Frontera

Recently got a second generation VX Frontera Sport 2.2 petrol and it doesn't
appear to have free wheeling hubs.

I only need 4wd at the weekends to tow my dirtbike up farm tracks and so FWH
would make a difference to my fuel bill.

Anybody know if they aren't fitted cos of the 'shift on the fly' 4wd system?
and would FWH's from the earlier Frontera fit?

Is it advisable to fit them to this wagon?

Greg Henderson wrote:
> Recently got a second generation VX Frontera Sport 2.2 petrol and it
> doesn't appear to have free wheeling hubs.

Correct.

> I only need 4wd at the weekends to tow my dirtbike up farm tracks and
> so FWH would make a difference to my fuel bill.

I bet it would make no measureable fuel difference. A more
significant difference would be to the lifetime of your CV
joints and gaiters- especicially if you lift the suspension.

> Anybody know if they aren't fitted cos of the 'shift on the fly' 4wd

Correct. If you had manual FWH then selecting 4wd without
locking them first would be pointless. If you had auto FWH
then selecting 4wd (on the move) while they are unlocked could
lead to a loud bang as they engage at high speed (not designed
for that).

> system? and would FWH's from the earlier Frontera fit?

Probably. But fit manual ones, not automatic - that way you
can leave them locked e.g. during winter and switch between
2 and 4 freely. With auto hubs you soon lose track of
whether they are still locked.

> Is it advisable to fit them to this wagon?

It's been done on Isuzus with the same drivetrain. See this
article:-

http://www.4x4wire.com/isuzu/tech/manualhubs

(You might be interested in some of the other articles on
http://www.4x4wire.com/isuzu too - muchof the info
there applies to the Frontera.)

-- Steve

"Steve Hunt" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Greg Henderson wrote:
> > Recently got a second generation VX Frontera Sport 2.2 petrol and it
> > doesn't appear to have free wheeling hubs.
>
> Correct.
>
> > I only need 4wd at the weekends to tow my dirtbike up farm tracks and
> > so FWH would make a difference to my fuel bill.
>
> I bet it would make no measureable fuel difference. A more
> significant difference would be to the lifetime of your CV
> joints and gaiters- especicially if you lift the suspension.

I have been in a similar discussion on Difflock.com. I fitted FWH's to my
Vitara and noticed aroung 4-5% increase in MPG and the car feels a lot
friskier, however a lot of people were not covinced.

Links are excellent thanks.