Auto locking to manual locking hubs on '97 V6 Vitara

darmok · 09-24-2008, 03:17 PM

Hi everybody, I have a '97 SV620 Suzuki Vitara (5 door, 2.0 V6 engine) which comes with auto-lock hubs which seem to be worn out, they disconnect at the worst moments until I reverse a couple meters then they lock again.

I've been told that manual locking hubs are more reliable and i'd like to know if all models are interchangeable or I need a specific one? (Like from a similar Sidekick model)

I found that WARN, Superwinch, Rugged Ridge and others have manuals for Suzuki but it's not clear which one may fit on mine

has anybody gone though a similar situation??

Thanks a lot!

manny sarria · 09-25-2008, 11:17 AM

Hi darmok, you no I met a guy with a 1995 tracker he said he used a warn to go from locking to auto, he did it himself but I did not ask how he did it or what it intell, so I gess you can?

darmok · 09-25-2008, 04:19 PM

good news I found somebody who has the same model I do and installed manuals from Rugged Ridge so I'm getting the same ones, it's a DIY thing

Thanks!

darmok · 11-03-2008, 01:30 PM

Update !

So... I bought the manual locking hubs from Rigged Ridge 400 series (manufactured by AVM), took me a while to get them shipped here, tested them and they seemed to be OK

however last weekend I went off-roading with some friends and I started to get the same problem I had with the automatics, they started to unlock all the time, this time the noise was worse than the last time I even feared something was wrong with the front axle

Does anybody had this situation? is it possible for manual locking hubs to still unlock or there may be something else I should look at?

Thanks!

hamsta · 11-04-2008, 03:47 AM

Does your Vitara have locking hubs or the air operated locker in the diff? None of our V6 versions have locking hubs as you describe.

darmok · 11-04-2008, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hamsta

Does your Vitara have locking hubs or the air operated locker in the diff? None of our V6 versions have locking hubs as you describe.

no it's not air operated, not really know exactly how mine works, mine is first generation, I think the 2nd generation started using air ones

Thanks!