Drives so nice w/o front DS

[cstamm81]

I pulled my front DS last night due to increased vibes after installing my 3" lift. I wanted to be sure the front DS was the offender. It was, and running without it really surprised me. It was causing more vibes than I gave it credit for. The truck is so much smoother through and through. Much less vibration felt through the t case shifter too. What I didn't expect was the following benefits:
Truck seems a good bit more powerful, much less encumbered
No driveline windup no matter how you get on and off the gas at any speed
No binding in tight, low speed turning
Rig seems to coast better and overall feels much more smooth

I just drove it 300 miles today for work and was really impressed. This is making me seriously consider a Part time conversion kit.
I might get a pair of hubs to simulate the full part time experience and go from there. The only thing that worries me is others comments on how the front end gets lighter with this set up.

Have others pulled their front DS and been similarly impressed? I know everyone is in love with their AWD, and I admit it can serve a good purpose. But, I also think there may be a reason why most of the other 80's in the world got hubs. I driven lots of different AWD vehicles, and I can't say that I really liked the feel of any of them. For some reason I prefer the feel of a rear wheel drive vehicle in everyday driving.

 

[Tvaldriz]

I am interested in seeing what others think about this issue.

Makes sense.

 

[therealratfink]

For the record, just putting hubs on mine did what you say. I didn't want to have pressure on my longs all the time, so I run with hubs unlocked and center diff locked all the time. I'm afraid it wouldn't help with your DS vibe though.

 

[CJF]

I've driven lots of different AWD vehicles, and I can't say that I really liked the feel of any of them. For some reason I prefer the feel of a rear wheel drive vehicle in everyday driving.

No reason why we should all have the same likes/dislikes.

Not a bad idea to get the part-time hubs, although you may not even notice the difference: On my '82 Hilux, I sometimes forget that I have the hubs locked in 2wd (locked because I was expecting bad road conditions).

I'm one of the folks who loves the AWD on the 80. If you're not, do what makes you happy.

Curtis

 

[cstamm81]

yeah, I know I will have to do the full kit, and replace the viscous coupler in the t case. it seems that the opinions on here are split from those who have direct experience with a real part time 80. It also seems there are plenty of people who tell you it's the worst thing in the world, having no experience and probably not even understanding what it truly does.

 

[therealratfink]

I too am trying to decide what I want to do. I rarely use AWD as it is, so I really doubt I'd miss it. I have significantly better acceleration with the hubs unlocked. Makes no sense with the axles still spinning, but it works. I assume it would be even better if I had the kit.

 

[cstamm81]

the AWD definitely is more than a gimmick, it does serve a real purpose. Whether it is worth it for 99% of the driving I do I don't know. I am not too lazy to get out and lock the hubs when it snows one or two times a year here in PA. Seems to make sense to tune the rig for the majority of the driving I do. I just wonder how much lighter the front end will feell with hubs installed. It also seems I need to source Warn hubs for a 40 series. I also need to come up with either a .100 or.300 spacer according to other posts. I may start another thread in an effort to get the correct parts the first time.

 

[Ruadhrigh]

I just wonder how much lighter the front end will feell with hubs installed. It also seems I need to source Warn hubs for a 40 series. I also need to come up with either a .100 or.300 spacer according to other posts. I may start another thread in an effort to get the correct parts the first time.

I am not sure what you mean by "lighter" are you afraid of less control of the front end?

No need to start another thread about this. Thre are plenty of them that will answer all of your questions. And if they don't you can post the questions in the thread.

That said the part time kit will work good for different purposes. A lot of on road, long distance driving would seem to benefit.

And if you are going through the trouble, source some Aisin hubs. Or just order the entire kit form Slee, if you don't like it I'll take it off your hands

 

[landtank]

I've driven with and without the front shaft and I couldn't tell the difference. You shouldn't have any vibs if you're setup properly and the binding could be indicative of something else going on.

 

[therealratfink]

You can just ge hubs from a 84/85 mini. It's a direct bolt on and stronger then aftermarket.

 

[Lugboot]

Once you pull the viscuous coupler and go part-time, do you have to have the center diff locked all the time?

If so, does that kill ABS all the time?

 

[84runner]

You can just ge tubs from a 84/85 mini. It's a direct bolt on and stronger then aftermarket.

79-85 mini's should be the same, most likely the same P# too.

 

[therealratfink]

I dunno, I went through allot of yards, and it seems the 79-83 were a smaller spline section, but maybe I am remembering wrong.

 

[Atoyot1031]

Once you pull the viscuous coupler and go part-time, do you have to have the center diff locked all the time?

If so, does that kill ABS all the time?

I do believe that is correct.

 

[robmir]

Not to add more wood to the fire, but the last 3 years were the 80 were assembled in South America it came with the full time transmission and 95 % of the owners had previously a part time 80 series and ALL were disappointed with the severe decrease in power.

The ones who pulled trailers or got them armored were the ones who cried louder and once superchargers were not available anymore many of them sold the cruisers in search for used part time's.

I never forgot the day I met the engineer who leaded the team that developed the 80 series when in 1993 the FZJ was released here and was invited to the opening show , the first question I asked him was why in the United States they had the full time and we were treated as a third world country with the part time: his answer were blatant THE PART TIME WAS BETTER, PERIOD.

 

[landtank]

if I'm not mistaken the longer splines on the stub shafts of the now current birfs makes for problems with the Aisin hubs.

 

[cstamm81]

that is what I had read, you cannot space the shaft out enough and run the aisin hubs, which is why Landcruiserphil i believe recommended Warns, as apparently there is more material to clearance.

I will agree that a properly set up front shaft should not vibe. Landtank, I am surprised that you noticed no difference with the shaft out though. You have to notice the fact that you are driving an AWD vehicle in day to day driving situations versus a rear wheel drive (with shaft out). And no seat of the pants feel? I immediately noticed the feeling of more get up and go. Plus, you simply cannot make the driveline clunk like so many complain about on here.

I know there are a bunch of threads on here concerning this, and it always seems to be a heated debate with tons of misinformation. Yes, my only fear is a twitchier front end due to not turning the birfs during higher speed driving. So who knows what hubs I really need to do this properly? I don't want slop in where the birfs run, which is why I apparently need either a .100 or .300 spacer of some sort. I know Slee's kit comes with AVM hubs, which I haven't heard the best things about. Aisin's seem great, but aren't the perfect fit apparently.

As I understand it, you get rid of the VC, replace it with another solid part, and the CDL switch becomes 4 high, with the hubs locked of course. ABS is disabled and the front birfs aren't spinning without the hubs engaged. I could care less about ABS, as it really seems to lose it's effectiveness on 35" tires IMO.

robmir, your comment seems to hold a lot of water to me. Let's face it, when 80's were new they were marketed to rich soccer moms, the only people who could afford them. I'm guessing AWD was a great selling point, no thinking = no user error. There has to be a good reason that the rest of the world got hubs, which I couple into the fact that the rest of the world also got diesel engines.

 

[landtank]

I'm also geared at 4.11s and have a modified MAF, both that will improve off line performance so it might not be as apparent on my truck.

I did have a fellow mudder up at the house last week and he asked to drive the truck as he's looking into getting an 80. He felt my lifted 80 drove better than his wife's stock T100.

 

[landtank]

his answer were blatant THE PART TIME WAS BETTER, PERIOD.

Come on what would you expect him to say. "you guys can't afford AWD!"?

The configurations for every market are the best, period, regardless of reality.

 

[robmir]

Come on what would you expect him to say. "you guys can't afford AWD!"?

The configurations for every market are the best, period, regardless of reality.

Unfortunately I don´t agree with you. Yes we could afford them and they knowed, take in mind we allways had the option to get the cheap edition or the fully loaded either of them in manual or automatic transmission.

We had several discussions with the marketing team of our country´s Toyota assembling plant when they released the fully loaded AWD regarding it´s lack of uump and their answer was that they "decided" to do that because all the Explorers, Tahoe´s, Grand Cherokee´s sold here got AWD, years before them and they were afraid as been seen as an old and not upfront technological company. Been the Cruiser more expensive than the competition and the owners HAD to walk in the mud to engage the hubs, what a shame !!!!!!

Since the part time was still available we asked them again and again unsuccesfully to assemble a fully loaded part time as they did before.

Before the Prado were released here, Toyota did a private survey in a club, which included a test drive off all the same class competition vehicles and at last a fully fully loaded 4 door Prado just imported from Japan. After the test we filled a questionary with more than 100 questions on what we liked or disliked about the competition and the Prado. After we lended the questionary we were guided to a enclosed area were a brand new, not yet released in the states, 4Runner was displayed and WE ALL told them we liked more the 4Runner and they should not sell the Prado but the 4Runner. We were explained that the 4Runner should cost a lot more and we answered right away we didn´t care about the price.

Guess what: they rejected our sugestion and we had to wait several years until they finally replaced the Prado with the 4Runner.

I don´t say the Prado was bad, on the contrary it´s great but it looked ugly and old when compared with the competition.