Offroad-Express

Did a few searches but couldn't really find satisfactory answers so hoping somone will be able to quench my curiosity.

The 'instruction plate' under the 4wd-2wd selector on my sami says never to drive in 2wd with the hubs engaged.

I quite often head down the beach in 2wd just beacuse its a bit more interesting (manual hubs disengaged of course), but seeing as most of my previous 4wd's had auto hubs it was always quite nice to to just press the little button when you hit some soft sand or got into a little bit of trouble.

So what is the reason for suzukis advice to not select 2wd with the hubs engaged?

Now I know im asking for the typical response with this one:

*dont be a dumbass - your on the beach in soft sand! use 4wd.
*Stop being lazy! if it looks like you might get stuck - stop, get out and put the hubs in!

Althought helpful im hoping for something a little bit more technical - like 'locking the hubs will result in the following damage...to the transfer case, gearbox, driveline...no damage at all, just increased driveline wear...
etc

Any of your thoughts/experience would be appreciated.

Cheers.

Hey Man,

With every manual hub 4wd I have owned I have always left them locked and driven in 2wd when heading to and from off road trips haha because Im to lazy to do it when I get there haha. Never had any issues with it.

On my SWB safari the factory auto/manual (locked) decided it was not going to play ball when I was in Taupo on holiday so I had to drive with them locked otherwise they would keep clicking.

All it does is cause more wear on the front end as you will be locking the front diff in but with no power to it. (Correct me if wrong)

Cheers
Ray

It's completely fine to drive with the hubs locked in 2wheel drive on an SJ or Samurai.

the front output on the transfer case is completely disconnected in 2wd.
earlier suzukis did not have free wheeling hubs and Used the same sort of transfer case setup

Having the free-wheeling hubs locked means the front diff is turning unnecessarily, the only real disadvantage is your fuel consumption will increase.

That "instruction plate" is (from memory) sewn into the carpet and is probably a generic label supplied by Suzuki to an out-sourced carpet manufacturer. just ignore it, it's wrong. I tend to leave my hubs in 4x4 unless on a long trip. Some chuck them into 4x2 to save gas but it IS a Suzuki after all and they run on the smell of an oily rag anyway.
Al
ps: got a few zooks here at the mo so if you need any parts give me a pm, or you know where I am

I use to own an FJ40, the owners manual recommended if 4wd was not being regularly used locking the front hubs occasionally and driving in 2wd for a couple of miles. I think the logic was to make sure everything was lubed and turned.

yeah my sami has solid hubs (always locked) from factory so yeah all it does is makes more wear on the front end but mines strictly offroad so pretty much in 4wd all the time so hasnt worryed me

Sweet, so general consensis is that I can be a lazy bugger and leave my hubs locked occasionally. Sounds good to me! Thanks guys.
And cheers for the heads up Al, the old girl seems to be holding together at the moment....but who knows what next week will bring....
And yup can definitely agree with 'the smell of an oily rag' - have gone from filling up once a week in the 3.5lt pajero to once a month in the zook! Lovin' it!!