I just got my 95 tracker, which is replacing my old sport sidekick that finally died on me. My old one had auto hubs... all I had to do to go into 4x4 was use the shifter. My new tracker has the manual hubs that have to be "locked in" first. I never thought there would be much difference, but my first offroad outing with it yesterday showed the limitation in the manual hubs. It was pouring rain, and I had to get wet just to lock em in.

So I have a couple questions....

Can you just replace these hubs with some auto ones like I had on my sportkick? If not, what happens if you just leave them locked all the time?

thanks!

If you leave them locked I'm pretty sure that means the front drive line components will be moving with the rest of the rear components, except not under power - in other words just spinning uselessly and decreasing gas mileage and increasing wear unnecessarily. I don't know if they can be upgraded to automatics - I thought I had read that they can, but don't quote me on that one. Now, I have read that manuals are more reliable off-road.  Hope that helps somewhat. I'm no expert though.

Auto hubs are a downgrade from manual's.  The manual hubs will survive wheeling a lot better than auto hubs.

Before you attempt any obstacles, turn the hubs in and use 2wd.  When or if you get stuck, just pop it into 4lo or hi and your good to go.

Amilla

What I'd do is just lock them at the beginning of the trail or even at home when you start.  I've left mine locked all winter.  What I've read about the auto's is that when they fail you can't engage 4x4.  That could be a bigger problem than expected depending on where you are at the time.

Hmmm... sounds like nobody likes the auto hubs. Auto hubs are all i've ever had on 4x4s and they've never failed on me. Actually just in the first day I tried to use my new manual ones they "failed".... one of them was too hard to turn and I couldn't get it to engage until I went back to the house and got some pliers to turn them.

Also keep in mind that my off roading is not very extreme, so I dont think I'd ever tear up some auto ones. I just like being able to shift into 4x4 without getting out. Maybe I'm just lazy.

So is it possible to replace the manual ones with autos, even though it may not be highly advised?

yes, I have had three zuks with auto hubs and never had a problem, there are a couple of diffrent ones, my 94 had two piece hubs and my 96 had one piece hubs, the one piece may be an improvement? just watch for falling parts when taking them off and put them back were they belong. the 96 hubs were louder when engaging and disengaging but maybe that is better.

Thanks Mr. Fuelish. So where do I find some auto hubs? Are there aftermarket ones, or do I have to find some at a junkyard or somewhere? And how do I install them?

call hawks or maybe trail tough, the two piece ones the outer cap unscrews and the one piece just un bolts, but they are stock options on zuks. if you were in southern Oregon I would sell you some but I'm not much into mailing stuff. try a wanted add in classifieds.

Thanks again. Would having auto hubs be the same as if I just left the manual ones locked? Sorry if that's a dumb question, I just dont fully understand what exactly goes on with the different types of hubs.

Thanks again. Would having auto hubs be the same as if I just left the manual ones locked? Sorry if that's a dumb question, I just dont fully understand what exactly goes on with the different types of hubs.

The auto hubs engage when you put the vehicle into 4wd and drive forward.  They disengage when you drive in reverse for some distance. 

Quote from: akfedor7 on September 20, 2009, 04:10:41 PM

Thanks again. Would having auto hubs be the same as if I just left the manual ones locked? Sorry if that's a dumb question, I just dont fully understand what exactly goes on with the different types of hubs.

The auto hubs engage when you put the vehicle into 4wd and drive forward.  They disengage when you drive in reverse for some distance. 

Yes, but only when in 2WD 

You can probably trade someone your manual hubs for the autos you want, just make sure to get, and ship the bolts, as they are different, manual hubs have cone washers, and autos don't

Wild

Quote from: keith on September 20, 2009, 08:16:54 PM

Quote from: akfedor7 on September 20, 2009, 04:10:41 PM

Thanks again. Would having auto hubs be the same as if I just left the manual ones locked? Sorry if that's a dumb question, I just dont fully understand what exactly goes on with the different types of hubs.

The auto hubs engage when you put the vehicle into 4wd and drive forward.  They disengage when you drive in reverse for some distance.  

Yes, but only when in 2WD  

You can probably trade someone your manual hubs for the autos you want, just make sure to get, and ship the bolts, as they are different, manual hubs have cone washers, and autos don't

Wild

Hey Darrin,

Long time.  Good to see someone from the old days is still here.   How's the 89 turbo doing these days?

The turbo is off for now, between the 5.83s and the 4.24s in the case, I don't need and cant use the power, just having fun with it for now, it's working very well

Darrin