Manual Locking Hubs

[VehiGAZ]

Hi the JDM TOD 2WD tottally disconnects the propshaft in the front axle using the shift on the fly technology found in the later Troopers the front drive shafts do turn though . i had a good look round the other day
cheers
Steve

Interesting! Now, sorry if I don't understand the drivetrain terminology well - are you saying that the driveshaft coming out of the front of the transfer case to the front differential is disconnected when in 2WD, or are you saying that the front drive shafts (differential to wheels) are disconnected at the front differential when in 2WD?

[Solitude]

I am pretty sure that ours our permanently locked. My buddy at work had a ToD Trooper that had auto-lockers and it made noises the VX never did - you could hear the hubs click as they engaged after putting it into ToD or 4WD-Low. After you switched out of 4WD, I think you had to drive in reverse a few feet to unlock the hubs (not sure on this point and can't find my buddy to ask). In the VX we are always in some level of 4WD-Hi, so the hubs have to stay locked.

I agree with the last statement.. our hubs are locked all the time and the TOD is what decides where to send what..

The part about using old parts of junks to improve though was not on my plan
I was going to use aftermarkets locking hubs..

I know that difference of opinions are out there.. but it is better to agree to disagree silently or state your opinion from real time use and move on

no reason to discount other opinions.. there are numerous ones on many topics that are personal and important in themselves..

I have learned a few things from the responses.. but didnt resurrect this thread to get into a pi$$in contest

so.. having said that..

anymore thoughts to be shared from personal experiences real time would be appreciated.. otherwise I will let it die

peace
Jeff

[VehiGAZ]

I didn't mean to discount anyone's opinions - sorry if I came across that way. I tried to make a point that I thought there was limited value in the mod to an unlifted VX (i.e, just sharing my opinion as others have) - clearly, the lifted folks benefit from unlockable hubs.

[Greasemonkey]

Hi (this is as far as i have determined but i will confirm when i have had a better look) i think when the 2wd is selected the front prop stops turning and the front axle disconnects from the drive shafts using an internal clutch very similar to the shift on the fly system on the 'rodeo' US or 'Frontera B UK . so the outer CV joints turn the drive shaft and the inner joints but the diff doesn't turn because the internal part of the drive shafts are disconnected using a clutch type mechanism - which means that the front prop doesn't move either - its all very complex and so much to go wrong with sensors etc
if it is the same then i can change from 2wd to 4wd at any speed up to 50mph the same as the shift on the fly system as fitted to my wifes car but i shall be having a really good look in a few weeks time as i will be doing all the fluid changes
cheers
Steve

[VehiGAZ]

Ahhh - I think I can picture what you are describing. Sounds like it is more complex and capable than out US-spec VX ToD. :-(

[Greasemonkey]

Hi yes no auto hubs to mess up but more to go wrong - the SOT system on the rodeo is vacumn operated will examine the VX and find out more on Sunday
cheers
Steve

[So-CalVX]

I still think a jdm transfer case would be simplest(sp)
would anyone be able to come up with an estimate and anything else we would need for a swap? I don't like the idea of driving backwards 4 feet to lock/unlock 4wd.
Anybody?

Richard

[WiSDoM]

to unlock you just step out of the VX and turn the hub knob to free or to lock.
it pretty simple. like operating a tv without the remote. :bgwg:
i enjoy mine.

[Ldub]

I still think a jdm transfer case would be simplest(sp)
would anyone be able to come up with an estimate and anything else we would need for a swap? I don't like the idea of driving backwards 4 feet to lock/unlock 4wd.
Anybody?

Richard

IIRC, some US Troopers had TOD/2-HI/4-HI/4-LO...might be easier to find.
As far as hubs, put on manual instead of auto...no backing up, like the man said, just turn the knob....

[BigSwede]

As a Trooper guy, if I may interject: a 98+ Trooper (98 is when TOD first came out in Troopers) has drive flanges instead of auto hubs like the 92-97 Troopers. (I imagine VXs have drive flanges as well.) So the front drivetrain is turning all the time, even if the Trooper is in 2WD.

[Ldub]

As a Trooper guy, if I may interject: a 98+ Trooper (98 is when TOD first came out in Troopers) has drive flanges instead of auto hubs like the 92-97 Troopers. (I imagine VXs have drive flanges as well.) So the front drivetrain is turning all the time, even if the Trooper is in 2WD.

So if manual hubs were installed ???

[Ascinder]

(I imagine VXs have drive flanges as well.)

They do.

So if manual hubs were installed ???

Then you can manually turn off the wheels only, the CV's are still under power, but not under load. Whatever the TOD sends up front is then just wasted energy. I have manual hubs and when I ran unlocked I wasn't pleased. The VX lacked it's usual get up and go mojo. The hubs do have good uses, but as far as running unlocked for reasons other than pulling donuts or a broken CV, I wouldn't recommend them.

[BigSwede]

Yeah, I don't see a lot of benefit for manual hubs if 2WD isn't an option like it is on a Trooper.

[Ldub]

Yeah, I don't see a lot of benefit for manual hubs if 2WD isn't an option like it is on a Trooper.

That's what I was asking, it seems to me, if you could swap the 2-Hi/4-Hi/4-Lo/TOD out of a Trooper, into a VX & add manual hubs, you would have the best of all worlds.

If I'm understanding correctly, all you need on the Trooper system to achieve true 2WD (and theoretical better highway mileage), is to install unlocking hubs.

[Greasemonkey]

The JDM TOD is turned off when in 2wd so there would be no wasted energy going to the front at all - surely this is what the trooper does too - so no need for locking hubs at all?
i have a contact in japan now for spares so i will as how much for a TOD box to ship to the states - taking into account they are £5000 or $10,000 to replace new do not hold your breathe but maybe 2nd hand will be cheaper
EDIT
right just been and had a good look underneath - it has the SOTF front axle with the motorised transfer box 4wd selector as fitted to the Rodeo and Frontera - so coupled with a TOD off switch its extremely better than the standard TOD only model - no electrics either the front axle is vacumn operated like the Rodeo and Frontera - the fuel economy difference at 60 mph in 2wd i get 27 mpg in TOD i get 22 mpg - same bit of road same revs same conditions etc
cheers
Steve