If you unlock the hubs, you can leave the centre in an still drive the car.

thanx for the offer fatzook, but im hoping to go have a look at a whole 4 door vitara next weekend. its also a j20 5 speed so im hoping it will have the same diff ratio.

the hubs definately arent locking at all. i jacked up and had both front wheels off the ground and the hubs werent locked. i turned the axles and tailshaft by hand and could only turn all 3 half a turn.
i want to remove the centre to work out what is broken and hence what i need to replace. problem is that the missus needs to drive it to work every day so i need it to be driveable when i pull the diff out.

thanx for the offer fatzook, but im hoping to go have a look at a whole 4 door vitara next weekend. its also a j20 5 speed so im hoping it will have the same diff ratio.


edit...and we have been driving it like this for a month, just havent done any 4wdriving in it til now!!

the auto hubs definately werent in with it in 4 lo and the ignition on. i spun both wheels with them in the air and the axles didnt move. does the motor need to be running, or is there a trick to getting the auto hubs in with the wheels in the air?

Before you do that, take the auto-hubs off and go for a short drive in 4WD and see if it still happens. That way the front axles/drivetrain will be able to spin freely with zero pressure on them. Hell even just go up and down the driveway should be able to confirm one way or the other.

If it still makes a noise, then yes chances are the centre is knackered. It still sounds like sticky auto hubs to me though from what you have said.

The front tailshaft etc can be a bitch to turn by hand so I wouldn't take that as a definitive sign that the centre is toasted.

bah the guy whos selling it just said it was 2lt so i was hoping for a spare j20. well at least i can use the diff. was hoping to use the air con out of it as well but id guess the brackets will be different for the compressor to mount to the engine.

wouldnt mind removing the driveshaft so i dont have to worry about it dropping, but id imagine the transfer case will spit all its oil out then.

bah the guy whos selling it just said it was 2lt so i was hoping for a spare j20. well at least i can use the diff. was hoping to use the air con out of it as well but id guess the brackets will be different for the compressor to mount to the engine.

wouldnt mind removing the driveshaft so i dont have to worry about it dropping, but id imagine the transfer case will spit all its oil out then.

i wont use the quote feature again as it seems ill fuk it up!!

ahh well thats my problem then with the hubs. think i might go with your suggestion and remove them and go for a spin. time to go for a search on here again.

Big zipties will hold your tailshaft and back, your passenger side cv up an hold the degreaser cap on your drivers side hub.
Mines been like it for a few months

Might be stating the obvious but did you have the back tyres off the ground when you tried to turn the front drive shaft in 4lo? You mentioned only the fronts were off the ground or did I read it wrong?