I bought some Superwinch hubs, and want to do them this weekend. The manual that I'm reading isn't clear, it says remove tires for bearing pack. I don't think I need the tires off, but wanted to make sure. Also let me know if I'm right on the rest too.
remove outer hub cap
remove snap ring
remove hub bolts and remove hub
replace with manual hubs
Thanks guys

Unless you have aftermarket steel hubcaps, you should be able to service the locking hub with the tire mounted. I changed out the auto hubs for Superwinch manual one on my wife's Montero without removing the wheel.

Expect about 20 minutes per side.

Like Russell said, if you're running stock steels or something open at the hub, then wheel removal isn't necessary.

One thing I would caution you on, though. When you think you have the tiny outer screws tight enough, you should've stopped already. They strip very easily.

A trick, hold the Allen wrench with your thumb and index. Using your bird finger to apply pressure, put just enough pressure to see the veins in the back of your hand move and distend. Sounds funny, but it's pretty darn accurate <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Ditto on that. The heads of the outer-ring hex screws on the SW hubs are extremely easy to strip. One of several reasons why I feel the Aisin hubs are superior. One thing I suppose you could try before installing them is to pre-grind a thin slot in each one of them using a Dremel tool with a thin grinder disk, that way you could install them with a common screwdriver instead. Still, that's a lot of work for little gain. You'd still have to use very little torque when installing them, lest you strip the threads of the screws themselves.

Instead of grinding the bolts for a flat-blade screwdriver, just get an Allen driver the right size. I use a small L-shaped wrench from my bicycle days.

He was suggesting that to keep one from putting too much torque on the screws <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Yeah, I got that.

However, flat's for a screwdriver have the same porpensity. Y'all even caught me with a typo.

What is an '-shaped wrench?? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

The message is about using caution, nonetheless. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shiner.gif" alt="" />

They send one with the hubs.