ZUKIWORLD Online | Suzuki 4x4 Editorial and Forum

ZUKIWORLD Model Specific Suzuki Forum => Suzuki Sidekick, Vitara, Geo Tracker (Gen. 1 Platform) 1989-1998 => Topic started by: johnmckinley on April 18, 2011, 11:26:26 PM

Title: Rear Hubs
Post by: johnmckinley on April 18, 2011, 11:26:26 PM

Planning to tow my newly acquired Tracker behind my motorhome.  Some 4wd vehicles have similar hubs front and rear and thus can use locking/unlocking hubs in the rear for towing.  I know I can just stick the transfer case in neutral for towing, but there is a some concern that not everything in the transfer case gets lubricated in this scenario.  Anyone ever try locking hubs in the rear?

Title: Re: Rear Hubs
Post by: Drone637 on April 19, 2011, 10:47:32 AM

Your fine with just putting the tracker T-Case in neutral.  It's the samurai you are supposed to stop every few hundred miles and run to keep the t-case lubricated.

Title: Re: Rear Hubs
Post by: DonD on April 19, 2011, 03:15:02 PM

Mama Suzuki says:

(http://www.kick-fix.com/FAQ/tow98.jpg)
(http://www.kick-fix.com/FAQ/tow100a.jpg)
(http://www.kick-fix.com/FAQ/tow101b.jpg)
(http://www.kick-fix.com/FAQ/tow102c1.jpg)
(http://www.kick-fix.com/FAQ/tow103D.jpg)
(http://www.kick-fix.com/FAQ/tow104E.jpg)

Title: Re: Rear Hubs
Post by: Drone637 on April 20, 2011, 02:44:57 PM

Huh, I thought it was the Tracker that was fine and the SJ series that needed to do the stop every 200 miles...

Great, now I need to find my manual.

Title: Re: Rear Hubs Thanks for the inputs
Post by: johnmckinley on April 20, 2011, 07:19:38 PM

Thanks for your help guys.  I have a feeling that it is probably a good idea when flat towing to run any vehicle every 200 miles just in case everything isn't getting lubed properly.  After a lot of reading owners manuals at dealerships, etc.  I've found that a surprisingly large proportion of manual transmission vehicles aren't supposed to be flat towed (I guess for fear of bad lubrication).. Interestingly, Ford approves flat towing of the manual Focus while Mazda does not approve the Mazda 3 and both are essentially the same drivetrain.

Regarding rear locking hubs, I see that that won't work because the rear axle is not full floating so the wheel is bolted directly to the end of the axle shaft.

Title: Re: Rear Hubs
Post by: Drone637 on April 21, 2011, 02:11:08 PM

There was a forum member that was working on a full floater conversion on the back, that was pretty sweet.  Then he destroyed his Tracker and switched to a Sammy.  No idea if he finished it.