Clickety Click.... (yes the bad one) (1 Viewer)

[IdahoDoug]

I believe the clicking is simply the release of each ball as the joint rotates them out of the position where they're receiving/transmitting torque. Wear causes a little more room for them to move as a small groove is worn into the inner bell and the outer cage - the contact points. As this happens, the ball finishes it's cycle by being popped just like squirting a water melon seed from between squeezed fingers and hits the end of it's travel in the wear groove to make that popping sound. Like a hammer, it will eventually wear that more due to pounding. Fresh moly grease won't change the sound much, but will reduce the ability of the ball to wear the surface somewhat. If someone found birf balls that were a few thousandths oversize, I'd think the popping would be reduced but I think people who've looked have struck out. I don't think the balls sustain any wear - it's the bell and cage they contact.

At 100k, my birfs had both rotational play, and end play. They popped on sharp turns with hard acceleration only and this did not change after I repacked them. On the next repack, I plan to put a new clip in them to reduce the end play, and flip them from R to L and vice versa to start wear in the other direction.

I wouldn't buy new birfs unless you're wheeling hard and have large tires.

DougM

 

[tacomafj-80]

I just passed the 120k mark and i was wondering what grease i should use on the birfs. think its time to get in there. Mobil 1 syn?

 

[lowtideride]

i'm in the wrong forum but why dont more of you 80s guys run manual locking hubs? So, you dont have full time 4wheel drive...I'm almost positive my buddies 80 (Ale's rig from Venz) has manual locking hubs....so what gives? just the problem of switching axles? i know that would be PITA...so i could see why that would stop people from swapping them.....swapping them to what...i have no clue?

there is prob. an easy answer to this to make feel like an ass but i thought i would ask anyway.

 

[CruisinGA]

After discovering how much I prefer 2wd in my 80 over awd on the road I've given it some thought.

The reason most don't is that to fully reap the benefits of manual hubs, you must be able to disconnect the front driveshaft or output of the tcase. 80 series cases have no such ability, so the driveshaft must be removed. Kind of a PITA to R&R every time you want to have 4wd or not. Also, driveplates are maintenence free, stronger, and very unlikely to fail.

Apparently for about $75 you can have a set of Aisin manual lockouts that bolt on in place of the drive flanges. No axle swapping necessary. It is the lack of a front output disconnect that discourages most.

*There is a Marks Offroad kit from Aus to add a front output disconnect, but most have decided it is not worth the money/effort for the gain.

i'm in the wrong forum but why dont more of you 80s guys run manual locking hubs? So, you dont have full time 4wheel drive...I'm almost positive my buddies 80 (Ale's rig from Venz) has manual locking hubs....so what gives? just the problem of switching axles? i know that would be PITA...so i could see why that would stop people from swapping them.....swapping them to what...i have no clue?

there is prob. an easy answer to this to make feel like an ass but i thought i would ask anyway.

 

[Romer]

And gloves, grease, rags etc etc. I said spares, I am not volunteering services

You have to get him drunk first for that, and then you don't want him

 

[Beowulf]

It is the lack of a front output disconnect that discourages most.

For me, it is the loss of ABS that stops me from considering this mod. Plus the fact that the FT 4WD is one of the best features of the 80 Series (fuel mileage notwithstanding.)

-B-

 

[Riley]

You have to get him drunk first for that, and then you don't want him

Actually the beer was for my step #6 but I see how it could be read another way. I'll bring my tools, gloves and rags and then I won't need em.

After all it's just an urban legend.

 

[CruisinGA]

For me, it is the loss of ABS that stops me from considering this mod. Plus the fact that the FT 4WD is one of the best features of the 80 Series (fuel mileage notwithstanding.)

-B-

There has got to be a way to mod the wiring with a switch, so ABS can be selected on/off regardless of center diff position.

Now who wants to find it.

 

[semlin]

it's not the cdl switch Bailey. Your front birfs have to be turning for abs to work. the abs ring on the birfs is what tells the system how fast the wheels are turning. if you go to 2wd the abs will not work.