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Do you still have a front air diff?

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Offline Yankee-Tim

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Do you still have a front air diff?
« on: February 21, 2008, 11:15:05 AM »
How many folks are still running the "shiit-on-the-fly" front air diff?  If you are, why?  Would just like to know.
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Offline beercheck

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Re: Do you still have a front air diff?
« Reply #1 on: February 21, 2008, 11:26:26 AM »
Yep, I am.   

a) It hasn't let me down yet.  When it does, adios.
b) I haven't installed manual hubs yet.  Fully intend to just for the sake of minimizing wear and tear and getting a fractional fuel economy increase, but just haven't yet.


A semi-related story:

When I did the drivetrain swap, I needed to move the truck about 50 miles before I'd had the new rear driveshaft fabricated, and also before I had the e-brake reattached.  I capped off the back of the auto tranny, refilled the tranny and xfer case, put it in 4WD and went on my merry way, fwd-style.  Worked like a charm, until.....

....okay, all the clues are there.  Anybody care to take a stab at finishing the tale?
« Last Edit: February 21, 2008, 11:36:13 AM by beercheck »
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'03 ZR2 2dr Tracker, '02 XL-7 drivetrain and electrcs
XL-7 front coils
1.5" rear coil spacers
Monroe 32316 shocks w/2" extenders
235/70-16 Bridgestone Destination A/Ts on stock XL-7 Alloys RRO Rock Rails (Presently removed, as they rusted to all hell; all the bolts were rusted to dust.  Real nice, RRO...) http://www.trivia-nights.com
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Offline bzzr2

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Re: Do you still have a front air diff?
« Reply #2 on: February 21, 2008, 11:57:06 AM »
i'm still running it with auto hubs, haven't had any issues yet and the dealer treats me real good when i visit.... 
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Offline trackinstile

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Re: Do you still have a front air diff?
« Reply #3 on: February 21, 2008, 12:49:07 PM »
Me too, still havn't failed me yet.  I try to put it into 4WD often just to keep everything moving.  Works so far ;)
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A wise man once said, "Wherever you go...........There you are.............." 2000 Tracker 4 door with the 2.0 liter "Big Block". 5 speed 4WD  2001 XL-7 EX II
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Offline Yankee-Tim

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Re: Do you still have a front air diff?
« Reply #4 on: February 21, 2008, 01:45:27 PM »
Quote from: beercheck on February 21, 2008, 11:26:26 AM
Worked like a charm, until.....

You hit a pot hole and dropped the joint on your lap, which quickly rolled into your Speedo clad groin area and while you jumped around like a mexican bean trying to recover, the changing traffic light when unnoticed resulting in you rear-ending the UPS truck stopped in front of you. :laugh:






You said take a stab at "finishing the tale", not on how it actually ended.
« Last Edit: February 21, 2008, 01:47:22 PM by Yankee-Tim »
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Offline beercheck

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Re: Do you still have a front air diff?
« Reply #5 on: February 21, 2008, 01:57:58 PM »
Quote from: Yankee-Tim on February 21, 2008, 01:45:27 PM
Quote from: beercheck on February 21, 2008, 11:26:26 AM
Worked like a charm, until.....

You hit a pot hole and dropped the joint on your lap, which quickly rolled into your Speedo clad groin area and while you jumped around like a mexican bean trying to recover, the changing traffic light when unnoticed resulting in you rear-ending the UPS truck stopped in front of you. :laugh:

You said take a stab at "finishing the tale", not on how it actually ended.

Anybody know what gets coffee spew out of keyboards?
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'03 ZR2 2dr Tracker, '02 XL-7 drivetrain and electrcs
XL-7 front coils
1.5" rear coil spacers
Monroe 32316 shocks w/2" extenders
235/70-16 Bridgestone Destination A/Ts on stock XL-7 Alloys RRO Rock Rails (Presently removed, as they rusted to all hell; all the bolts were rusted to dust.  Real nice, RRO...) http://www.trivia-nights.com
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Offline IanL

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Re: Do you still have a front air diff?
« Reply #6 on: February 21, 2008, 03:27:27 PM »
I still have mine and I like it.

For the price of a switch and a relay I have 4WDLo, thanks to the pneumatic clutch gear.

I'd fit one to my X-90 if I weren't too lazy!
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Offline 90Stomper

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Re: Do you still have a front air diff?
« Reply #7 on: February 21, 2008, 04:35:02 PM »
NO!!!  put on manual hubs and unhooked within a week after purchase!  but that is just me......  old habits die hard. :laugh:
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but its covered with lots of big 'S's on the inside ;)
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Offline beercheck

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Re: Do you still have a front air diff?
« Reply #8 on: February 22, 2008, 06:32:05 AM »
Alright.  Guess no-one else has learned this particular lesson yet.

Quote from: beercheck on February 21, 2008, 11:26:26 AM
When I did the drivetrain swap, I needed to move the truck about 50 miles before I'd had the new rear driveshaft fabricated, and also before I had the e-brake reattached.  I capped off the back of the auto tranny, refilled the tranny and xfer case, put it in 4WD and went on my merry way, fwd-style.  Worked like a charm, until.....

....I parked it.  While the engine was still running, putting the transmission in "Park" did exactly what it's supposed to do: immobilize the vehicle.  Once the engine was turned off, however, the little vacuum pump that engages the front diff also turned off.  Which meant no more vacuum.  Which meant the front diff was no longer engaged.  Which meant "Park" no longer meant "Park", but rather "Free To Roll Wherever/Whenever You Please". 

That's something to remember if you a) still have the shift-on-the-fly and b) should ever park somewhere where only your front wheels have traction (like if your rears are on an ice patch).  Once you shut it down (or lose a vacuum line or something), that front end is back to freewheeling.
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'03 ZR2 2dr Tracker, '02 XL-7 drivetrain and electrcs
XL-7 front coils
1.5" rear coil spacers
Monroe 32316 shocks w/2" extenders
235/70-16 Bridgestone Destination A/Ts on stock XL-7 Alloys RRO Rock Rails (Presently removed, as they rusted to all hell; all the bolts were rusted to dust.  Real nice, RRO...) http://www.trivia-nights.com
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Offline locjaw

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Re: Do you still have a front air diff?
« Reply #9 on: February 22, 2008, 07:49:29 AM »
Quote from: beercheck on February 22, 2008, 06:32:05 AM
Alright.  Guess no-one else has learned this particular lesson yet.

Quote from: beercheck on February 21, 2008, 11:26:26 AM
When I did the drivetrain swap, I needed to move the truck about 50 miles before I'd had the new rear driveshaft fabricated, and also before I had the e-brake reattached.  I capped off the back of the auto tranny, refilled the tranny and xfer case, put it in 4WD and went on my merry way, fwd-style.  Worked like a charm, until.....

....I parked it.  While the engine was still running, putting the transmission in "Park" did exactly what it's supposed to do: immobilize the vehicle.  Once the engine was turned off, however, the little vacuum pump that engages the front diff also turned off.  Which meant no more vacuum.  Which meant the front diff was no longer engaged.  Which meant "Park" no longer meant "Park", but rather "Free To Roll Wherever/Whenever You Please". 

That's something to remember if you a) still have the shift-on-the-fly and b) should ever park somewhere where only your front wheels have traction (like if your rears are on an ice patch).  Once you shut it down (or lose a vacuum line or something), that front end is back to freewheeling.
it's always freaking hilarious to watch someone chaseing "ghost car"       ROTFLMAO
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1995 Sidekick SAS'd "Trail Slayer"
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Roguevalleyblue

Re: Do you still have a front air diff?
« Reply #10 on: February 22, 2008, 08:21:33 AM »
Hi folks.  Newbie here, been lurking for a few months.

In a word, yes.

Had a 99 GV automatic that was entirely stock.  (Bought it used and had no mechanical issues untill I bent every side but the top while avoiding an idiot pedestrian at 50mph.)  Air valve worked ok in that one.  Now have 2001, again hi milage used, with the only mods being K&N air filter and 29 inch BFG AT KO's (stock wheels).  Air valve works ok.  I actuate the hi and lo 4 wheel about once every 45 days or so to keep the insides of the boxes wet, and keep the air valve from freezing up.

My off road action is riverbed rock with minimal climbing, and, of course, snow and ice in the winter.  And there are infinite 2 tracks in Southern Oregon to follow.

I loved the humor of the FWD experience.

Pat
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Offline Yankee-Tim

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Re: Do you still have a front air diff?
« Reply #11 on: February 22, 2008, 09:12:32 AM »
Reason I ask this is to find out how many GV'rs were locking the front end, via LSD/Detroit/ARB.  Since many GVs came with the steel axle housings, they are great candidates to install a front traction-adding device.

Seems the GV is still not at the age where extreme modifications are common, compared to say the older sister, the Sidekick.  I'm surprised as they are better looking (my opinion), have the big block and make a better trail rig when built.  But the build can be a little daunting.  I had a hard-to-find 26 spline Sidekick inner shaft on Egay, but not a single bid.  I found it odd for a few years back when the swap write up was done, most said that finding the correct 26 spline inner shaft was the hardest bit to acquire and the reason the swap wasn't getting done.  I figured this axle would have been snapped up, but I was wrong. I guess it will be just a matter of time before these trucklets come of age and more available to the wheeling crowd,
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Offline Jeff@TireBalls

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Re: Do you still have a front air diff?
« Reply #12 on: February 22, 2008, 09:56:51 AM »
I did the 5:12 Trackick front 3rd swap and hybrid CV with lockouts to mine. I now have piece of mind that the air system can't fail leaving me stuck. Also, if I break a CV I can unlock the hubs, put it in 2wd and drive home.
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2000 Grand Vitara Limited, 2" lift, 225/75-16 BFG KO's, 5.12 gears, Safari snorkel, roof rack.
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Offline Davyboy

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Re: Do you still have a front air diff?
« Reply #13 on: February 22, 2008, 11:13:46 AM »
Well.....I wish I could say no, but I still have it.  My ring and pinion guy didn't quite understand that when I swapped to 5.12 gears, I wanted him to remove the air actuator in the front, not just put the Sidekick R&P in.  Consequently, I still get a little banging from the front in 4wd (skipping a tooth under torque-load), and still have a chance of pump/vacuum line failure.  So far, no problems, though.  If it fails me, or rather, when it fails me, I just hope I can get off the trail and back home.  Then, I'll replace the whole damn thing.  Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but wouldn't the actuator gear skipping under heavy load (as annoying as it might be) lessen the chances of breaking another component (like an axle)?  If so, that might be reason to consider keeping the air actuator.......food for thought.
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Offline Yankee-Tim

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Re: Do you still have a front air diff?
« Reply #14 on: February 22, 2008, 12:03:43 PM »
I don't like "fusible links" in my drivetrain unless they are an easy trail fix.  One could find themselves into something that full 4x4 got one into, and only full 4x4 would get one out of.  I've been in locations before where breaking any axle or diff component would mean being stranded.
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