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So, let me get this straight. I have a SIII 109 that I have just purchased. It has FWH, I also have the originals.
Should I be locking them in for around town? Should I put the originals back on? I get the impression that the original owner only ever used them when going 4wd'ing. Do I need to check anything if this is the case?
All help appreciated!
Nathanial
My experience. I drove about 1/4 million miles (yes miles) from new in my S3 wagon with FWH. No problems at all. I tried to remember to lock them about once a week, the rest of the time I drove around with them unlocked unless I needed them.
They'd be getting a bit old now though.
so long as you lock them up at least once a week you minimise the risks (and take it for a reasonble length drive). better is to leave them locked and only unlock them if your going to do a long trip or perhaps to punt something back in low 2.
but the first checks are to grab the front propshaft at the slip joint and wiggle it, any movement is bad then jack it up on the spring plates unbolt the steering rods and turn the wheels by hand, any resistants or notching in the motion of the swivel is bad. then grab the wheel top and bottom and give it a rock if theres any movement in and out at the top/bottom you could also be in trouble BUT that check is also the one you do for wheel bearings.
I leave my FWH engaged all the time. I wouldn't advise using low range with them unlocked - I don't think its wise to send all that torque to the rear axle, they aren't overly strong to start with. Best to spread it across all four wheels
if your series has got the sals in the rear end you could probabley drive it around in low range with the whole front axle assembly removed and not hurt the rear axle setup. you'll stall all of the original landrover motors first or blow out the gearbox/tcase before that thing gives up....
They're using the same diff setup in the perenties and the counties and they had the suzi and v8s pushing them..
Cheers fella's. My SIII does have the sals diff in the rear.
Thanks Blknight.aus for the checks I can do and other posters for their 2c. :)
Nathanial
G'day Folks :)
I have had Freewheel hubs on my 2a since 1992, AVM's and have had no trouble with them, BUT I engage them for about 50 miles in every 500 miles, which for me would have been a trip to Brisbane down the gateway expressway in High/2 range, but it is imperitive that you have EP 90 in the swivell hubs and NOT grease, as the grease (irrespective of how fluid it is) will not lube the universals in the hub, I suppose that this vehicle would have done 230,000 miles plus in the 16 years it has been on the road, with no noticable wear to the splines, I try to keep the vehicle clean and the front and rear propshaft rubber sleeves in good condition:)
cheers