Thread: Selectro front hubs

Do a little test and see if it is quiter, better on fuel or nicer to drive with the hubs unlocked, if it is unlock them and occasionally take it for a drive with them locked. If not just leave them locked. I've always thought that freewheeling hubs were a bit of a con anyway and on the Pajero and the Maverick I drove could never tell the difference between locked and unlocked.

Regards,
Tote

I leave mine locked. I tried unlocked on one of the Games and I believe it makes it handle worse. This could of course be a pointer to something else needing fixing but I didn't notice any reduction in fuel use so I just don't bother unlocking them now. Unless a small percentage of fuel saving is very important to you I would leave them locked. Standard hubs stay locked anyway and the free wheeling ones were an option.

TimJ.

Originally Posted by Scallops

Folks - Matilda has Selectro hubs fitted

1) Should I just leave them engaged all the time?
2) Should I drive mostly disengaged and just engage them periodically?
3) It doesn't mater either way?

If you choose option 1, you may as well refit standard hubs/drive members - and this would be my choice.
Should you decide to keep the free wheeling hubs I would only disengage them for 90% of your longer drives.

For the low mileage that you are likely to do in Matilda, the wear factor dosen't really come into play and in my experience the (suggested) reduction in fuel consumption would be negligable.

I might add that, possibly through poor servicing or not fully engaging when required, I have known of numerous failures of free wheeling hubs - another reason to revert to the original hubs/drive members.

If you leave them engaged all the time - what is the point in having them?

I have had two series vehicles that were also my everyday drivers - the first was a series 1 which I owned for 8 years - I was doing upwards of 1000km a week at one stage and never has an issue having the hubs unlocked. I did go 4wding in it from time to time so things got lubricated but I am sure is a bit of an old wives tail - stuff not turning so lube not needed.

The second was a series 3 with hubs and again my everyday vehicle and I never used it off road - again I had not issues and owned this vehicle for 5 years.

I found that driving with hubs engaged there was more vibration and noise from the front end - with them disengaged the vehicle was smoother and quieter.

Now these vehicles already has fw hubs and I don't believe the hype about better fuel consumption etc but if fitted why not use them and if the front has a bit of wear they make the car a bit nicer to drive when disengaged.

Garry

I measured fuel consumption in my IIA with hubs free and hubs locked. I found no difference. I then removed them and fitted drive flanges.

I did notice a difference in resistance driving off when I first locked the hube each time - likely due to everything being relubed for the first time in a while.

If you drive with the hubs disengaged and you break a rear half shaft the hand break doesn't work.If this happens on a slope in the middle of town you're lucky,because you can shout at passers by to place something behind a wheel.Of course they can't find anything.In the end you have to take one of your steel capped boots off and throw it out the window while keeping the other firmly on the break pedal.
If this happens in the bush and you're on your own......good luck.Have a guess how I know this.
W.

I had to say "thanks" W ... you gave me a chuckle on busy Friday afternoon in the office
Just to add something "on topic" though. With hubs locked I get added vibration. The fuel economy difference is probably theoretically there but also probably equal to whether there's a passenger in the car or not. So the solution is: throw your passenger out if engaging the hubs (I find the passenger often wants "out" when I engage 4x4).
Cheers
JayBo

Hi All
only use when needed, on a 86
on the black stuff you will get wind up
if the tyres do not slip like they do on dirt ie off road
you will possibly brake something
with wind up you will not be able to unlock the front hubs
to do so you will need to drive in reverse to free them up
if you want to engage them every now and then
do it on a straight road, do not turn corners, only for a distance
when you turn corners, one wheel covers more than the other
this causes wind up
cheers
ian