure it?
Or do the manual hubs still use the rings (both the one in the auto hub and the one on the drive shaft)
This is on a 2.7 Maverick, round headlights, '96 ish.
Many thanks.

Oh, hello again too. First post in a few years and a new username as I can't work the old one.

 

[trophymick]

I fitted manual hubs to mine, one of the auto hubs was fubar:augie.
you take all of the auto hub and its components off, and replace with the manual hubs.

So the answer is no, you don't need them.:thumbs

 

[Peasgood1]

Thanks :thumb2

 

[solarman216]

only down side is now you will be turning your front diff and front prop, all taking valuable power, Rick

 

[trophymick]

only down side is now you will be turning your front diff and front prop, all taking valuable power, Rick

Even when they are in 4x2? They should act like freewheeling hubs when not engaged.:thumb2, then click them into 4x4 (manually) and then they engage with the driveshaft.

 

[solarman216]

Even when they are in 4x2? They should act like freewheeling hubs when not engaged.:thumb2, then click them into 4x4 (manually) and then they engage with the driveshaft.

yes sorry forgot they were selectable, on or off, still the down side is when you have got into a mess you got to get out (if you can) and engage them (if you can find them in the mire) but depends on what you are doing I suppose, not for me thou, Rick

 

[trophymick]

yes sorry forgot they were selectable, on or off, still the down side is when you have got into a mess you got to get out (if you can) and engage them (if you can find them in the mire) but depends on what you are doing I suppose, not for me thou, Rick

I see what you mean, but if you anticipate (off road for instance) where you are going, just stop click them in and away you go. They can be left in 4x4 as long as is needed and use the transfer box to drive/not drive the front wheels.:thumbs

They are not for everyone, but I found them a good and cost effective solution to a knackered auto hub, and you are sure that they are working or not by the click they make when engaging/disengaging.:thumb2

 

[jims-terrano]

I have manuals too, fitted mine 7 years ago and not given me a minutes trouble. That's the key anticipate if you are likely to need 4wd. As soon as the white stuff starts in winter I lock them. All that happens is that you are turning the front transmission, yeah I can tell a difference when I unlock them but doesn't really worry me too much. When you need 4wd just select it in the normal way with the lever.

If you remember Plank, he's still on here and I'm sure he'll give the same advice.

Only thing to take into account is cost of manual hubs against cost of rings. Auto's are still better when working correctly.

 

[Peasgood1]

Thanks again for the comments, yes I do remember Plank.
I'm quite happy to have auto hubs, in fact they are probably more convenient. The reason I was looking at manual hubs was because I thought it would be simpler and cost effective.
How easy is it to get two new rings for each side, and how much?
I am a farmer so 4wd use is pretty regular. The LSD usually gets me out of trouble, having to get out and switch the hubs could well become a pain.

 

[solarman216]

the brake ring new only come as a set one each side, from Nissan £70 plus if you can find some from a breakers then a lot cheaper, to be honest they only break due to lack of lube between the two main parts of the hub and to clean and lubricate properly you have to remove the multi turn circlip and it seems not many do, if the brake ring on the outer hub has just lost the bits that hold it on then this will not stop the hub working as they are only there as a means of making assembly easy, it is possible to get it back together without these little nibbs, Rick

 

[Peasgood1]

the brake ring new only come as a set one each side, from Nissan £70 plus if you can find some from a breakers then a lot cheaper, to be honest they only break due to lack of lube between the two main parts of the hub and to clean and lubricate properly you have to remove the multi turn circlip and it seems not many do, if the brake ring on the outer hub has just lost the bits that hold it on then this will not stop the hub working as they are only there as a means of making assembly easy, it is possible to get it back together without these little nibbs, Rick

Having read up a bit more on the subject,
I now know that when one hub buzzes regularly it means the one on the other side is seized.
I mistakenly "fixed" the noisy side by taking a ring out. Today I finally got round to taking the other side apart and freed it off.
I have also now realised (I think) that those rings are not cogs, they are just friction operated. I thought the marks on them were the remains of ground off teeth. I guess they are not.

So, if I free this one off and put the other one back together I don't need new anything. (well, not as far as the hubs are concerned, there's a long list of other stuff)

 

[solarman216]

yes you are right the brake rings only come into operation to push the dog gear down into engagement it is spring loaded so the gear can go down and lock even if the teeth are on teeth, they then engage as rotation takes place, Rick

 

[Peasgood1]

the brake ring new only come as a set one each side, from Nissan £70 plus if you can find some from a breakers then a lot cheaper, to be honest they only break due to lack of lube between the two main parts of the hub and to clean and lubricate properly you have to remove the multi turn circlip and it seems not many do, if the brake ring on the outer hub has just lost the bits that hold it on then this will not stop the hub working as they are only there as a means of making assembly easy, it is possible to get it back together without these little nibbs, Rick

Put it back together again, and yes you can get it together with the outer rings missing the "wings".
I think those wings are what turns the mechanism and pushes the cogs into gear.
Certainly isn't working anyway.

 

[solarman216]

Put it back together again, and yes you can get it together with the outer rings missing the "wings".
I think those wings are what turns the mechanism and pushes the cogs into gear.
Certainly isn't working anyway.

can you post a pic of your rings so we can see what has broke, I did a whole set some time ago but do not know where, or I can take a pic set tomorrow and describe the items and what they do, Rick

 

[Peasgood1]

The ring that fits in the outer part of the hub (the ring that has a bronze looking lining) should have two "wings" on it's inside edge. They are snapped off.
On the passenger side they were never there as far as I can tell (can't find them) on the drivers side they were present but bent and cracked (I suspect that was what had seized it) I snapped them off, now it doesn't engage 4WD.
No pics as they are back on the truck. I will live without until I decide to fit manuals I expect.

 

[solarman216]

The ring that fits in the outer part of the hub (the ring that has a bronze looking lining) should have two "wings" on it's inside edge. They are snapped off.
On the passenger side they were never there as far as I can tell (can't find them) on the drivers side they were present but bent and cracked (I suspect that was what had seized it) I snapped them off, now it doesn't engage 4WD.
No pics as they are back on the truck. I will live without until I decide to fit manuals I expect.

these are easy to source, I have several as they do not usually go, must have had seized hubs to do that, if you want replacements pm me Rick