Front Diff & Steering Problems !!!

[Johnny Trackabout]

I have a 79 series cruiser. Last 2 times I competed I smashed the crown wheel and pinion front end on both occasions needless to say it's becoming a fairly expensive habbit !!
Does anyone have any views/ideas or maybe put me onto the right poeple
to fix my problem ? I've been told thet I could put a GU diff in to solve the problem or maybe a Dana60 at a great expence.
The other problem I'm having is with the steering. It all starts out good when competing but as you get towards the end of the coarse everything has heated up and this seems to reduce the turning circle quite dramaticly causing a big time loss in timed events.
I generally run 37"or 38"claws on my rig with 2"wheel spacers on the front & rear, not sure weather this is causing to much stress in the front end.
I look forward to any feedback or comments you guy's might have

Cheers

Johnny Trackabout

[sierrajim]

How exactly is your steering "fading"?

- front diff lock not disengaging
- CV's overheating
- steering fluid getting too hot and loosing its viscosity

Re smashing your front diffs, go the Datsun diffs as parts are easier to get than the Dana 60's or back off the throttle a bit. Speed isn't always the winner, finishing usually is.

In what condition are your swivel hubs, king pins and bearings?

[dave]

Do you have the high pinion diff in the front like an 80's if so it just to small for major abuse! no bigger than a hilux diff. Put a 60's diff with longs in it .

[RV80]

Run an auto trans cooler on the power steering.

[Mytqik]

I would have thought that building a semi-custom front diff using toyo parts would be the way to go. I would start with a 80 series front diif (do these have the same suspension points as a 79 series?? IF not modify these to suit the 79 suspension) and then cut the pumpkin out & weld in one from a HJ60/HJ75 front end. This would also be a great opportunity to rotate the pinion around to reduce your driveline angles.

This would have to be the strongest diff possible, because you would have the large 80 series CV's along with the larger 9.5" CW&P. It would also mean that your front & rear diffs centres are exactly the same & you may get away with carring less spare sparts with you to events.

I beleive that the LCMP recovery vehicle/comp truck has done this, as they were suffering the same problems as you.

[sierrajim]

Mytqik,

Going down that line it maybe worth just going for 60 series diffs. Wider (no more wheel spacers), 6 stud not 5, cheaper on parts and get some CV's from haultech.

[Mytqik]

Mytqik,

Going down that line it maybe worth just going for 60 series diffs. Wider (no more wheel spacers), 6 stud not 5, cheaper on parts and get some CV's from haultech.

True, but if you line up the 80 series CV's next to the 60/75 series they are noticably bigger. I would agree with you if it was a DD, but as this is comp rig, I would have thought the intial outlay of the diff housing would be worth it.

[Mytqik]

Have a look at the photos in this thread.

http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/PHP_Modul ... hp?t=42363

[sierrajim]

Will an 80 series CV fit into a 75 series diff and swivel hub? or even into a hilux?

[Mytqik]

Will an 80 series CV fit into a 75 series diff and swivel hub? or even into a hilux?

In the thread above, Beanz2t mentioned that a HZJ75/Hilux wont fit into a 40 swivel hub & I can't see the early HJ75 swivel hub being that much bigger than a 40.

Since the 80 CV is even bigger again, I would say no, but worth a try if you have the part lying about.