Hubs Assembled Backwards @ Factory? 2001 Sprtg

[RDA]

I bought the vehicle new and @ 100K I replaced my front axle bearings & seals. What I found amazed me:
The springs in my hubs were assembled so that the hubs were always engaged.
Vacuum applied or not, the hubs were engaged. I looked further and found the wiring for my vacuum solenoid disconnected and stuffed into the fender over the drivers wheel! I had driven my 1st 100k with my front end engaged full time!
I reassembled the hubs correctly, connected the wiring and now the 4x4 disengages as it should. Has anyone else seen this scenario?

[sportage4x4]

all of the Canadian market sportages were delivered that way. its actually the dealer that reversed the innards of the hubs. they found trouble in testing the hubs at very cold temps, so instead of risk the hub not engaging in the winter (when most people use the 4wd most often) Kia just locked the hubs.

you can get replacement mechanical locking hubs, or manual locking hubs. the vacuum hubs require too much maintainance. plus, the vacuum will pull water, dirt and debris into the bearings.

[mac_s]

I have also came across this problem, and also went 100k with the hubs engaged which cost me 2 ujoints. After replacing them i opened up the hubs and to surprise i found the spring installed wrong. As for my vacuum wiring, it was hooked up as normal. I Change the spring around and found that the hubs were not engaging. So the problem now lies with the vacuum system, to which i have no idea what to do with. Other than installing new warn hubs, does anyone know how to fix the vacum system. thanks