Campbell Jeeps - TJ Warn Hub Swap

Starting with the YJ wrangler, after the CJ era was over in 1987. Automatic locking hubs became standard for all Wranglers. This was accomplished by using a sealed unit bearing with the axle shafts spinning all the time. Warn Industries introduced a hub conversion kit for the Wrangler series Jeep that kept the stock 5x4.5 bolt pattern and bolted directly on to the Dana 30. The kit is loosely based off of the Ford Ranger lock-out hubs. I came across a good deal on a used Warn hub kit and installed it on my TJ. I choose to run this set-up primarily for the peace of mind when off-roading. If anything breaks in the front axle (axle shaft, driveshaft out of alignment, etc...) I could easily unlock the front hubs and drive home for a fix later. The kit is pretty straight forward, but does require machining your rotors to accept the larger spindle bearings that are used. This kit also comes with a custom outer stub shaft that is chromoly treated metal.

The spindles, roller bearings, spindle nut with locking washers. One set cleaned/prepped, and the other waiting to be cleaned. I used a garden hose and shop rags to clean the old grease out of the bearings. If you use a chemical to clean the bearings, be sure ALL of the left over residue is removed before packing the bearings with new grease.

The new outer stub-shaft is installed. Spindle is installed next and then the rotors which house the new bearings.

Spindle.

Rotors installed over the spindle. Bearings are packed and ready to be tightened. I had the rotors "turned" and installed new pads at the same time. The rotors that came with the used-kit had already been machined to fit the larger roller-bearings.

Two final pics of the assembly completed and ready for the trail.