FWHs on a Defender

[Larry]

Do my eyes deceive me or does this 130 have free wheeling hubs?:eek2:

carsales.com.au (https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/details/2015-land-rover-defender-manual-4x4-my15/SSE-AD-13898915/?Cr=0&gts=SSE-AD-13898915&gtsSaleId=SSE-AD-13898915&gtsViewType=showcase&rankingType=showcase)

No mention of them in the description.[bighmmm]

[DieselLSE]

Looks like it. Who's game to ask Wes?

[JDNSW]

Certainly looks like it. I seem to remember from many years ago, when the first coil spring 110s appeared, that there was a fairly brief vogue of converting them to part time four wheel drive, and someone made a kit to convert the transfer case. This meant that there was a market for the hubs to fit coil sprung Landrovers, and I have heard of them being fitted to the rear-rear axle of 6x6s.

But it is many years since i have heard of it being done on a four wheeled one.

[Robmacca]

I can see the advantage in running FWH's... if u happen to break a front axle/CV, all u would need to do is remove the front driveshaft and unlock your hubs... (providing CV damage is not too severe)

[JDNSW]

Well, yes - but in over sixty years driving a variety of four wheel drives (including landrovers 1959-2022) and being round them all my life pretty much, I have never seen a broken CV in a four wheel drive.

[rar110]

I can see the advantage in running FWH's... if u happen to break a front axle/CV, all u would need to do is remove the front driveshaft and unlock your hubs... (providing CV damage is not too severe)

You can achieve the same effect on standard setup, just remove the front prop shaft and lock the centre diff to push drive to the rear axle.

[DieselLSE]

You can achieve the same effect on standard setup, just remove the front prop shaft and lock the centre diff to push drive to the rear axle.
Not quite. The wheels will still turn and keep scrunching the broken bits. But I agree that it doesn't make sense to fit FWHs. If you are that concerned about a broken CV, then you could simply carry a pair of FWHs and fit them when and if necessary. Or upgrade to stronger CVs. Or don't drive in such a cavalier manner that destroys CVs.

[POD]

There's a perception amongst some people who were around 4wds in the 70s and 80s that full-time 4wd results in unnecessary wear on the front axle components and increased fuel consumption. That perception was behind part-time 4wd conversions by a small cohort of owners. Never mind that every manufacturer has moved to full-time 4wd in recent years / decades.

[DazzaTD5]

re broken half shaft or broken cv, as other have mentioned, drop the front shaft and remove the drive flange, tape a rag over the end, lock centre diff and drive home.

fitting FWH to a constant 4x4, what a ridiculous idea.

[scarry]

There's a perception amongst some people who were around 4wds in the 70s and 80s that full-time 4wd results in unnecessary wear on the front axle components and increased fuel consumption. That perception was behind part-time 4wd conversions by a small cohort of owners. Never mind that every manufacturer has moved to full-time 4wd in recent years / decades.

My father was one of those,had the front prop shaft off the S1,whenever it was not needed,or he thought so,i can remember having it stuck with no front shaft fitted more than once[bighmmm]Once in the driveway,at home,the capstan winch was handy,as there were lots of trees around.

The New Defender has actually gone the other way,for fuel consumption,being 2WD,with some fancy engagement for the front if needed,apparently.
Saves some rediculously small amount of fuel,and more things to go wrong and wear out......

[Robmacca]

You can achieve the same effect on standard setup, just remove the front prop shaft and lock the centre diff to push drive to the rear axle.

Yes, but the Front Diff Centre will continue to rotate due to the drive flanges still in place, potentially causing more damage.

[DazzaTD5]

hence removing the drive flanges..

also being realistic... if you only have a small drive home or to your fav repairer, then just locking the centre diff only will be fine.

also, i have yet to see a broken fine spline half shaft that wasnt being hard core offroaded at the time.
its reasonably common on an old course spline Perentie.

[rar110]

Yes, but the Front Diff Centre will continue to rotate due to the drive flanges still in place, potentially causing more damage.

Good point.

[rar110]

Not quite. The wheels will still turn and keep scrunching the broken bits. But I agree that it doesn't make sense to fit FWHs. If you are that concerned about a broken CV, then you could simply carry a pair of FWHs and fit them when and if necessary. Or upgrade to stronger CVs. Or don't drive in such a cavalier manner that destroys CVs.

True, I was just think of drive.

[86mud]

Forget about the FWH's....what about the bend up front mudflaps...now that's doing my head in! [biggrin]

[Tins]

Well, yes - but in over sixty years driving a variety of four wheel drives (including landrovers 1959-2022) and being round them all my life pretty much, I have never seen a broken CV in a four wheel drive.

Haven't been around too many IFS Nissotas, John?

[Tins]

Wonder why they didn't go the whole hog and fit a pair to the rear as well.

[Larry]

Forget about the FWH's....what about the bend up front mudflaps...now that's doing my head in! [biggrin]
I didn't notice those.:whistling:
They make you look fast while you're standing still.:lol2:

[JDNSW]

Haven't been around too many IFS Nissotas, John?

No. Are they real four wheel drives?

[Tins]

No. Are they real four wheel drives?

Jury is still out. The owners seem to think so though.

[scarry]

Haven't been around too many IFS Nissotas, John?

Usually tuned and being flogged at the time.

D4 is not immune either,as some on here have unfortunately found out.

[one_iota]

Sadly (for the loss of the past) or thankfully (for our future) real constant four-wheel drive (like axle articulation) is no longer required. It has been rendered redundant. It requires effort. That effort requires energy. Energy requires fuel. The new Defender is only four-wheel drive when that is required. Sorry, it is no longer your choice. The FWH has come of age but now the machine will choose when the conditions require it. How much and when you put fuel into the fuel tank is the outcome.

[rar110]

Sadly (for the loss of the past) or thankfully (for our future) real constant four-wheel drive (like axle articulation) is no longer required. It has been rendered redundant. It requires effort. That effort requires energy. Energy requires fuel. The new Defender is only four-wheel drive when that is required. Sorry, it is no longer your choice. The FWH has come of age but now the machine will choose when the conditions require it. How much and when you put fuel into the fuel tank is the outcome.

It’s interesting to compare the official fuel consumption figures for Toyota Fortuna vs Prado. They are very similar except Prado is permanent 4WD and Fortuna part time. The Fortuna uses 0.5lt/100km less in urban use and 0.3lt less combined. It prob adds up to about 100lts less diesel per year. I wonder whether it’s worth the fuel saving. I suppose JLR is trying to get the benefit of both in new Defender (and similar effect to FL2, DS and Evoque drive).

[Tins]

It’s interesting to compare the official fuel consumption figures for Toyota Fortuna vs Prado. They are very similar except Prado is permanent 4WD and Fortuna part time. The Fortuna uses 0.5lt/100km less in urban use and 0.3lt less combined. It prob adds up to about 100lts less diesel per year. I wonder whether it’s worth the fuel saving. I suppose JLR is trying to get the benefit of both in new Defender (and similar effect to FL2, DS and Evoque drive).

These days they seem to think electric power steering is worth the fuel savings. Of course, they average the emissions and fuel usage out over their entire line, and thus 0.3 lt adds up. It's also why Toyota could build big LCs. They are off-set by the 'efficient' hybrids they sell to the masses. It's also why Ford is building the Lightning. They will continue to build the huge V8 ones as well, as the market wants both.

[scarry]

It’s interesting to compare the official fuel consumption figures for Toyota Fortuna vs Prado. They are very similar except Prado is permanent 4WD and Fortuna part time. The Fortuna uses 0.5lt/100km less in urban use and 0.3lt less combined. It prob adds up to about 100lts less diesel per year. I wonder whether it’s worth the fuel saving. I suppose JLR is trying to get the benefit of both in new Defender (and similar effect to FL2, DS and Evoque drive).

The Fortuna may also weigh less.
For me I would rather put up with a very small increase in fuel consumption than have some complicated clutch set up that will no doubt be very expensive to repair.As one iota says,we probably will have no say in it.LR say it saves .7L/100,so in real driving maybe 1/2 that.Keeping tyres at the right pressure would probably make more difference.

[rar110]

The Fortuna may also weigh less.
For me I would rather put up with a very small increase in fuel consumption than have some complicated clutch set up that will no doubt be very expensive to repair.As one iota says,we probably will have no say in it.LR say it saves .7L/100,so in real driving maybe 1/2 that.Keeping tyres at the right pressure would probably make more difference.

The Fortuna weighs about 5% less than the Prado.

[Tombie]

The Fortuna weighs about 5% less than the Prado.

Yes... however the Fortuner is also smaller...

55mm lower
200mm shorter
30mm narrower

So lot less drag