free wheel hubs

[john cook]

hi guys

ok im in the middle of modifying a sportrak for off road pay and playdays as well as work and back.
it needs lots of welding in the rear tubs.
already no bumpers and im slowly getting the parts together for a 2/3" bodylift also getting some rear springs and shackles from bloodred. 15x7 rims with kumho kl71s

as there are no lockers available  im thinking of welding the front diff.

the thing im struggling with is if i do this i can see the front auto hubs engaging ok but im not sure about them disengaging properly for the drive home again.
.
has anyone tried this??is a locked front diff not a good idea to start with??

obviously id rather have a rear locker :drool:

..john..

[dxmedia]

Don't weld the front diff !

You'll not be able to drive in 4wd on ice or anything similar since you'll always be trying to go in a straight line, you'll also kill your CV's, and if you have auto hubs, you'll also kill yourself.

If your putting on manual hubs, why not fit an auto locker?

[john cook]

ok. thanks.

im not into death. ive found even a slight dose of death is usually fatal :roll:

[horsethief]

Easy check with these is to engage 4wd drive straight forward to lock the hubs,jack front up and try to turn wheels,drive shafts should turn.Drop the car select 2wd drive straight back then raise car again wheels should turn with drive shafts not moving.You can also disengage the shafts by selecting 2wd and spinning the wheels in reverse,and engaging the hubbs by turning the shafts.

[Range Rover Blues]

If you can't find a locker for it then what about fitting fiddle brakes?

I'm not a big fan of welding diffs, if you must do it then braze it, but on the steering axle I really really wouldn't do it.

[john cook]

thanks for the replies lads.
fiddle brakes seem the way to go. thought about it before but on a mitsubishi.
does anyone know of thier effectiveness on drum brakes?

the truck is going to be used as a daily commuter as well as off road toy. are fiddle brakes road legal. i guess you just unscrew the lever(s).

[dxmedia]

I spoke to my (very friendly) mot guy a couple of years ago about fiddle brakes, and his opinion is that on the rear axle, as long as you can operate them at the same time (bit of pipe over both levers) then they are perfectly acceptable as a handbrake replacement.

If you can lock them off, there shouldn't be an issue using them on the front axle.  Might be the kinda thing you want to put in a cubby box though so you don't knock them whilst driving?