100 Series with I*#@S

Bear
I'm hoping it will allow me to ease up some of these tracks a little easier, and not have to give it as much (fingers crossed)
Thanks Steve J

Thanks Roachie,
I did look at the Patrols but didn't fit into them and the changing of seats was a pain as there is about a foot difference in height between the Minister of Finance and myself
Steve J

How does the 120 prado front diff compare to the cruiser's? Much trouble there?

Shevy.... Not sure, but I don't recall hearing any horror stories about the 120's on here. The only bloke I know with one is Muddy Doe (aka Steven L) and he's had no worries with his as far as I know....but it's still only really new.
We did have one tag along with us up to the top of Mt Arden (north of Pt Augusta) recently on Anzac weekend and it did it easily (but then again, so did a dual cab Courier- so i guess that wasn't a huge test, eh?).

Roachie - I just checked your vehicles specs - WHAT A LIST! do you live in that thing or something? Your truck has become my new benchmark.

The 120 Series has a much beefier front doff and CV set up than the previous 90 series Prado.

The diff is actually the same as the old 80 series rear, although with a few mods here and there (therefore not technically the same, but the same heritage)

I'f given mine a hiding with 285's and no drama as yet.

Same design runs the 180Kw V6 andthe V8 frmo the 100 series is in the prado in the US markets, so it can take the pounding.

The front diff of the 100 can be broken is it is shock loaded, or loaded when in reverse. 80's had a similar problem.

Fitting lockers can help as they are a stronger centre.

One 'fix' for the 80 was fitting a solid machined spacer instead of the factory collapsable one. might be an option on the 100.

GU's have their drama too, 2.8's doing heads, 3.0 (early ones) doing motors, 4.2's and 3.0's doing gearboxes, cracking rear spring mounts, flywheels cracking,

I could start going through all the faults that are fairly common with all models, but i don't have time....

Just be happy with your purchase. If you aren't, trade it in. All cars are great, All cars have Faults... Deal with it.

Schevchenko....don't say things like that to Roachie....he will get a swollen head....hahahahaha

Hey Willie,

Far too late for that.....(ie: swelled head syndrome!!) LOL

Everytime I add something else to the pootrol, my head swells inversely proportional to the size of the shrinkage of my wallet!!!! LOL

Schevy.......I'm often falsely accused by SWMBO of spending more time on or under the 'trol than on or under her. So I guess it could be said I do almost live in the bloody thing........but it makes for a cool "doghouse" when I've been too much of a mongrel. hahahaha

Correct me if I am wrong, but i reckon that most failures are probably bought about when one front wheel is in the air, (spinning at twice driven speed due to other front wheel being stationary) and then suddenly getting traction. The crown/pinion suddenly goes from effectively no load to being fully loaded.

If a locker was operating, the front diff is still driving the wheel with traction (ie, no front wheel is stationary) and the wheel in the air is not spinning at double speed. When it does finally find traction, there is no shock load on the crown/pinion.

So, IMHO, a locker should help significantly in preventing this type of breakage. But if you want to stop it altogether, get a Patrol ;-)

Cheers

Captain

Captain,
I hoping your right, with these purchases of front and rear lockers $2800 installed, it's a big hole in my pocket after all the other toys on it.
Steve J

With lockers you have no warranty on any of the front driveline now:-(

Leroy

WRONG.

You will only lose the warranty on the Diff centre itself.

The Manufacturer will have to prove that the diff Lock caused another failure. Very hard to do.

But they will probably mark you vehicle down with a note on your next service ;) As i know my old GU and a few others had this. Means the State Service Field officer had to visit and approve all warranty work.

Steve

freshn,

There is also a school of thought that the fitting of the ARB locker reduces flexing og the Crown and pinion. The problem I see with these failures is you never really no when the damage was done. Quite often they break in non extreme situations but days earlier the vehicle may have been rock crawling. Remeber the diff doesn't break until the crack lets go!

With Mr Lexic rigid axle the damage may have been done earlier in the day when he tried bulldozing a rock with his front wheel. Who know's??

I don't know about being so wrong. I think you would have one hell of a fight on your hands if you had to make a claim.Toyota owners that have already made some sort of driveline warranty claim are being knocked back for subsequent claims. A mate with a locker in his Prado had a CV claim knocked back. $1800 later.....back on the road.

Leroy

Well, your statement that fitting lockers voicds the drivetrain warranty was wrong, it doesn't.

but... you are correct in saying that the dealer has something they can blame... and will refuse warranty. this is where the relationship with the owner of the vehicle and dealer will come into it.

A classic example is GoodWill. Dealers and Manufacturers often replace things as goodwill. therefore they are not accepting liability for the failure (by putting is down as warranty) but will pay for it.

If you look after the dealer, by purchasing the vehicle and returning to get it serviced there as per the book, you generally get more in the way of goodwill, even outside of warranty.

In the case of a 100series, it is quite easy to argue that the vehicle is sold with factory fitted difflocks front and rear. Therefore the vehicles drivetrain can handle the extra strain placed by using them. The can claim the owner failed to use them properly (which is often the case..) or that the car was pushed beyond its limits (which again is often the case). Warranty covers manufacturers defects. It doesn't cover someone destroying something by pushing the vehicle too hard.

Diffs and CV's commonly break when the vehicle is in the high levels of the tacho... some lock to lock or heavy steering and when the vehicle bounces and the wheel is suddenly loaded up by making contact with the ground.

Prado CV failure is fairly common, but often, unfortunately it is the owners fault.

I too have argueed and fought with nissan over issues with my GU, some i won, some i lost.

Iwas Extremely surprised my $2500 flywheel which cracked was replaced under warranty. I had my 36" Swampers on the vehicle when i took it took the dealer. I know when it cracked and i was hammering up a well rutted greasy hill and heard it go bag.

I was refering to the front drivetrain only but regardless I wouldn't want to be relying on 'good will' for a warrantly claim especially with all the reports of Toyota saying too bad like the post below.

Leroy

Do you get your vehicle serviced by the dealer? and often (as per service book?)

Nothing is unbreakable in the wrong hands......

Thanks Craig

Oh and your right in what happened "This normally occurs in 1st low range when you lift a wheel, it spins then suddenly regains traction. BOOF#%?!"
Steve J

most playdos, like mine, don't have a manual centre diff lock - is engaged automatically when we slip into high or low - does this mean the manual way to disengage the front diff to get home via the back one is not gonna work for me ?

thanks for any further technical assistance u can give me.

paul

Sorry Paul I'm not familiar with the Prado's 4x4 system. If it has a viscous centre diff I don't think it would be possible to drive in rear wheel drive as described. Cheers Craig..................