Wondering if anyone has tried the Dynatrac or Yukon Gear front locking hub kits. I have put some on my XJ Jeep and they really improved the overall driving after installing front locker in the XJ. If anyone has installed them what kind of MPG improvement did you see?
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Front free wheeling hubs
- Thread starter Soapy
- Start date
H3LZSN1P3R
You're doing it wrong
Would be pointless since we have a CAD axle assuming the power wagon does aswell?
I would be interested in true free-wheeling hubs too. Of course also getting rid of the central axle disconnect. Easiest way to get rid of the CAD is to replace the passenger side front axle shaft with a solid unit.
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I had the Yukon kit on my 05. I didn't see an appreciable mpg increase.
The biggest benefits were a lightened steering feel and 2Lo for backing trailers with the NV5600.
With the CAD already installed I doubt you see any mpg increase if that's what you're after.
The biggest benefits were a lightened steering feel and 2Lo for backing trailers with the NV5600.
With the CAD already installed I doubt you see any mpg increase if that's what you're after.
Rockcrawlindude
a rock crawlin’ dude
Waste of time and money for little to no benefit except they look cool that’s all the benefit some folks need
dieselscout80
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I think they’d add another maintenance item.
They will need to be disassembled and greased annually to avoid needing 4wd and not being able to turn the hub into the lock position especially in cold/icy conditions.
I haven’t missed locking hubs ever.
They will need to be disassembled and greased annually to avoid needing 4wd and not being able to turn the hub into the lock position especially in cold/icy conditions.
I haven’t missed locking hubs ever.
H3LZSN1P3R
You're doing it wrong
The people who want free wheeling hubs usually are the people who never grew up with them lol, always a pain to have to get out and switch them and they are pretty easy to blow up if you are spinning the wheels and suddenly get traction, they were good when trucks and vehicles had 100-200hp now they just cant hold up in my experience. Idk how many 2005+ fords i had to rebuild the front hubs because the splines sheared off the hub. They are not built for power the CAD is a great system these days now they ditched the vacuum system
When I put them on my XJ after installing lunch box lockers on the front they were a huge benefit. It has never driven so well. I read a article from 4wheeler magazine and they did a extended test and it gave them a 1.86 overall mpg improvement on a older ram they did. The Dynatrac hubs are actually stronger than the facotory setup but they only make them for the pre 2019 rams and Fords.
I don't like the design of the CAD, but to swap out for free-wheeling hubs, and replace the axle shafts, is stupendously expensive. To really do this correctly, you would need to build a custom axle, without the cast piece where the CAD lives. I know, even more expensive! Lots of things we do cost money and we don't really need them, to each their own
H3LZSN1P3R
You're doing it wrong
Thats because the XJ was not a CAD axle if it was you would not have needed it, and 1.86 overall mpg is laughable at best even if it was true that would take most people decades if at all the way people trade in vehicles these days to cover the cost of the hub conversion. There is no reason to do it other than so you can tell people you did it from any angle i can see…
Rockcrawlindude
a rock crawlin’ dude
They don’t make them because they’re not needed. You would not have better driving dynamics.
As has already been mentioned, The axle has CAD. Your XJ may not have had CAD, some of the early ones with the command trac did have CAD but if it was a later XJ or if it had selecTrac (np242) then it would not have had CAD.
CAD was implemented for the specific reason of eliminating the need for locking hubs. CAD keeps the front driveshaft from spinning when you’re in 2 wheel drive. You can simulate this on jack stands, spin either or both wheels with a helper and the driveshaft doesn’t turn. Similarly, turn the driveshaft and the wheels don’t turn.
CAD is a half-baked solution when compared to free-wheel hubs. With the hubs NOTHING turns in the front axle when they are unlocked. With CAD, u-joints, axle shafts, side gears, & spider gears, are all ALWAYS still turning while driving... CAD was implemented to SAVE money on production costs, not to improve anything
Rockcrawlindude
a rock crawlin’ dude
Not having to f around with locking hubs was the improvement.
H3LZSN1P3R
You're doing it wrong
CAD was implemented as a better solution and it is now at first it was hit and miss due to the vacuum systems but with the electronic shift it is a fool proof system that both RAM and GM (the ifs diff has always been a CAD design) have made work well its only ford who keeps the out dated PITA system
You guys are missing my point; when in 2wd, it's most efficient (and causes the least wear) to totally disconnect the front axle parts...
I'll throw one more at you; how about removing the CAD and keeping the existing hubs, BUT, then give me FULL-TIME 4wd, with a center diff? My Ram is bone-stock and will easily spin the rear tires on dry pavement, due to the torquey motor and poor weight bias of approx. 38% rear and 62% front (when empty)...
I'll throw one more at you; how about removing the CAD and keeping the existing hubs, BUT, then give me FULL-TIME 4wd, with a center diff? My Ram is bone-stock and will easily spin the rear tires on dry pavement, due to the torquey motor and poor weight bias of approx. 38% rear and 62% front (when empty)...
Rockcrawlindude
a rock crawlin’ dude
Full time 4wd ewwww
jetrinka
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I wonder how long the added "efficiency" would need to be in effect for me to recoup the cost of one of those kits....
I'll take the current setup any day of the week. Its simple, easy to fix, low maintenance and it just plain works. In fact I'd go the opposite direction and say if there was ever a delete for the CAD like on my 2nd gen I'd install that in a heartbeat. In my diesel 2nd gen I didn't notice a lick of difference with the CAD deleted.
I'll take the current setup any day of the week. Its simple, easy to fix, low maintenance and it just plain works. In fact I'd go the opposite direction and say if there was ever a delete for the CAD like on my 2nd gen I'd install that in a heartbeat. In my diesel 2nd gen I didn't notice a lick of difference with the CAD deleted.
Docwagon1776
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Ford does it. Tremor and Raptor, at the least, offer a transfer case that has both mechanical locking and clutch locking capability so you can run either auto locking or fully locked. Not sure if it's an option on the other trims.