FJ 4X4 with 6 speed trans, full time 4X4?

[Scooterpilot]

Hi all,

Has anyone heard of any kits that will be available for the FJ 4X4 with the 6 speed manual, so the vehicle can be taken out of constant 4 wheel drive?

WIll it require locking hubs or other hardware?

Chuck

 

[Tim Scully]

Interesting question! Why would you want to dissengage the full time?? I am with the FJ Trail Team on the east coast. One of the three FJs we have is a manual. Just curious.

 

[Beowulf]

Tim,
I hang mostly in the 80 section and we occassionally have new 80 owners coming from FJ60s or other PT 4wd vehicles ask the same question. They just don't have the experience with the FT 4wd and it seems inefficient or unfamiliar so they want to change it.

No stats, but I believe very few follow through; especially after they get used to the advantages of the FT 4wd systems designed by Toyota. With the locking center diff these are far superior to any PT system. I'm guessing the Torsen improves on what was available when the 80s were built.

-B-

 

[powderpig]

Beo, the torsen is just a different type of center lock system. A different step of technology if you will. The VC on the 80 is nice and works great. The torsen works differently, but with the same end, locking the drive shafts together when you have front to rear drive shaft spin differentials more than cornersing would account for.

As for having front locking hubs I would have to look at the hub it self( I believe it is a more modern type of pressed in bearing system, with no provision to have locking hubs). Give the after market some time if they see a demand, they you may see a solution. I do agree with BEO that full time handles better than part time system. The usual increase of full milage is usually only about 2 =/- mph if converted to a part time.
It will be a cost VS benifit type of equation if a kit comes out.
later robbie

 

[4WD Toyota Owner Magazine]

Interesting question! Why would you want to dissengage the full time?? I am with the FJ Trail Team on the east coast. One of the three FJs we have is a manual. Just curious.

One possible reason might be for high-speed prerunning kind of action, maybe, where you want the manual but don't need 4WD all the time?

 

[pygpen]

I think a good reason is to stop the front driveline components from turning and the wear associated with it. I could be wrong, but don't most (if not all) of the high milage 80 series have clicking birfields and excess wear on the drive flange splines? wouldn't the front CV's last much longer if not used for daily driving duty?
PMK

 

[Rusty Phillips]

if the PT running gear is so important Id settle for an automatic/PT FJ before blowing a lot of money modding a manual/FT FJ

edit

me? if I had the $$$$ Id be all over the 6 speed/fulltime and loving every minute of it!

 

[Beowulf]

I could be wrong, but don't most (if not all) of the high milage 80 series have clicking birfields and excess wear on the drive flange splines?

I believe you are wrong on this depending on what you consider high mileage. My '97 has 160k miles and, as far as I know, the original birfs are fine. It has only had 1 service at 100k miles and is due for another. I might swap sides but as of now there is no clicking. I wouldn't be concerned if the drive flange was worn because they are relatively inexpensive and easy to replace. They are not giving any obvious signs of excessive wear and that is with much larger tyres (305's) over the past 65k miles.

wouldn't the front CV's last much longer if not used for daily driving duty?
PMK

Yes, they would last longer but you wouldn't have had the advantages of FT 4wd for 160k miles or longer.

-B-

 

[inthewall]

Wanna tow it

Owners man says cant tow with tow bar . I used to tow my tacoma to hunting camp so I wouldnt trash my pickup/camper. Manual hubs should cure this problem if possible to install.any suggestions on hubs would be appreciated.New fj owner

 

[Beowulf]

Trailer it.
-B-

 

[inthewall]

Trailer it.
-B-

Have trailer. 4 more tires, brakes, and wiring to worry about. Plus if the roads get muddy and full of snow I can unhook and keep going or get turned around.
Whole lot simpler on short 100-200 trips. lot of dirt roads here

 

[Tim Scully]

I think a good reason is to stop the front driveline components from turning and the wear associated with it. I could be wrong, but don't most (if not all) of the high milage 80 series have clicking birfields and excess wear on the drive flange splines? wouldn't the front CV's last much longer if not used for daily driving duty?
PMK

The driveline components are turning in the auto as well. Without locking hubs the driveline is going to turn.

Tim

 

[Scooterpilot]

F/t 4x4

Tim,

I reside in California and when driving on road there is no need IMHO, for the vehilce that I drive to be F/T 4X4.

Using locking hubs reduces unnecessary wear and tear on these components and saves fuel. Disconnected front wheels are ‘free’ to turn while axles, differential and drive shaft remain stationary inside the axle housing. This would be a nice option.

Regards,
Chuck

 

[Ian Rogers]

but if it is FT 4wd you will never have to do the dino smog Cr** in CA as they cant load test a FT truck

 

[ridgerunner]

Could you swap in a 6 speed 'case out of a Tacoma?

All wheel drive is completely superfluous for 99% of the owners 99% of the time.

 

[Jetboy]

Could you swap in a 6 speed 'case out of a Tacoma?

All wheel drive is completely superfluous for 99% of the owners 99% of the time.

yup, for you fulltime folks, how often do you break traction or come close enough that the 4wd keeps you from it in your normal daily driving?

I thought the fj used a centered front diff, does the new taco? If I was in the market i'd go for a 4dr. taco anyway, but i'm surprised and dissapointed that toyota doesn't offer this as an option.

I think the mileage would be significant. with gas @$3/gal and increasing 3mpg you would save $2960 over 100k miles, if gas continues to rise or you are in an area now where gas is more like 4/gal then over that 100k miles the difference would be $3947. If gas hits $5/gal which IMO is a real possibility the savings over that same 100k is $4934. In addition the part time would be easier to sell with higher gas prices.

I don't see why it couldn't have the option of all three. Just have allow the front to disconnect with the center locked, or both sides engaged with the center locked or open. All you'd need to add would be a way for the front to disconnect in the part time tcase.

 

[firetruck41]

I think the mileage would be significant. with gas @$3/gal and increasing 3mpg you would save $2960 over 100k miles, if gas continues to rise or you are in an area now where gas is more like 4/gal then over that 100k miles the difference would be $3947. If gas hits $5/gal which IMO is a real possibility the savings over that same 100k is $4934. In addition the part time would be easier to sell with higher gas prices.

It's 1-2 mpg different, 19mpg will cost $1503 more per 100k miles than 21mpg, if fuel is $3/gal. That is 1.5 cents per mile.

Manual w/full time 4x4 16/19
Automatic w/pt 4x4 17/21

 

[Jetboy]

I guess what's hard for me to understand is that my mothers 03 suburban z71 (has a non airodynamic roofrack just like the fjc) gets 18-19mpg on the highway at 80mph with a 5.3l v8. Why cant the fjc get 22-25? It weighs about 1/3 less.

And I'd bet with front hubs and part time 4x4 it would increase by at least 3mpg. just a part time case won't make much difference, although it would make some.

 

[uhoh7]

i wouldn't change my MT-6. Runs real well FT.

 

[Beowulf]

I'll say it again. Those of you that have not owned and driven a Toyota FT 4wd product just don't realize how great the system is. I have a PT 4wd in the Tacoma and FT 4wd in the 80. I love the FT system.

I am also 100% convinced that an automatic is the ONLY way to go for an off-road vehicle that crawls rocks from time to time. Given that I would have to decide between an auto in the FJ Cruiser and the manual, I would probably go with the manual just so I could get the FT 4wd.

The FJs that we drove off-road last weekend were autos and they are extremely easy to control in the rocks and they went through some serious rocks. A good spotter is all you need.

-B-