portal boxes for suzuki axles

[the frog]

i'm in the middle of building a very very light 4x4 buggy based on an SJ410(i know, i know, weaker axles than those of the SJ 413...)
i had this vision of portals(geared hubs) for those tiny axles something which would definitely cut the load on them poor axles at least by half.

so, anyone heard/know anything on that peculiar night vision of mine? ? ? ?

[Damo]

Dunno if you get them over there but older VW bus models had a portal box on the rear swingarms. I've thought about doing the same kinda thing but in the end I dont think they'd be very strong. Maybe OK for moderate offroading but if I am going to put that kinda $ and effort in I wanna be able to BEAT on that chit hard and it not to break.

If you are gonna look at it the VW boxes have only 2 gears in them so your output will be reversed. You could flip the diff centres around to counter this, and gain high pinions at the same time. It would be cool, and different, but in the end not really worth it.

Which makes me wonder why Surfection hasn't tried it yet














Just kiddin Jeremy

[Guy]

You will also have issues with the additional torsional loading on the diff housings, they are not really all that heavy to begin with.
You will probarbly find that the housing will begin to twist or split, especially on the long side axle tube.

[antt]

i've often wondered this, get some hummer drop boxes from the states ($US99 second hand, or around $US300 new old stock) and adapt them to zuk axles. dunno if its possible or not, and you have to brace the diff, but just something i'd been dreaming about when bored at work