4wd to 2wd - people's experiences?

[Lewy]

Following on from my previous posts on wheel shudder. My front tyres have always suffered from castling or raised tread in patches and flat spots. I think that the VC is knackered and I am thinking that I'd like to remove the front wheel drive and run it as a rear only. I know that people have had this done and have read a few posts on it, so my questions are:

Have you had it done?
Did you do it yourself or by someone like 321 away?
And how does your van drive now?

Harry is yours a 2 wheeld drive now?

[waycar8]

Wont it be cheaper to get a second hand VC?, or even a second hand gearbox?, i think you would get a secondhand box for around £300?

i think for what it costs in new tyres for the front it would pay for itself in no time?, how often have you had to change the tyres?

[Lewy]

I thought the job might be cheaper as there were no parts involved - just labour. I reckon I've been through about 3 sets of fronts in three years of ownership - BUT I have racked up the mileage. Its more of a case of the way the fronts wear - the tread pattern gets quite distorted and uneven and raised. So my thinking is...if the VC is on the way out rather than it taking the diff or diffs with it I would get shut.

I wonder how much a second hand VC would be - bearing in mind I am just guessing that this is what the problem is anyway.

[waycar8]

from what i have read on here in the past, castling is the VC that on its way out, but i can see you logic in just disconecting the front diff, maybe cheaper option, but its only hiding the problem not fixing it. if the VC is gelling its on its way out so no doubt it will knack the rear one over time

[Lewy]

So how do I know if the VC is gelling - can I not replace the fluid in it? Do you think that if I put some new tyres on the front to match the new rear tread it might put less strain on the VC and prolong its life? I run 215 65 15 and 195 70 15 as per the book.

[waycar8]

from what i can remember is that as long as your wheels are in 1% of the rolling distance from manufacturers guide then you shouldnt get windup,but different tread depths on the front and rear will cause wear on the VC, the VC i think once its started to go its non repairable but i am not 100%.

I think Dandy is your main man to talk to on VC saga, (thats whos post i have read on the wear and tear of VC in the past)

[parabat2]

It is possible to get the VC reconditioned, with new fluid. Mine cost £300 to have done.

(At least, that's what the garage claimed they had done .)

[dandywarhol]

So how do I know if the VC is gelling - can I not replace the fluid in it? Do you think that if I put some new tyres on the front to match the new rear tread it might put less strain on the VC and prolong its life? I run 215 65 15 and 195 70 15 as per the book.

VC checking here
http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... 888#155888

[dandywarhol]

[Lewy]

It is possible to get the VC reconditioned, with new fluid. Mine cost £300 to have done.

(At least, that's what the garage claimed they had done .)

Parabat - why did you have to have the VC reconditioned - what were the symptons?

[dandywarhol]

Never done it but there's a fact sheet about removing the front propshaft to convert to 2WD

[parabat2]

Parabat - why did you have to have the VC reconditioned - what were the symptons?

It started with the front diff whining, then leaking oil. As it happens, I didn't notice any strange wear on the tyres.

[Harry]

Fed up with regularly breaking the bearings on my prpshafts (all 8 bearings replaced at least twice in 3 years I finally took a leap of faith a few months ago. Prior to the change I was also getting castling and flat spots on my front tyres.

I consulted the factsheet on converting to 2WD and didn't fancy the rigmarole of removing all the 'drive' bits from around the front diff.

After a long chat with my friendly garge he reconed that if we simply removed the front propshaft and plug blanked the diffs we should be ok.

To back this up I also got a new 'landrover spec' rear propshaft specially made which cost me just under £250.

Three months on and several tens of thousands of kilometers travelled (including the south of France last week) I've had no problems whatsoever (touch wood).

The mpg has marginally improved and I'm no longer going through tyres at the rate I did before.

The handling is a bit different (no more point and go) but you quickly get used to it.

I do miss the 4wd as I have to be a bit more careful where I go off road.

Overall, I'm pleased with the result and the money saved.

As I've no intention (or hope) of selling the van (239,000km on the clock) I'll be running her till she falls apart so I'm not worried about the resale value. She's probably worth more in spares anyway.

cheers

H

[Lewy]

Thanks Harry - is the VC still part of the equation if you do this? And can you leave the front CV joints as they are?

I will check the fact sheet too.

Thanks again for your reply - it might not come to it but its an option.

[Harry]

I was informed by my mechanic that the VC forms part of the transfer box in the middle of the vehicle and gives 'play' allowance between the front and rear propshafts. If the VC is buggered then the propshafts are mismatched, hence the pressure comes onto the bearings.

Both the front and rear diffs are normal diffs.

We've done absolutely nothing to the fron end except remove the prpshaft and blank off the hole.

hope this makes sense.

H