Should I replace my Viscous Coupler as PM? (1 Viewer)

[Delancy]

If anyone has a functioning VC that they took out and it is laying around taking up bench space in the garage and you want to get rid of it, I will pay postage. I would like to get inside and see what is going on and I would like to see if draining the silicon fluid and replacing it with something heavier to give more "limited slip" is possible.

You need a woman.

If I can find (the VC, not woman) I'll send you mine.


Edited: Last I saw it, it was stacked on top a few other novelties, ie F blocks, 3 and 4 speed MT/TC combos, in the corner by the semi float axles and 80 running boards.

 

[Tools R Us]

If anyone has a functioning VC that they took out and it is laying around taking up bench space in the garage and you want to get rid of it, I will pay postage. I would like to get inside and see what is going on and I would like to see if draining the silicon fluid and replacing it with something heavier to give more "limited slip" is possible.

We actually replaced one, all others have just removed and cut the failed one open. Used the lathe to cut through the weld, when released, the end cap went flying and caught the owner in the jewels, the rest of us were amused, the owner, not so much! So, use care, at least that one had pretty good pressure in it.

I don't see how it could be repaired? If it were drilled, there are so many plates in it, packed full, don't see the fluid draining out?

 

[scottryana]

Tools, do you think that was after the fluid was all cooked though? That is kind of what I am thinking is that the black junk is basically burnt fluid that ends up causing it to lock up. If you opened a working unit, would it still be fluid?

 

[scottryana]

If you speak german here is a rebuild of the VC from a Syncrovan. But the design looks quite similar except for they have snap rings holding theirs together, but it does make me think that the black s*** inside is indeed burnt fluid.

T3 2wd goes syncro

 

[inkpot]

All an exercise in futility. I have ridden in several rigs that had the VC deleted while we installed Krawler gears. NO obvious difference to the educated passenger. Mine will be deleted the first time I have to open up the transfer case. John

 

[Tools R Us]

For sure burnt fluid, way sticky, nasty, gooey, will not wash off your hands, etc.

 

[scottryana]

Yeah I don't know @inkpot I think for off-road it is probably futile since you could just lock the center diff. But I would think for on-road in bad conditions it could be a nice addition. Having a functioning limited slip center diff in slick conditions like bad rain or hard packed snow or ice would beat locking the center diff. And I do kind of believe that the reason most people don't feel a difference is that it worsens over time. Even if you owned your 80 since new you aren't comparing the VC performance to when it was new you are just experiencing the difference from the day or week before it failed, etc.

SO difference in 20 year old VC and no VC, yeah probably not a big deal. difference between maybe slightly beefed up VC and 20 year old VC, might be a drastic difference.

If you had the choice between open diffs in your axles and limited slips which one would you choose?

 

[Delancy]

Lockers, stupid!!

LSD is for Chebbies and hippies.

 

[scottryana]

Lockers suck on-road and ice

Throw your CDL on and drive around for a few days. lol. So that leaves you with either open or "limited slip" I think limited slip is a nicer option. Sure some of the VC's died and locked up after ummm 20 years, but so did the fan clutches and you don't see people just putting a bolt through them and locking them

 

[Howard705]

With the vc removed it's still full time 4x4 and in everyday driving slickish surfaces-rain/snow/dirt road- with no articulated suspension (flat) it will still drive well (all 4 tires getting plenty of torque) and pull hard. If you get to very bad traction just lock it. NP 203s were full time with no lsd in all the Ford Dodge GM throughout the 70s. Jeep had Quadratrack which was full time with a lsd-and giving the same help as vc. Jeep had another tc in the 90s in Grand Cherokees with a vc that froze up exactly like an 80 can. I'm willing to bet nobody could tell the vc is removed (unless hearing this klunk some speak of) and that it only gives a few % actual improvement over open in real world-open center tc diff -NOT PART TIME TC.

 

[dogfishlake]

I think in daily driving situations in all kinds of weather, that viscous coupler is a big helper that goes unnoticed. The situation is that surprising instant major loss of traction, the ice on an overpass, big puddle on the e-way at 75mph, etc. That situation is come and gone before you can even reach the cdl. The coupler offers just enough resistance from being one wheel drive and loss of traction. This is the same reason I don't care for part time kits. I want everything the designers of the 80 series offered.

 

[LS1FJ40]

CDL locked is the last thing you want on ice, in my experience.

 

[LS1FJ40]

So, is the viscous coupler the first drive train step towards Toyota making the Land Cruiser a Mall Cruiser? Serves no real purpose other than to make the ride smoother and without the clunk. Is this a fair understanding?

 

[Delancy]

Is this a fair understanding?

Uhhhh.....did you forget you're in the 80 forum?

The VC is the baddest ass traction control device......ever and, coupled with the ABS/LSPV/SRS, unequivocal safety, intuitive to oversized tires, lifts, excessive GVWs (racks, bumpers, lights, kitchen sink) and compensatory.

It's da bomb.

(Confession: I had nine hairs left before diving into a wire harness swap, that I now know consists of an unknown column, '78 (11/'77) original harness, with a '77 (9/'77) rebuilt donor harness.

I now have two hairs left, pissed that the utter simplicity has me stumped, and every time I google for an answer to whatever dunbass question I think will solve all problems, I come back to mud, see alerts, and, this being the only active thread, vent.

I'd apologize, but instead.)

 

[Delancy]

@scottryana

If you wanna give LSD a try, I can mail you some.























VMJ73 came equipped with OE 4.56 LSD, granted only one will fit in your rear.

 

[scottryana]

Hmmm very tempting! I am going to do LSDs front and rear but I am going to have to do an axle swap from one truck to the other. So my grey LX gets the factory E-lockers and my black LX gets LSDs.

I was planning on trutracs since they are a gear driven system with no clutches and no additives.

Do you know that the OE LSD is?

And I don't care what anyone says I am going to try and drain a VC with a small hole putting it in a warm oven for a day or so and then add some 100-150k fluid and patch it up. Lol

 

[scottryana]

Was your VC removed before or after your tip over? /case closed

Just fxxxing with you. I don't think it's a be all end all, and I think the LSPV and a lot of 80's junk could go, but what the hell, at this point it's all just an experiment isn't it? Lol

Uhhhh.....did you forget you're in the 80 forum?

The VC is the baddest ass traction control device......ever and, coupled with the ABS/LSPV/SRS, unequivocal safety, intuitive to oversized tires, lifts, excessive GVWs (racks, bumpers, lights, kitchen sink) and compensatory.

It's da bomb.

(Confession: I had nine hairs left before diving into a wire harness swap, that I now know consists of an unknown column, '78 (11/'77) original harness, with a '77 (9/'77) rebuilt donor harness.

I now have two hairs left, pissed that the utter simplicity has me stumped, and every time I google for an answer to whatever dunbass question I think will solve all problems, I come back to mud, see alerts, and, this being the only active thread, vent.

I'd apologize, but instead.)

 

[Tools R Us]

I think in daily driving situations in all kinds of weather, that viscous coupler is a big helper that goes unnoticed. The situation is that surprising instant major loss of traction, the ice on an overpass, big puddle on the e-way at 75mph, etc. That situation is come and gone before you can even reach the cdl. The coupler offers just enough resistance from being one wheel drive and loss of traction. This is the same reason I don't care for part time kits. I want everything the designers of the 80 series offered.

Agree, in theory that would be the use, fluid coupling so relatively smooth engagement. The thing is, it's not instant, takes significant wheel spin to make it work, or that is how the ones that I have played with work.

 

[Tools R Us]

So, is the viscous coupler the first drive train step towards Toyota making the Land Cruiser a Mall Cruiser? Serves no real purpose other than to make the ride smoother and without the clunk. Is this a fair understanding?

It may not fit your agenda, at the time the VC was new tech and was thought to have value. Likely not the first auto gadget that didn't live up to it's billing?

 

[LS1FJ40]

It may not fit your agenda, at the time the VC was new tech and was thought to have value. Likely not the first auto gadget that didn't live up to it's billing?

I have two 92s so I don't have the VC anyway. I have had a 94 and a 96. Didn't have the 94 long enough to really notice a difference. The 96 never saw much off road, was more of a garage queen so couldn't say I ever noticed it.