So I'm been thinking about switching my 97 1500, 318, 4x4 to lock in hubs. Found a kit for $85. Now axles are a sort of grey area for me, so any advice and information is just a gain here. I've heard our trucks have a vacuum engage for the 4 wheel drive. If i switched to lock in hubs will that simply just become useless and nothing to worry about? or do i have to do something about that in regards to the 4x4 engagement light in the dash?

Also, I plan on buying some new rims for my truck, and when you choose your vehicle, generally this truck does not have lock in hubs, but should the hubs be the same diameter as the center of the original hub that the rim slips onto now?

To anyone that can help me out, thanks so much its appreciated!

 

... Where did you find a lockout kit for $85, and shouldn't need to worry about rims since the kit SHOULD come with a new hubs.

 

You aren't going to find a kit for 85 bucks. Too many parts need to be replaced. That kit is probably JUST the locking hubs.....

 

$85 were? The factory alum rim do not fit over the hub. Head over to EMS offroad web page and download the pdf install sheets.

 

Instead of converting to locking hubs just purchase a line lok kit. It replaces the vaccume motor with a cable actuated fork that you pull inside the cab. Its basicly the exact same thing except with out the pain in the *** ot takes to swap the outer hubs. Plus you get a 2wd low and dont have to get out of your truck to lock it.

 

Where i found it is pointless to say because further reading discovered that it was for the old w100's and ramchargers. But regardless I'd still like to convert to it.

-SpencerS; do you know of any place that I might find a good, and fairly cheap line lock kit?

 

The cheapest I have seen them was still north of 700 bucks.......

 

wow, okay well I have found some locking hubs for around 300-350 area, so when the time comes I guess that's the direction I'll take.

 

You can't just put locking hubs on there. You need to get rid of the unit bearing, get a spindles, rotors, outer axle stubs, and prolly a few other things I am forgetting...

I think there are some junkyard parts that would be direct bolt-ons.... but, I don't remember the donor applications.

 

Ok 700 bucks is way off. I bought my line lok kit on summit racing for a little over 200 bucks. Im posting on a phone so i cant get a link now. Ill throw it up later today