Everytime I use it, it breaks!!

[robjames]

So I got the rad changed, along with the thermostat and overhauled the viscous fan and now it's bang on again! I was super happy!

But another diff is gone!!!!!!

It wasnt even through driving hard! Steep incline, attempted to crawl up it, slipped! Reversed back, a little faster this time, slipped! So one more go a bit quicker, knock knock grrrrrrrrrrr diff done

What am I doing wrong with this poxy truck! My mates stock disco manages everything before I tried it!!

[shokenore]

Is your throttle binary ?

[captain_chaos]

Yeah, but it's worth it for the fun

[robjames]

Is your throttle binary ?

It was for sure!

But since the last one I've adopted a slow and steady approach to off roading!

I honestly now work up the throttle scale each time I try, but I seem to get 1 bounce, maybe two and then that horrible noise.

I honestly do not know what I'm doing wrong.

I go up slow, wheels slip, I come down, I try a bit harder, I slip I come down, I then try a bit harder and that's as far as I got today.

The front seems to start bouncing far to easily! Maybe it's the torsion bars wound to highly!

Hopefully the new ones will fix it but the surf is seriously on thin ice right now I'm stupid when it comes to vehicles, I pumped £10k into a 99 civic!!!!! But even I have a limit! The fact I can't go off roading without something breaking it becoming annoying!

The maintanence bits I can live with! The front end is now nearly new! But the diff is becoming a real pain!

I'm going to try lockers and tougher ring and pinions!!

Do I stay 4.1 or change? I'm on 33"

[shokenore]

10K on a civic?

I hope you have some pictures
gotta love the ricers

Torsion bars may cause the wheels to bounce especially if like you say they are a bit taut

air down in the tyres will soften the ride a bit too.

you are right though with the slow and steady tactic.

maybe only use 4wd when it gets really tough going ?

please don't take offence at this though but
have you considered an off road driving course ?
it will probably be in a green oval tractor but at least then it will give you a chance to hone your craft at someone elses expense and probably be cheaper than a diff a trip?

[robjames]

It could be the driver although I am being coached by veterans and they all have poxy discos!

It is always the front that bounces! And it'll be on the 3rd attempt after the pace on the other 2 have failed! I'll stop the second it bounces reverse and try again! But clearly something isn't working out right!!!

It's only on steep climbs, or lipped exits, or uneven exits! It's honestly beginning to make me lose the love!


The little rice box is my trackday hooligan toy it's a nicely built car but as normal I got carried away!

[BUSHWHACKER]

Is your throttle binary ?

[shokenore]

That Civic looks pretty sorted.
I love insanely powerful FWD cars.
I bet it is thrashed mercilessly and just laps it up.


Your Surf however is a different beast.
If you want to drop 10k on your truck it should be pretty good, but you probably don't.

The front diff is the weak link.
You may have been unfortunate in as much as the diffs you got were already fubbared.
Before you go about fitting the next one I would get it pulled apart and rebuilt with as you suggest stronger ring gear and pinion.
Or have a look at different diff, I don't know what your budget is but you might consider an SAS.
OR
This is were I get lynched.But FI
Drop the whole Surf off roader and get an SJ
like this
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SUZUKI-SJ-...item4add98f742


Plenty of specialist outfits doing loads of goodies.etc etc

The more and more I think about it the more likely I am to go the SJ route myself.
No complicated ADD to worry about, parts are a fair bit cheaper ,insurance will be a load less(probably), petrol is cheaper than diesel.

I think I may even put a bid on this and sell the Surf
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SUZUKI-SJ4...item4188501b44

[tashtego]

Hi Rob,
a) Civic. Love those 'old' Civics and that supercharger...they look much better than the more recent models...

b) Discos. Discoveries are very capable off road and I find them (unlike Defenders) very comfortable to drive. The turbo diesel engines are quite 'pokey'. The reason many people, me included, don't like them is because of their unreliability. A Disco can spring up any sort of catastrophyc mechanical failure on you at any time. In Africa your car is your life, it needs to be dependable. For this reason they are now disappearing over here...

c) Surfs. Like someone said on a similar thread, Surfs are estate cars with a bit of extra clearance and 4x4. I couldn't agree more. When the first import surfs began arriving here in the late nineties many had the famous 'Urban Sporty 4x4' door decals...As far as I now there is no factory mass produced Off Road car. With maybe a couple of exceptions, like some of the LC pick-ups that the police and the forestry department use (maybe 'African' forum members will be more familiar with them). I saw a Merc Unimog turned into a bush ambulance not long ago, now that looks like it's meant to do serious off road. Maybe some of those old school Jeep Laredos?
Surfs, Prados, LCs, Pajeros, Troopers, Patrols...they are all road cars that can negotiate different terrains thanks to fairly simple and user friendly 4x4 systems. Their natural habitat is the expedition. Long road trips on mixed terrain, tar, pot holes, corrugations, sandy, muddy or snowy tracks, gravel...they are comfortable to drive, spacious and fairly reliable (at least the Toyotas ) and will get you through everything...provided you are on some kind of 'road'.
If you like technical, recreational offroading for the weekend then maybe there are better vehicles, cheaper to maintain and modify, than a Surf. (SWB Defenders? Discos? Suzukis?)

d) Your Surf. From the pictures you posted it looks as if your rad was full of muddy water and, as you mention, radweld or similar product. The head might be cracked. It gives me the general impression of e vehicle that was poorly maintained and not properly checked when bought. Which could account for some of your other problems, like the chronic diff failure. If you want to stick with a Surf, why don't you get rid of this one, keep all the good bits (winch bar, wheels etc) and get yourself another one? There is good advice on what to look for when buying a 2nd hand surf on this site. It's not as if you are short of a bob or two...
Sorry for the long post, 38 degrees in the shade today, everyone is out and I was getting a bit bored...
Cheers

[robjames]

Thanks for the comments guys! I agree it's been poorly maintained before but I have worked my way through and refreshed everything! The only bits left on the front end that have not been replaced are the wishbones, the main steering rod, and the steering stabiliser.

I'm not a quitter, I'm a fool, and I'm determined prove the surf is worthy "Off-roader"!

So I've ordered;

Front and rear spartan lockers!
Front and rear Yukon 4.88 Ring and Pinions!
Front and rear Yukon master install kit!

This way I'll have 2 fresh new diffs! I've also got the 2" extended torsion bars coming.

If this doesn't work I'll quit on the surf and break it for parts.

[shokenore]

This post needs pics.
Glad to see you ain't quitting.

When you pop the new diffs can I have first refusal on the torsion bars?
£150 delivered?



Seriously though get the diffs built by a specialist.
And don't forget the pictures.

[BioHazard]

Where are the diffs coming from ..... link? might be interested for my project.