4x4 dissapointment, HUBS??

[tomiasorensen]

So,

1 month in to owning my first 4X4 I head for the African bush, things go well and we find ourselves in some pretty fabulous places. All very jungle and african. I encounter a tricky bit, dodgey camber and slipper clay stuff with a couple of ruts. I decide now is the time for the 4WD button to be pushed and do so. Then I get stuck, it felt like the car was still in 2 wheel drive with the back tailing aroudn the place and not a lot of steering. Once stuck I was messing about trying to get out until my wife pointed out that the front wheels were not spinning, no 4 wheel drive then....? The light was on teling me it was working and even if i put it in low box, no cigar.

I'm pretty sure it has worked before to get me up a little bank but this was the first time on mud proper and it was clear the front wheels were not doing their work. It might be intemittent though as i say, i have had it feeling like it was working in the past but not sure.

Its a 1998 trooper 3.5l with an auto box. I guess that the front hubs are automatic ones. I am also guessing (hoping) that they are my problem. I can hear a little click adn clunk when i press the 4WD button.

Any ideas about what i can wiggle, hit or poke. Bear in mind that here parts are extremely difficult to get so even parts that are usualy un serviceable suddenly become servicable. If anyone actually understands how automatic hubs work and whether or not you can take them to bits to 'clean' them and service them i would be very grateful. Getting manual hubs here i suspect is prohibitively expensive.

Is there anyway i can tell if i have 4X4 without being on slippery mud? I don't really get 4X4s. Don't get me wrong, I am mechanicaly minded and can fix most stuff just new to 4X4.

Thanks in advance

Tom

[geeves]

That car should have torque on demand in which case there is no hubs but an extra bit on the side of the front diff. If you have hubs they will be obvious on the outside of the wheel.
Best test is to select 4wd then raise a front wheel and turn by hand watching the cv shaft and front driveshaft.Then same on the otherside. If one side fails the other will not work either

[jjcymru]

the later troopers post i.e the 3.0 and 3.5 has hub flanges instead of hubs, so its in constant drive, disconnected by a vacuum operated valve that locks the front halfshaft. undo the four bolts and unseize it, it is the likely culprit

[tomiasorensen]

oooo, that sounds interesting, tell me more about this valva and where it is. 4 bolts you say..... Is that on the hub itself or on the transfer box?

If there are no hubs and it is torque on demand, shouldnt the front wheels have spun, or at least made an effort? If they should, what could i look at first?

Thanks again.

[geeves]

on the side of the front diff

[tomiasorensen]

i see it, mine appears to be behind a little bash gaurd. I will attack in the weekend. Having read a bit more about, am I right to assume that, since i hear a little click clunk, the solenoid switch is ok and, as you say, it is likely to be the actual vacum thing that has gotten stuck?
Is there any dire consequences to undoing those 4 bols, ie terribley hard to find specialist lubricant draining out or a ver delicate, and hard to replace gasket?

[geeves]

The oil is just normal hypoid gear oil with about a 140 grade. Ive never played with this so hopefully someone else can help

[sprey]

On the Tod side of things. I thought Tod was aka 4 Hi like on my Vehicross and once in 4low all the wheels were engaged.

[geeves]

True but in TOD the front diff is disconnected unless needed. This and 4 low are controlled by the disconnect box on the side of the front diff

[tomiasorensen]

yup, okay, still not sorted it out, no time this weekend i'm afriad. I just wanted to say a thanks for all this. I also foudn the trooper manual online so if anyone wants it i can post it. I suspect you already got it though