So, after modifying my soon-to-be off-road wheels to fit over the Kia's hub, I got bored and took the original hub apart. After figuring out how it worked, I thought about how simple it would be to modify them to be permanently locked. I did a little figuring and some testing and soon came up with exactly such a "device." Why would this be handy? Well, the few of you who have blown up a hub and been stuck with a 2wd truck in the middle of nowhere probably wished you had a spare hub to get you home. Basically that's what this modification is for. Remove the broken hub, align the splines, bolt on the locked hub and you're done. It's not a permanent fix, but it will work until you get another locking hub from your supplier. If anyone is interested in this, let me know. It can be done in 3 minutes with only a screwdriver.

Would you guys be more interested if I could provide pre-modified assembled hubs? Or is this just a dumb idea?

Imagine this if you will........12 inches deep in mud, the front wheels won't turn and the rear axle is, well, buried. I couldn't possibly imagine myself changing the front hub to get out [ not that the Sporty wouldn't do it ], just that by this stage of the process I would have drank way too many beers <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" /> to be able to even think about changing a hub. Why not just lock them in before hand [apart from the diff-lock/hard steer scenario]?<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Don't feel bad, I'll probably love your idea this weekend when I "intentionally" get bogged and pray for a lock of some sort. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/baby.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/baby.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/baby.gif" alt="" />
Now, are you talking about about the air operated hubs or the manual ones that have to be reversed before they disengage? [ how does that work by the way?????]

Cheers <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/butwiggle.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/nana.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Maybe I need to explain this better. The intent isn't to get you unstuck when you're up to your mirrors in mud. Think of it like this:

You've changed out your stock hubs for manual lockers and you're goin' wheelin'. You lock 'em in and go through mud hole after mud hole, and now you're miles (or kilometers) from civilization. In the middle of the next hole you come to an unexpected stop, and find that even though your hubs are locked, you only have the rear wheels spinning. After your buddy pulls you out (cuz I know none of us ever go wheeling alone <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shame.gif" alt="" />) you realize you grenaded a hub. No problem, it's guaranteed for life! Except now you're out HERE, not at home; and while the truck still moves with 2wd, there's no chance that you're going to make it back to public roads without both drive axles. So now your truck gets to spend some quality time with the wildlife in the middle of nowhere while you ship your broken hub back to the manufacturer and wait for a new one. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/baby.gif" alt="" />

You're more likely to break a hub crawling rocks than mudding, I think, but you mentioned mud so I ran with it.

I've heard of people with other vehicles carrying their stock hubs along while wheeling for just such a purpose. However, I think nearly everyone here changed their stock hubs to aftermarket ones because they didn't work at all, not because they were a weak link. What I've done is to permanently lock the hub for emergency use. Kind of like a space-saver spare tire. It will get you somewhere so you can fix it properly, but it's not for everyday use.

And currently this is for the vacuum lock hubs, not the auto-mechanical ones. But, if someone has a mechanical hub I could experiment with, let me know!

Interesting idea but I think I'm going with the hub fuses from Warn http://www.warn.com/truck/axles/hub_fuse.shtml <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

totally get what your saying and i agree totally all your saying is dont pitch those old ones because you can use one as a spare and now i wish i wouldn't of thrown mine, heres a story for ya a buddy of mine went to a trail ride up in gilbert mn its about 200 miles away up on the iron range in northern mn payed for a weekend pass plus the gas to get up there after 30 minutes in some rocks blew both hubs no four wheel drive so he was stuck the rest of the weekend watching everybody else have a blast
please post picks and instructions i know were i can get another hub for cheap <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

do they make them to fit the kia hubs i couldn't find any that did

I'll get right on those instructions. FYI, my idea is based around a part produced on a lathe. As with my skid plates (yes, the fuel tank plate in still in the works), if you want to build it yourself, I'll get you all the info, otherwise I can do it for a small fee.

According to a local 4x4 shop up here the answer is yes <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" /> About $75cdn a pair if I remember right.

Upon further review, I've decided not to make this available to do yourself because it's not a stock replacement piece, it's a true modification. Besides the fact that this is a business venture. Charge for 1 pair will be $20 US, shipping included to the continental 48.