Free wheeling hubs on a 96 Prado

Jon · Post by **Jon** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 8:23 pm

Can anyone help my mate who has just purchased a 96 Prado. It has permantly locked hubs and he would like to know if they can be change to manual locking hubs. The main reason for the change is to improve fuel economy. CAN THIS BE DONE??

Jerry · Post by **Jerry** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 8:49 pm

theres an 80 series free wheeling hub kit mod thingy not sure if there is one for the 90 series prado

might be something on here

http://www.lcool.org/technical/90_serie ... nical.html

http://forum.ih8mud.com/forumdisplay.php?f=105

http://www.pradopoint.com/viewforum.php ... 1df41c0dd8

Jon · Post by **Jon** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 8:21 am

Yeah, I helped a guy fit one to an 80 series and that came with a kit for the transfer case to switch it out of full time 4x4 as well as the hubs. The Prado is a little different in that you can manually select 4x2 but the front hubs are always in. I'll keep looking and thanks for the reply.

oldblue · Post by **oldblue** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 9:29 am

Might be a challenge, but the cost may outway any cost savings in fuel.

rokhound · Post by **rokhound** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 12:13 pm

90 series prado's are full time 4wd, like an 80. If you look at your transfer case lever it says H ( for high 4wd) HL (for high 4wd locked) N (neutral) and LL (Low locked). Obviously locked stands for centre diff lock.
There fore, to put freewheeling hubs on would be a total waste of time (even if you could). If it is 3.0ltr tdi engine, the guy should be getting 6-700 kms out of a $90 tank of diesel any way. That's not bad for a vehicle that size.

Jon · Post by **Jon** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 3:10 pm

Thanks rokhound, I haven't even had a look inside it for myself. I just gave it a greese last weekend and noticed that I couldn't turn the front drive shaft. That explains it then. Cheers. Yeah, you are right about the fuel economy.. he's got nothing to complain about when you compare it to a five cylinder 70 series running on 33s.