How to: Servicing Hubs on '05-up

[BryanDowdy]

The hubs on my '06 start hanging up. After reading multiple place that the hubs on the '05-up SD's were not service able and that the only options were new ford hubs for dynatrac's free spin kit. I decided to give it a shot servicing them. Turns out it's very easy! I believe there are two causes to way the hubs start hanging up and wont lock/unlock. First the grease from the factory is very thick and second the vacuum used put condensation into the hub and cause corrosion. So I decided I want to disable the auto and make them manual.

Remove the 3 bolts hold the hub in. Pry the hub assembly out, and remove it.






Unlocked



Locked



Remove the snap ring



Carefully pry the plastic snap off the hub. Be careful not to break the clips, as far as I know you can not buy parts for the hub.





Pry the retainer cage off, take your time and work it off.





Thoroughly clean all the parts



Repack the needle bearings with wheel bearing grease.



Lubricate all the parts with light weight lithium grease. Do not use wheel bearing grease, it is too thick.



The first gear to into the plastic cage has a raised lip that faces up





Bend the cage out



It will take some work to snap the cage back on



Bend the cage back on



Install the snap ring




Use carb cleaner and a lint free rage to clean out the hub




Lubricate the hub with the light weight grease



Put 3-1 oil on the orange o-ring to help slide in



Insert the hub, you will need to turn the axle by hand to work the hub in. Then install the bolts



If you want to disable the auto, you can use some solid round bar and put it in place of the barb fitting a few inches from the knuckle.