[oneinkedgeek]

I smashed the front bumper a few times up in the dunes recently and today decided to take it off in prep for getting a front winch bar.

When i was pulling the bumper off i noticed that there was this small motor bolted into the bumber frame, i traced it back and seems to goto my diff, am i correct in thinking this is the vacum which controls the auto hubs in the front ?

If this is the case, i plan to install manual locking hubs so what do i do with those lines ? just plug em up ?



Here you can see the two lines which connect to it

[atari4x4]

pump for the front diff actuator & no it's not a locker.

[losfer]

its the pump for the actuator inside the diff , not the hubs...

[oneinkedgeek]

cheers, i realise its not a locker, i thought it had something to do with the auto locking hubs

atari4x4 wrote:

pump for the front diff actuator & no it's not a locker.

[GV6]

even if you change to manual hubs, you will need that compressor operating to get 4wd,
without positive pressure from that compressor the front axle will be disengaged.

[oneinkedgeek]

thanks (now im using google to find out what that does).... seems a stupid place to put it given that the front bumper gets put under water fairly often, i think i might mount it up higher somewhere.... would be interested to see what others have done.

losfer wrote:

its the pump for the actuator inside the diff , not the hubs...

[oneinkedgeek]

seems i want to be looking after that little thing then, ill look at mounting it higher.

I presume if I went with an air locker... then it would no longer be needed ?

GV6 wrote:

even if you change to manual hubs, you will need that compressor operating to get 4wd,
without positive pressure from that compressor the front axle will be disengaged.

[GV6]

to get rid of that compressor will mean changing to a direct mechanical type 3rd member and manual hubs.
To get an ARB airlocker you will need a vit 3rd member (and manual hubs).

[klutched]

GV6 wrote:

to get rid of that compressor will mean changing to a direct mechanical type 3rd member and manual hubs.
To get an ARB airlocker you will need a vit 3rd member (and manual hubs).

lolwhat?

You no longer need it once you either put a VITARA CENTER in or an RD88/208 air locker.

To put in any sort of locker a steel diff housing and pinion carrier/3rd member from a manual GV (vitara's have alloy) is recommended.

By 3rd member do you mean diff center?? If you're going to put air lockers in don't buy a vit center as the air locker comes with/is a complete new one (Just need R&P).

[atari4x4]

lolwhat?

you CAN fit a locker to a vitara alloy diff, it's just not recommended for longevity & it's not often that a bare R&P come up... usually they come as a 3rd member. (complete diff centre as remove from the housing with R&P etc)

[klutched]

atari4x4 wrote:

lolwhat?

you CAN fit a locker to a vitara alloy diff, it's just not recommended for longevity & it's not often that a bare R&P come up... usually they come as a 3rd member. (complete diff centre as remove from the housing with R&P etc)

Fixed

Where did this r&p thing come from?

[atari4x4]

klutched wrote:

atari4x4 wrote:

lolwhat?

you CAN fit a locker to a vitara alloy diff, it's just not recommended for longevity & it's not often that a bare R&P come up... usually they come as a 3rd member. (complete diff centre as remove from the housing with R&P etc)

Fixed

Where did this r&p thing come from?

NFI you were the first to mention it...

he might not want a locker and could put the whole alloy 3rd vitara member in if he wanted too, but the vitara R&P is only needed if changing diff ratio's.

anyway, this is going way off-topic.

[fordem]

oneinkedgeek wrote:

thanks (now im using google to find out what that does).... seems a stupid place to put it given that the front bumper gets put under water fairly often, i think i might mount it up higher somewhere.... would be interested to see what others have done.

losfer wrote:

its the pump for the actuator inside the diff , not the hubs...

It's actually a sealed unit, with a vent that runs up the right radiator mount - look for a metal tube with the end turned back 180*, next to the front diff breather line.

[GV6]

fordem wrote:

oneinkedgeek wrote:

thanks (now im using google to find out what that does).... seems a stupid place to put it given that the front bumper gets put under water fairly often, i think i might mount it up higher somewhere.... would be interested to see what others have done.

losfer wrote:

its the pump for the actuator inside the diff , not the hubs...

It's actually a sealed unit, with a vent that runs up the right radiator mount - look for a metal tube with the end turned back 180*, next to the front diff breather line.

Agreed, I've had mine underwater a few times without issue, although i did need to fix a leaking o-ring in the dump valve of the actuator pump when i bought the car (had a flashing 4wd light).

Fordem has an excellent write up on the operation (and repair) of the actuator in the good tech section, titled Grand Vitara front free wheel setup, although for some reason the photo's are missing on that thread ??

[Scrawny]

Here's the thread

viewtopic.php?f=17&t=19613

Photos must've been lost in server change transit

[fordem]

I've edited the thread to link to the images in imageshack - they should be visible now

[oneinkedgeek]

thanks everyone for the replys... fordem mean write up and thanks for sorting the images out, being able to see pics always helps... and ive always wondered what that breather was on the sode of the radiator

Ive now got to work out where to mount that sucka