100 Series IFS Front Diff
Submitted: Wednesday, Apr 05, 2006 at 22:16
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Des Lexic
Last Saturday, we were conducting a basic 4WD driving course in some sandhills on private property when one of the participants had his front diff decide to chit it's self. OK so it happens to lots of them like the 3.0 litre Nissans blowing donks. The guy rang the RAA and requested a Tilt tray be sent out to recover the vehicle as he didn't want to risk voiding the warranty by driving the vehicle any further than he had to. RAA guy comes out and says we can't tow a vehicle over 2 tonne and RAA contractor doesn't have a Tilt Tray truck. All he could do is get out the jumper leads and jump start the car. That's not the problem we said, we need a truck. I can arrange a truck to come out but weekend call out rate is $250.00. The truck is owned by the same company's crash repair division.
My question is " If the RAA (plus
membership) can't recover a vehicle over 2 tonne and it's not on a designated road, what's the point of having RAA or equivilant
membership?"
None that I can think of.
Just before everyone starts going off about the front diffs letting go, it wasn't doing a reverse snatch or reversing backwards up a
hill. I know of a mechanic at
Port Augusta who has replaced around 8 diffs in the last 2 years and that doesn't include
mine.
Reply By: Member - Oldplodder (QLD) - Thursday, Apr 06, 2006 at 07:58
Thursday, Apr 06, 2006 at 07:58
Heard of the same problem in Qld with the RACQ.
Some service people do not have the capacity to tow vehicles over 2 tonnes.
With all sorts of vehicles having GVMs over 2 tonnes (like a commodore, falcon), it could be interesting on the side of the road. Leave the gear, we will tow the car?
New Territory's are over 2 tonnes, how many others can you name?
Mercs, BMW X5s.
AnswerID:
165159
Reply By: traveller2 - Thursday, Apr 06, 2006 at 08:15
Thursday, Apr 06, 2006 at 08:15
Check your auto club
membership, here in NSW the NRMA also has the same out.
Although to their credit they have changed the wording.
It used to say 2.5t max, now it says
"Towing will be provided for all types of motor
vehicles which do not exceed 2.5 tonnes GVM (and
in some cases 4WD Vehicles which do exceed 2.5
tonnes GVM) provided that the Tow can be made
with Standard Towing Equipment."
The next para also gives them an out
"In Country Areas in particular,
limited types of tow trucks may be available. Should
Special Towing Equipment be required (such as
power
winches, extended cables, or a four-wheeldrive
towing vehicle) you must pay the Towing
provider commercial rates at the time of service."
I have premium care foir the other benefits such as accomodation etc in case of probs.
AnswerID:
165161
Reply By: Footloose - Thursday, Apr 06, 2006 at 09:13
Thursday, Apr 06, 2006 at 09:13
Several weeks ago I rang the RACQ "extra care" people and asked where their coverage didn't extend to.
"Any island". (Forgot to ask about Tasmania:)
What about stranded in the middle of the
Gibson Desert ?
"If there's a way of helping you get back to safety, then we'll do it. We may have to get your vehicle later."
Does this apply to any track ?
"Any gazetted road or "track" ..."
Anywhere ?
"Within Australia but not an island" (Hmm...how many islands here can I drive on ? Quite a few."
"Write down our number so that you can get straight through in case of an emergency"
Now I guess that any recovery is at my expense (OUCH) but if
well and truly in the poo, its nice to know that my motoring organisation will get me out of there, or will they ? I wonder......
I should have got it in writing, shouldn't I .........
AnswerID:
165179
Follow Up By: Member - Beatit (QLD) - Thursday, Apr 06, 2006 at 11:39
Thursday, Apr 06, 2006 at 11:39
G'day Footy,
Reckon you really never know unless you need the service. Asked the same question of Nissan about their 24 hour road side assistance and pretty much got the same answer - any gazetted road. pretty sure that Fraser beach driving is on a gazette road so I presume it clashes with the "island" clause somewhere. I have an acquiantance that speaks fairly highly of the RACQ service when they blew their clutch towing someone in the back lots with no where to go - they got them to go to a
homestead where a tow truck towed them to a near town for a new clutch. They were happy that they also had a sat phone to make the call!
Kind regards
FollowupID:
420059
Reply By: Member - Robert G (WA) - Thursday, Apr 06, 2006 at 11:42
Thursday, Apr 06, 2006 at 11:42
Guys, thanks to threads such as these highlighting the 100series woes, my next company car is a GU (had choice between LC or Nissan). I have had GU's before and besides the 2.8 engine I found them to be fine. My personal 4wd is an LC80 and again due to the 100series woes I decided to spend money on my existing bus and get aim for another 7-10 years out of it.
As a matter of interest, I heard that the front diifs in the 100series are exactly the same as what is in the Hilux. If this is true (can someone verify or otherwise?), then it explains the problems and makes me wonder what direction Toyota are taking. Perhaps some latte sipping knob swallower from the lexus design team was transferred to the mighty LC team and is making his presence felt????????
AnswerID:
165223
Follow Up By: Des Lexic - Thursday, Apr 06, 2006 at 13:14
Thursday, Apr 06, 2006 at 13:14
Robert, Toyota explained to me that the front diff is a 100 series front diff. Coincidently,(LOL) it is the same diff that is installed in a Hilux.
Problem seems to arise when the front diff is loaded up in reverse but this wasn't the apparant cause in this case. we were just driving around some damp sand hills from 4-6 metres high.
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Robert G (WA) - Thursday, Apr 06, 2006 at 13:33
Thursday, Apr 06, 2006 at 13:33
Des, that sure is a big coincidence huh ? lol I think they will need to rethink some changes to the mighty LC very soon or risk losing a lot of loyalty. That diff failure sounds very bad indeed.
Cheers
Rob G
FollowupID:
420091
Follow Up By: Gerhardp1 - Thursday, Apr 06, 2006 at 19:20
Thursday, Apr 06, 2006 at 19:20
I have a friend who has had a V6 commodore in his hilux for years, and is qualified to do the engineering certificate for his own vehicle.
He had the gearbox out to replace gears which twist from too much power/torque of the V6, but he finds it cheaper to replace gears every couple of years than to put in an auto or some other stronger manual gearbox.
He told me the 100 series front crown wheel & pinion are the same as Corolla. :)
Oh what a feeling. That probably means it's the same in the Hilux since somebody above said the Hilux and LC100 are the same diff.
One guy broke his front LC100 diff at the
test course at the Wandin show in 2005 just going up a steepish but short
hill.
FollowupID:
420213