Automatic Hubs for pajero 1985 model

[tony_88]

hey i was wondering the correct way to unlock the automatic hubs on my i have 1985 pajero auto hubs swb, i was always told to put it in 2wd then reverse but a mate said i should just put it in 2 wheel and drive forward, which is the correct way??

also has anyone converted their automatic hubs to manual?, or isant this possible?

cheers,
tony

[PajeroSRV]

Hi Tony,

The manual says you should reverse 6 meters in 2wd for the auto hubs to unlock. (From memory).

For your money, grab a set of manual ones, the conversion is straight forward (bolt off - bolt on). That is, if you can find a set

[tony_88]

thanks, can you also tell me whats the pro's and con's of auto hubs and how come manual ones are better?? sounds like a dumb question but im new to the 4x4 world haha..,

cheers,
tony

[NCpaj]

well do a search casue there is a bit of writing about this.

in general.

-you can put into 4wd and NOT lock the hubs so you got low range RWD (dont know why)
-manual hubs are stronger than auto hubs

theres a few other points i cant think of them ATM

[PajeroSRV]

He's got a couple of the points there.

Bascailly:

Autos:

Pro:

- Don't ahve to get out of car to engage 4wd

Cons:

Not as strong - rely of a magnetic actuator so can come undone or release at the wrong moment
If they stay locked, it can bind up your transmission and cause a broken t-case chain

Manuals:

Pro's
Strong(er)
Allow you the drive in 2wd low range, this is really only used when reversing a trailer so you can crawl nice & slow
mechanically locks drivetrain rather than relying on the magnetic

Cons:

Have to get out to engage them
Can get stiff and hard to engage if not maintaned properly

[tony_88]

cheers thanks for your help

[clever80]

Hi Tony

I will go against the rest, I had an 85 with auto and as long as you understand them they work well.

This model winds out to engage and as long as you keep drive to them will stay locked, the problem is if you go up something and get stuck and let the car roll back on it's own for more than a meter it will unwind, that is as far as you have to go. What happens next is very dissapointing, you take of and the car sits their while the axel spins eventually it takes up with a bang, not good.

You can beat this by putting it in to revers before you go bakwards and slip the clutch to keep some drive to the wheels.

It is what you should do anyway so it just makes you do the right thing.

Have fun

Craig