4x4Review Off Road Magazine
W hen considering what upgrades should be done for looks and which should be done for function, one must consider the parts that would fail you at the time when you need them most. I had just about replaced all of the “normal” failure type items- hoses, belts, etc.
The next step to making my rig trail worthy and reliable was to upgrade the stock plastic front hubs to a much more rugged all metal set up. I gave the folks at Mile Marker a call and spoke to Drew and he set me up with a set of Supreme Locking Hubs (part #402 ). These hubs are not only a huge improvement over stock because of durability, but are very handsome in appearance. They are chrome plated with a gold plated center turn knob; come complete with new allen headed socket screws and large lock rings. This is a very easy upgrade that can be done to your rig that can be completed start to finish in about one and a half-hours. Read along with the following install instructions and photos to see just how easy this very important upgrade really is.
Installation:
 As always, keep safety in mind, we started off by putting the K-5 Blazer on jackstands. Next we removed the tire from the truck for photo reasons. This job can be done with leaving the tire on, but we wanted to make the install as unobstructed as possible.
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Next was to remove the original plastic hubs. This is accomplished by removing the six torx head screws. Next was use snap ring pliers to remove the 1 ¼ inch snap ring. You might have to use an old rag to remove some of the grease so you can see the ring. The next step was to remove the large lock ring that holds the body assembly in the wheel housing. This is a little tricky, but if you have two small pocket screw drivers, its not to bad. Just be patient!!  After the large lock ring is removed, the body assembly can be removed. We found the easiest way to do this was to thread two of the screws in the body assembly across from each other and pull with equal pressure. The body assembly popped right out without a problem. Once the old assembly is out, we took a rag and cleaned out some of the old grease and put a thin coat of new grease inside the wheel housing. This is a critical note: DO NOT PACK AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF GREASE IN THE WHEEL HOUSING BECAUSE THIS CAN CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE HUBS.
Torque the screws to 27-31 inch pounds per the install instructions, get some glass cleaner and clean off any excess grease that may have got on the cap assemblies and that’s it. Your now upgraded with a super durable set of all metal hubs and ready to hit the trails. |
Once the wheel housing was prepared for the new Mile Marker hubs, the install process is done all in reverse. When you reach the large lock ring, make sure to install the new ring provided in the kit. You will need to re-use the 1 ¼ inch snap ring. We inspected ours and it was in perfect condition. If any wear is found, do not hesitate to replace it with a new ring. The final step is to install the new chrome plated metal cap assembly and the six new allen headed socket screws.
| Description | Notes | Rating |
| Ease of Install | Two people took about 1-½ hours…not bad at all. |  |
| Ease of Use | Just turn the rings and go! |  |
| Performance | Based on prior Mile Marker reputation, performance should not be an issue. |  |
| Durability | All metal speaks for itself | |
| Appearance | Outstanding! | |
| Drivability | N/A | N/A |
| Comfort | N/A | N/A |
| Price in comparison to related products | Very competitive to Warn | |
| Tools Required | Assorted allen wrenches, torx bits, small snap ring pliers, and pocket screwdrivers. | |
| Editors Notes | One important note is this: remember after an upgrade like this, you must still service the hubs. They need to be serviced at the same interval as the front wheel bearings. Other than that, enjoy!! …TS | |
