Hi to everyone, this is my first post on Zukiworld... looks like a cool place to get help!

I have a question about manual hubs on my 1995 Vitara (Sidekick). One of mine wasn't working (didn't lock) so I removed it by undoing the bolts that hold the entire locking assembly to the hub. Once removed, I retired to my workshop and stripped / cleaned / reassembled, then refitted, and everything is now functional - back to 4x4 instead of a 4x3!

OK, now the worrying part. I looked at the Haynes manual (THE Haynes manual - the one that is only 50% useful..) and according to this I should not have been able to remove the hub without first extracting a snap ring from the end of the axle / halfshaft. The thing is, I did not see a snap ring and in theory I would have had a hard time getting the assembly off the car with one in place anyway. On top of all of that, because of the way that the hub works, I can't see how a snap ring could even be fitted...

I have since driven the car and all seems fine, no strange noises or anything like that - so where is this mythical snap ring? Am I definitely missing a crucial component? I'm worried about catastrophic failure.

Anyone know about this?

Hi to everyone, this is my first post on Zukiworld... looks like a cool place to get help!

I have a question about manual hubs on my 1995 Vitara (Sidekick). One of mine wasn't working (didn't lock) so I removed it by undoing the bolts that hold the entire locking assembly to the hub. Once removed, I retired to my workshop and stripped / cleaned / reassembled, then refitted, and everything is now functional - back to 4x4 instead of a 4x3!

OK, now the worrying part. I looked at the Haynes manual (THE Haynes manual - the one that is only 50% useful..) and according to this I should not have been able to remove the hub without first extracting a snap ring from the end of the axle / halfshaft. The thing is, I did not see a snap ring and in theory I would have had a hard time getting the assembly off the car with one in place anyway. On top of all of that, because of the way that the hub works, I can't see how a snap ring could even be fitted...

I have since driven the car and all seems fine, no strange noises or anything like that - so where is this mythical snap ring? Am I definitely missing a crucial component? I'm worried about catastrophic failure.

Anyone know about this?

Which hubs do you have? Most of the UK Vitaras have the Warn hubs, the SJs have the AISIN hubs, the Haynes manual covers both vehicles. Given that the early Vits had no FWHs the manual probably describes the SJ hubs. On my Warn hubs I had to prise apart a plastic assembly to get the hubs apart - no snap ring.

I think there (haynes) talking about the snap ring that hold the axleshaft to the wheel hub...

Which hubs do you have? Most of the UK Vitaras have the Warn hubs, the SJs have the AISIN hubs, the Haynes manual covers both vehicles. Given that the early Vits had no FWHs the manual probably describes the SJ hubs. On my Warn hubs I had to prise apart a plastic assembly to get the hubs apart - no snap ring.

Hi Rhinoman, thanks for the reply..

Answer is that I'm not really certain... new to Zuks, only had the car for a few months so still learning. I have been searching hard for info, as I am concerned about safety. It very much looks to me as if they are Aisins. No manufacturer marks as far as I can see... but I found a link on the internet which describes them pretty well (here: http://www.off-road.com/offroad/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=399668). Sorry I don't know how to make the link work... in here it says that the axle 'may' be fitted with either snap rings or even a bolt and washer. The implication being that there is also a likelihood that no such part will be in evidence. Looks like it will be OK, what do you think?

I think there (haynes) talking about the snap ring that hold the axleshaft to the wheel hub...

Maybe.. but in that case it wouldn't need to be removed to get the hub off. From the looks of things it was a design change that the Haynes manual doesn't acknowledge.

That's the snap ring there talking about

If you look at that photo, the hub is already removed.  No, you need not worry about any snap-ring to swap out the hub - which is technically the "hub lockout".

If you look at that photo, the hub is already removed.  No, you need not worry about any snap-ring to swap out the hub - which is technically the "hub lockout".

Yep - agreed (and thanks very much MaD.72, for sending the link to the pic). And yes I also agree the mechanism is a hub lock rather than the actual hub itself - everyone calls them the 'locking hubs' though, don't they!

I think my mind is at peace now, no bits missing after all, thanks to everyone for helping - hopefully this thread will be useful to others. 

what kind of hubs are on a stock 92 tracker? mine doesnt say anything on it! this would be really helpful to me! thanks guys!