This might be old news, but Warn hub fuses for the Xterra?

Saw it at Xterraparts.com, under "what's new"

http://www.xterraparts.com/onlinestore/graphics/00000001/60863_t.jpg

I like that idea! Never heard of it before? But being the CV joint is the weak "link" in our front ends I guess its better for the fuse to "blow" than the CV!

Do you think that they really work?

Seems like cheap insurance but I'm not sure if the concept is sound.

Does anyone have more info on them and any real world data?

Thanks

Ok what in the heck is that and what does it do?

I've seen them before mentioned in magazines, but I haven't seen any write ups. The hard core guys probably don't use them (rock crawlers) since they could probably tear down an axle in a half hour (and they don't want to weaken their vehicle in any way). It seems like a good idea for the occasional aggressive trail use. Warn has created a "weak link" in the front axle that is easy to replace. Without this item, the next weak link is far more difficult to swap. You need the Warn manual hubs to use the fuse.

quoted from xterraparts.com

"The Warn Hub Fuse is a replacement clutch ring for the serious off-roader.
Protect your front axle shafts with the Warn Hub Fuse.
In most driving conditions the Hub Fuse will fail before a U-joint.
The Hub Fuse can be replaced in 15 minutes with no special tools, versus more than an hour for a U-joint.

Here is the story: The standard Warn Premium hublock clutch ring is designed to withstand over 80,000 inch-pounds of torque.
A u-joint will normally break at around 55,000 inch-pounds in a strait ahead condition (considerably less at an angle).
The Hub Fuse is designed to work up to about 46,000 inch-pounds.

Here is how it works: When the Hub Fuse fails, the teeth strip.
Just pull the cap, replace the used Hub Fuse, then replace the cap and get back in the action. "

On a personal note I would want to have some brake cleaner and some more grease to clean out the hub and grease it before I stuck in the new clutch ring.

http://www.xterraparts.com/cgi-bin/miva?onlinestore/merchant.mv+Screen=PROD&Store_Code=Xterra&Product_Code=60863

Does this come standard with the manual hubs or is it something that you add in latter?

Originally posted by scott.com
Does this come standard with the manual hubs or is it something that you add in latter?

You have to buy them seperately.

I have a friend who had them on his Jeep. He complained that the fuse broke to often. He said he was always having to change them. But, this guy breaks something every time I go four wheeling with him, so it may be operator error.

I think they are a good idea. I'd rather replace a "fuse" than a CV joint or something.

The installation instructions recomend carrying a "spare body assembly." Does that mean they recomend carrying a spare hub? I guess if you blew the whole hub, you could just put the automatic hubs back on. It seems to me that the point of the fuse is that you don't want break anything else, including your premium manuel hubs.

From what I have heard / read these fuses don't really work that great. People have blown out CV joints and other parts and the fuses remain intact and fine. Seems like a waste to me.

I wonder if it would have helped Pika from his explosive CV problem?

From what I have heard the fuses only work when the tires are straight, whether this is truth or fiction I am not sure. Now if it is true than it is still worth the few bucks and easy replacement than what could have happened...changing a CV shaft(if you have one) on the trail is not something any of us want to have to do.

PS I read an article about the hub fuses and lockers, supposedly a big no-no...I believe it was in one of the recent 4 Wheeler mags.

I may be wrong but..

Most of the people I see that trash their front ends do so when they are trying to go up some trail spinning tires along the way trying to get traction. It is when these spinning tires grab hold that you have the problems with breaking stuff.

Mike is right that they will not help in all events but they are relatively inexpensive and therefore I would think a good idea.

:bandit:

Originally posted by FSRBIKER
From what I have heard the fuses only work when the tires are straight, whether this is truth or fiction I am not sure.

It's truth.
As a u-joint turns, it's easier to break. Warn had to design the hub fuse to work in most circumstances. They made them weaker than a u-joint when it is straight on, but stronger than at full turn.
Had they made it weaker than full-turn, the fuse would break just driving in a straight line.

Regardless, they will be pretty much useless on the Xterra, since CV joints are weaker than u-joints, and the CV joint will fail long before the hub fuse will.

On the bright side, the Xterra barely makes enough power to break a CV unless seriously abused.

Originally posted by xoc


It's truth.

Regardless, they will be pretty much useless on the Xterra, since CV joints are weaker than u-joints, and the CV joint will fail long before the hub fuse will.



Ian.. where did you get the numbers on torque ratings? I would like to see what else they have number for.

Originally posted by xoc

Regardless, they will be pretty much useless on the Xterra, since CV joints are weaker than u-joints, and the CV joint will fail long before the hub fuse will.

On the bright side, the Xterra barely makes enough power to break a CV unless seriously abused.


Yikes, we agree again.

Originally posted by Philosopher
Yikes, we agree again.

That's like 3 in a row... time for a beer :D

Originally posted by cmxterra
Ian.. where did you get the numbers on torque ratings? I would like to see what else they have number for.

http://www.warn.com/InternetHome/catalog/Hubs.pdf

Basically, they're for serious rockcrawling machines, guys who are tired of replacing 3 u-joints a day.

Originally posted by xoc


That's like 3 in a row... time for a beer :D

3 in a row is time for 3 beers!