Dmartin247
Member
- 22
- 35
- 13
- Location
- Boulder City, Nevada
I’m a recent adopter of eco hubs for my 1994 M1085. My primary goal was to half the driveline speed to give the 3116 a chance to work where it’s supposed to in the correct RPM range. Any mpg gain obviously appreciated. Long term goal is a 20’ habitat to go play in desert and take to Alaska from southern Nevada. So today (and yesterday) was installation day for 6 wheels/3 axles..
Of course the disclaimer.. Nothing I state here is meant to be complaining, really just notes that caught my eye or caught me by surprise that would have been a good to know going in so it didn’t freak me out.
. But seriously, questioning yourself part way through adds to project time. So I agree that the first one takes the longest, but i found that the others were not half the time either, mainly due to me making sure I didn’t hose something up (which of course I did.. LOL)
Ok, for those who haven’t done this I offer the following…..
I used two tubes of silicone, (I opted to get the gaskets from eco hubs) about 5 cans of brake cleaner, one large blue loctite, several dollar store roasting pans to hold the gears and bolts and for cleaning the nuts and bolts, and way more shop towels than I would have guessed,but was happy they were always in reach when just a little more gear lube came dripping down from the hub bearing while I cleaned.
That was long winded, but I really wanted anyone who hasn’t done it to not be intimidated. But much like Chinese food, it’s all in the prep. Last thing you need is to start cleaning bolts and putting on washers while you got exposed silicone thats acting like its gonna cure before you are ready
Again, props to Eco Hubs. It all went together great, Big solid, beefy, nothing to accidentally fold or bend or warp.. Every bolt threaded quickly and cleanly and I had zero problems aligning the plates. Now soon as I put SEVERAL gallons of 90W back into the axles and make sure I have brakes again, I will take it for a spin…
Of course the disclaimer.. Nothing I state here is meant to be complaining, really just notes that caught my eye or caught me by surprise that would have been a good to know going in so it didn’t freak me out.
. But seriously, questioning yourself part way through adds to project time. So I agree that the first one takes the longest, but i found that the others were not half the time either, mainly due to me making sure I didn’t hose something up (which of course I did.. LOL)Ok, for those who haven’t done this I offer the following…..
- Watch a couple videos. The one from the Eco Hubs website, the one Drive the Globe did, maybe another one. They all have good info, but each has a couple little subtle comments that are super useful, but they aren’t all in one place.
- open every freaking box and lay it out on a table. I got 3 boxes. Opened one, Opened 2nd, found the instructions and parts list and a couple nice beverage holders. So waited to open the 3rd. In the video from the website, A homemade tool is referenced to help chase out the threads. I found said tool in box 3 when I finally got to the last axle after I had finished 4 wheels and cleaned the 5th. LOL. Worked great for number 6. 100% would have used the whole time..
- Keeping a small table nearby for the wheel you are working on is super handy. BE SURE TO PUT ALL PARTS FOR THAT WHEEL ON THAT TABLE. Nothing is more depressing in the project to have fully siliconed, threadlocked and installed the plate and cap all nice and lined up and stroll to “main table” and see a delta lock and split lock staring back at you like you are an idiot…. I would wish that on no one.
- Cleaning sucks, but it’s worth it and its amazing how many colors of silicone I saw during this project. (Seriously. White, black and orange on same wheel? Who uses orange gasket maker still? Wasn’t that the 80’s? Black, Grey, Blue and Green are all the rage now..
- I did the front wheels first because of the way I backed in and it was late in the day and possible rain. They actually went great and I was slow and methodical. Was a little dark and ALMOST left a rag in the front hub. Couldn’t quite see and realized I needed more light and was able to fish it out after I got the wheel plate on, but before the drive cap went on. That was close…
- Stay focused and watch out for project creep…. Driving from my storage to my house, I started losing air when brake pedal was depressed. like at a long light. Worked great otherwise. Clearly the tractor protect valve, but it’s the weekend. Get hubs done first and then chase that. Oh, need to drain the two rear axles. Why is one full of brown fluid and one green? Has one been changed and one hasn’t? That makes no sense given the truck history that I know of. Ok, rotate the tires to get the drain/fill hole at the 4 o’clock position. Start truck. Deal with air missing. Wait there’s no air holding the parking brake (see leak above). How are the front wheels turning to line stuff up? Back ones didn’t, front ones did, do they need adjustment? Wait, did I forget to put the split lock on? Just saying easy to forget if it’s not laid out and super easy to get sidetracked.
- Someone could have warned me about the back axles. Those puppies have been locked up and they wanted OUT. Like spring loaded. I went the route Drive the Globe did and just took the whole hub cover off. In all 4 rear hubs the spider tried to come with the cover and had to break it free to get it to not pull the axle out as i pulled the whole cover off. And that craps heavy.. I also had the rear axle pop out a coupe times while wiping during clean up. Like wiped it 8” towards me. Freaked out. Just pushed it back in and alls good. I was under the impression thats more of a hassle than it was for me.
- I did lift the front two wheels to line things up just in case. I did NOT on the back and question if I needed to in the front. I did install the first plate then kinda dry fit the axle cap to be sure I had a chance of lining up. I would have jacked up the wheel if i didn’t feel good about it, but there is lots of play in that axle to get centered.
- Lastly I swear I spent more time moving my setup from wheel to wheel then I did on said wheel. Do I have rags, do I have the little diverter to not make a mess. Where are the picks, crap left the air hose over there. Ran out of silicone, or brake cleaner or scotch brite.
- Grinding the c-clips was a no brainer. 15 seconds and done first time all six times.
I used two tubes of silicone, (I opted to get the gaskets from eco hubs) about 5 cans of brake cleaner, one large blue loctite, several dollar store roasting pans to hold the gears and bolts and for cleaning the nuts and bolts, and way more shop towels than I would have guessed,but was happy they were always in reach when just a little more gear lube came dripping down from the hub bearing while I cleaned.
That was long winded, but I really wanted anyone who hasn’t done it to not be intimidated. But much like Chinese food, it’s all in the prep. Last thing you need is to start cleaning bolts and putting on washers while you got exposed silicone thats acting like its gonna cure before you are ready
Again, props to Eco Hubs. It all went together great, Big solid, beefy, nothing to accidentally fold or bend or warp.. Every bolt threaded quickly and cleanly and I had zero problems aligning the plates. Now soon as I put SEVERAL gallons of 90W back into the axles and make sure I have brakes again, I will take it for a spin…
