Manual hubs vs drive slugs

[Black Betty]

Tore into my dana 44 today, pulled almost everything off it, just need that spindle socket to finish it up.

Seeing as the axle sat in a snow pile for who knows how long, I wasn't surprised to see gummed up hubs and corrosion when I took it apart.

Question now is, would it be better to put some warn preimium hubs in, or try and find some drive slugs for it?  I know the slugs are stronger, but my old 4.0 is tired and doesn't win any dyno comps.  Never had a 4x4 with manual hubs so not really sure what advantages there are aside from less wear and tear on my front driveline when it's not turning.

[Hi Lo Silver]

I only found one advantage with the hubs in the rear of my AMC 20. It gave me the option to turn the hub out if the axle is broken. I guess towing would be another but I trailer.

I ended up going thru numerous hubs and couldn't figure it out till I looked down the empty tube and noticed it was bent. I now run the drive flanges from Warn  and haven't had any issues since.

[Bnine]

Tore into my dana 44 today, pulled almost everything off it, just need that spindle socket to finish it up.

Seeing as the axle sat in a snow pile for who knows how long, I wasn't surprised to see gummed up hubs and corrosion when I took it apart.

Question now is, would it be better to put some warn preimium hubs in, or try and find some drive slugs for it?  I know the slugs are stronger, but my old 4.0 is tired and doesn't win any dyno comps.  Never had a 4x4 with manual hubs so not really sure what advantages there are aside from less wear and tear on my front driveline when it's not turning.

The question depends on what you run for a locker.

D44 and 797's do not take well to be locked up all the time once you are on the pavement.

Limited slip, or open, then the choice is yours, and you may well just save the money and do slugs.

Locked, I wouldnt recommend slugs without CTM's and chromoly shafts.

Traditional hubs are the biggest pain in the arse there is for any alberta 4 wheeler, whether you run lock outs, or slugs.

I have all the spindal sockets for dana front ends if you need to borrow one.

Oh, and make sure you invest in some stage 8 style locking spindle nut hardware. Save yourself a world of hurt down the road.

[cLAY]

For a front diff I would run hubs. Gives you the flex ability of unlocking the hubs for driving on the highway or in the event of a broken u joint you can just shift into 2wd, unlock the hubs and drive home.

I had locking hubs on my D44 and carried a drive slug as spare in case I broke a hub. Downside is that they are another thing to maintain but  usually they lasted longer than my wheel bearings did.

[Black Betty]

Plan is to run an e locker in the front and a Detroit out back.  But the front might change to open for the time being depending on funds.

First I still need to install the mountain of parts I have been accumulating for the past couple years. 

I'd still like to host a LJA meeting in my garage here soon, that way Billy can school me on having the absolute best steering stabilizer set up money can buy

Thanks for the offer on the socket Billy, I did go buy one a couple days ago.  Funny thing was the locking nut came out by hand, didn't even need a ratchet on it.

[Bnine]

  Funny thing was the locking nut came out by hand, didn't even need a ratchet on it.

Yup, thats why Stage 8's are such a good idea.