Lookie what I just got for the VX...

[Triathlete]

They are on their way from Vegas!

[Bob Barker]

So does it really help save front end parts with locking hubs?

[Triathlete]

The CV's and shafts will still turn but there will be less stress on them so I think it will definately help. Also those that have done them see a slight MPG improvement.

[ZEUS]

Isn't this kind of counter-productive to your SAS?

[Triathlete]

Yes....but more productive for my wallet at the time! Hubs and shafts will be under $200...SAS a lot more to do it right! SAS is still a long term goal!

[Marlin]

Are those the ones on the planet for 50 bucks? Also, what ever happened to your bumper plan we talked about over a year ago

[nfpgasmask]

Billy, just a quick tip, when you get them and put them back together, be conscious of the orientation of the big spring. It looks the same on both sides but it is not. I made the mistake of putting mine together backwards on one side and it took me a while to figure out wtf I did wrong. Let me know if you need the diagram for these.

Bart

[crotchrocket]

I got a set of these for my JDM as i can select 2wd on the transfer box, disengage the hubs and im in 2wd with none of the front drive train turning. I dont understand their use when your front end is always being driven with the TOD ????

[SlowPro48]

Yeah same here - I don't get how these will help unless you have a detroit locker or something like that in the front diff, then they would eliminate the clacking and wear and ill handling a locker would cause. But for a stock open diff and no 2WD function on the TOD what is gained by these hubs? C'mon Billy - edumacate us non-wheelers!

[Bob Barker]

Even though the front end is being turned, there is no weight against them since the wheels are not locked in, so all the TOD has to do is turn the gears inside the transfer case and since that has no real weight on it there is less work for all the parts and longer life.
At least that's the story I been tellin'!

[nfpgasmask]

Bob, I may be wrong (someone please correct me if so), but with the hubs unlocked, the trans is still going to spin the transfer case which in turn will still be powering the front diff when the TOD kicks in, which will still be powering everything all the way to the CV joints, but at the end of the CVs, the hubs will be there and unlocked so there will be no tire weight/friction on the CVs, they will just spin. I think it's a little strange myself, but I understand the principle. Most of the time when CVs break, it is because the vehicle is lifted, putting the CVs at a sharper angle, which in turns creates way more stress on the joint when wheeling. That is why so many folks have had issues with a front locker and our IFS. Too much stress is being put out to the front IFS, and both sides at the same time, which causes CVs to fail more when one tire is hung up and the other isn't. With the hubs unlocked, you are minimizing the stress (i.e. weight and pressure) on the CVs, and thus, making them last longer, hopefully.

I think this would be a benefit to someone with a front locker, because if you were wheeling, and got one of your front tires stuck pretty good, you should be able to, in theory, unlock the stuck side, so there is no torque going to that side (via the locker) at the same time there is torque going to the other side. Which, in theory, should eliminate the potential to snap the stuck side. Does that make sense?

And I suppose a negligible MPG increase may also happen.

Bart

[phines]

Having the manual hubs definitely help me. I have the Aussie locker in the front which means no 4wd on asphalt for me. I also put in a kill switch for the TOD so the front gets ALMOST zero power when I'm not wheelin'.

Billy, you should really think about doing that too... while you're at it, go ahead and drop the front diff an inch or so.
________
VAPORGENIE CHEAP

[Triathlete]

Are those the ones on the planet for 50 bucks? Also, what ever happened to your bumper plan we talked about over a year ago

I got them on the Planet for $70. If I remember the $50 ones were missing a few things on one of them.
As far as the bumper...the plans are still floating around in my head but my fab guy that does all the tube bending and welding has been MIA. Right now I need to do a lot of mech stuff...this project (cv shafts/hubs) and then I need to get to the timing belt. But some day...hell, by then maybe I will learn to weld!

[Marlin]

Having the manual hubs definitely help me. I have the Aussie locker in the front which means no 4wd on asphalt for me. I also put in a kill switch for the TOD so the front gets ALMOST zero power when I'm not wheelin'.

Billy, you should really think about doing that too... while you're at it, go ahead and drop the front diff an inch or so.

My TOD just flashes randomly when I have the front hubs unlocked. I assume that the front end is getting little to no power.

[RamAirZ]

They also help if you break a CV on the trail, you can still drive it home without having to listen to the clacking and what not. My front CV's have been on there last leg but I have the Aisin's as well (ran them on a few Isuzu's actually) and it works great, my MPG is about 17 too all the time so I'm happy with my combo lol. But like everyone said, even though the front shafts are still spinning, they are basically "freewheeling" so no real stress or resistance on the drivetrain or motor from the front end like would normally be if locked in.