Free wheeling hubs

[riddler]

Does anyone have free wheeling hubs? and do they make much difference?

[dandownunder]

Free wheeling hubs

Fitted Free wheeling hubs (AISIN) on mine at least 6 months ago, it felt a LOT nicer to drive, lighter in the front, having to replace CV boots less to. Worth doing if you have a lift aswell, but haven't notice any difference in fuel eceonomy.
hope that helps
cheers
Dan.

[riddler]

hubs

Thanks for the reply, I fitted them to a land rover i used to have and it made a tremendous difference to that, sounds like it does the same for surfs, shame about the fuel economy though.

[wibblywobbly]

Am I right in thinking that....

As I have free wheeling hubs, and they will spend 90% of the time doing just that, I have to engage them periodically to ensure that the grease doesn't sink to the bottom and cause premature wear.

I had a Dihatsoff Spurtrock once and that required the same treatment.

Am I right, or is this a myth?

Rob G

[riddler]

free wheeling hubs

Yes i can understand you have to do that, but do you notice much difference when you use them? Is it worth having them?

[Delboy]

I've had my hubs locked a lot recently with all the frost, but normally i lock them once a week at least to keep them lubed and moving and also to give the front diff a workout.! In answer to your question, the steering is a lot lighter with them unlocked, better low end acceleration, and oa slight difference in fuel economy. Mainly did the conversion the give the cv's a rest.!

[riddler]

So do you think they are worth investing in? Where did you get them from? and what sort of money are they?

[Delboy]

So do you think they are worth investing in? Where did you get them from? and what sort of money are they?

i definitely think they were worth it! They cost about €100 incl. postage from the states. Got them from a guy called 'Toyota Parts Dude' on the Yotatech Forum. He breaks old toys and the hubs on old pickups over there fit 2nd gen Surfs. They are 26 spline. Most older pickups over here have solid front axles which have a different spline ( 30, i think) so they will not fit. Pretty sure hubs from a newish hilux will fit as they have IFS too, but where are you gonna find a wrecked one of those?

[robnw67]

Hubs

Hi

I thought all recent (last 10 years or so) 4x4 vehicles had free wheel hubs as standard. I'm pretty sure mine has them as factory fit. Am I deluded?

Or are we talking about remotely engaged free wheel hubs ie where you don't have to get out of the car and twist a locking mechanism in the centre of the wheel?

Rob

[riddler]

Were talking about remote free wheeling hubs, even though your not using four whel drive your front wheels still turn your drive shafts and subsequently your front diff, by using free wheeling hubs you disconnect the road wheels from the rest of the transmission thus reducing the drag from the transmission, making the steering lighter and allegedly improving the fuel consumption.

[TonyN]

Were talking about remote free wheeling hubs, even though your not using four whel drive your front wheels still turn your drive shafts and subsequently your front diff, by using free wheeling hubs you disconnect the road wheels from the rest of the transmission thus reducing the drag from the transmission, making the steering lighter and allegedly improving the fuel consumption.

Most 2nd gen Surf don't have free wheeling hubs as standard, the ADD system takes care of 'shift-on-fly' duties, meaning you can switch to 4wd on the move wityhout getting out.

It disconnects the long side drive shaft from the diff, so that is virtually free wheeling, but the other side is still connected the diff while driving. You won't notice as much gain as fitting them to a permenant 4wd car, like LR's but they do make a difference still. But you will have to get out the truck to get 4wd to work.

Toyota made Auto hubs that are seen on a lot of import pickups, but they are not all that, the manual Aisin ones are the best. Any IFS UK pickup ones should fit.

There big bonus is it you've lifted the front of the truck by cranking the torsion bars, the CV angles are pretty much on the limit after 1 1/2" so fitting the hubs ensures you won't wear them out or rip CV boots all the time.

[JimL]

But you will have to get out the truck to get 4wd to work.

Tonee, I've read that b4 and I think that puts people off doing the mod but its not exactly true and I know you know but I just wanna point out the obvious.

Getting out and flicking the dial on the hubs still doesnt give you 4wd, its only when you hit the button on the stick in the cab. What I mean is for everyone else who isnt a farmer or who doesnt go offroad 7 days a week, when you do get to an offroad situation then you should get out and engage the hubs but until you hit the switch on the stick it doesnt happen so you can still hit tarmac and disconnect for the time your on it.

[TonyN]

yeah, thats right, on any normal day you can lock the hubs in the morning and it will be no different to how it works as standard, just shift on the move when you need 4wd.

But if you have left them open, you will have to leave the cockpit, lock them, then switch it to 4wd on the button/lever.

No big hassle either way, unless you end up in a huge muddy hole with the hubs unlocked, then its slither across the bonnet time!

[JimL]

No big hassle either way, unless you end up in a huge muddy hole with the hubs unlocked, then its slither across the bonnet time!

LOL

[riddler]

anybody got any for sale? or know where i can get any? Cheers.