[oneinkedgeek]

With some help from mates, i finally got the broken alloy diff out of my truck and got the steel diff in my 2002 1600cc GV

1. I know its prob not massive difference, but the steering feels totally different because the diff weighs alot more than the alloy diff. Is there anything I can do to help improve the steering, or is this just a case of getting used to the different setup ?

2. Ive used GV steel housing with older 2 spider carrier with the 26 spline side gears, NOT the vacuum operated free wheel carrier so i can get rid of that stupid air actuator from under the bumper.

Ive got it all bolted up using origional CV's and auto hubs and seems to be good, is there any reason why i shouldnt have used my origional CVs for the old diff which was vacumn operated ?

3. Existing auto hubs remain in use, recommend changing out for manual locking hubs ?

[atari4x4]

you'll want manual hubs on it asap as it's currently turning the CV's, diff center/R&P + front drive shaft & i'd say that's the extra load you're feeling in the steering.

[christover1]

yep, mine heavies up with hubs locked

[fordem]

More out of curiosity than anything else - are you sure there are auto hubs fitted?

You say existing auto hubs - but as far as I can tell what you've just done is fitted a steel GV diff into a 2002 1.6 GV, neither of which would have had auto hubs fitted from the factory, because both of them would have had the pneumatic freewheel in the diff.

[oneinkedgeek]

fordem wrote:

More out of curiosity than anything else - are you sure there are auto hubs fitted?

You say existing auto hubs - but as far as I can tell what you've just done is fitted a steel GV diff into a 2002 1.6 GV, neither of which would have had auto hubs fitted from the factory, because both of them would have had the pneumatic freewheel in the diff.

Actually no im not sure, I just presumed because there were not the manual locking hubs fitted that it meant they were auto locking hubs....

[oneinkedgeek]

atari4x4 wrote:

you'll want manual hubs on it asap as it's currently turning the CV's, diff center/R&P + front drive shaft & i'd say that's the extra load you're feeling in the steering.

Yeah im looking around for some now, I thought that the CV, Diff Center/R&P + front drive shaft always turned in a GV, or was that just the CVs ?

[fordem]

No - the GV has a drive flange - so the CVs, the axles, and the diff center all turn - the freewheel clutch disconnects the ring gear from the center - so the ring & pinion and front drive shaft don't - since you have eliminated the freewheel clutch, you'll be spinning everything back to the transfer case.

[oohsam]

Where are you located mate, I may have some hubs at home in the garages somewhere I can chuck your way.

[russgt]

He is in NZ. Get some free wheel hubs. I installed them and they are great! Paid $80 delivered second hand from a wreckers.

[zoukshin]

GV (swb or not) don't have auto hubs or manual hubs from factory, they just have a connector bolted on the wheel, making the whole assembly rotate at all times.

[oneinkedgeek]

Yip agreed, I took the wheels off to put my new FWH on last night and no auto hubs....

After installing my new FWH ive found the front end is MUCH better, its still a tone heavier in the steering and feels clunky to steer around a roundabout, but of course its kinda expected given the alloy vs steel weight difference.

[oohsam]

Thats funny.
I didn't notice any difference from ally to steel diff on my vitara.
Obviously when the hubs are locked its heavy, you can really notice it, but not when im free wheeling the front.

You must be a super sensitive type of guy!