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front ,free and lock diff

Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2014 7:48 pm
by genesis
Im the proud owner of a vitara 1995 , Do a good bit of off road driving , fields , woods etc through my work , question is changing the diff setting from lock to free everytime i use on the road gets a little tedious , will not changing from locked for road work cause damage ?

Re: front ,free and lock diff

Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2014 8:10 pm
by Darrell
Welcome to the club.
You can leave the front hubs locked all the time.
It just means it will use a little more fuel and wear the front components a bit quicker.
Just don't put it in 4wd on the road.
I would set them to free for longer road journeys though just to save a bit of fuel and prolong the life of the drivegear.

Re: front ,free and lock diff

Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2014 8:14 pm
by genesis
Thanks for that Darrell , Have to say im constantly surprised at where the little vitara will go :)

Re: front ,free and lock diff

Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2014 3:48 pm
by Naylor
Darrell wrote:Welcome to the club.
You can leave the front hubs locked all the time.
It just means it will use a little more fuel and wear the front components a bit quicker.
Just don't put it in 4wd on the road.
I would set them to free for longer road journeys though just to save a bit of fuel and prolong the life of the drivegear.
So I don't need to keep getting in and out to change my hubs every time I come out of 4wd :) I'm happy with that just another question will the hubs make a sort of noise once they are locked ? Not sure how to explain how the noise sounds mybe sort of sounds like a wheel bearing going if u know what I mean only when it's locked in 4 wd

Re: front ,free and lock diff

Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2014 3:51 pm
by ScottieJ
Is it clicking/clunking but most while steering in 4wd?

Could be a CV joint on its way out. Also check the diff oil is clean and topped up.

Re: front ,free and lock diff

Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2014 4:14 pm
by Naylor
Only when it's in 4wd and driving don't get any noise when it's in 2wd

Re: front ,free and lock diff

Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2014 4:34 pm
by ScottieJ
What sort of noise is it? Whirring? Whining? Grinding? Clunking/clicking?

Re: front ,free and lock diff

Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2014 5:52 pm
by Naylor
Whirring sort of noise

Re: front ,free and lock diff

Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2014 8:51 pm
by Naylor
What's the best oil to use in the diff?

Re: front ,free and lock diff

Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2014 9:27 pm
by twiss
You can just use 75/90 transmission fluid