HELP on 2WD Capabilities

[OneBadExpSport]

Ok, you guys convinced me pretty well. I'll go with the 4.56 gears and air locker. I'm already $1500 in debt, might as well just make it $3000. How much would you say is reasonable for the install? Do I really need the bearings, or is that a lie to get me to buy more? What about the air compressor. Would I need that particular one, or can I buy another, cheaper kind?

What about the brakes? Are they just as good going down steep hills as the 4WD? Also, is it true that I have a higher risk of sliding and rolling off a cliff since I won't have much traction up front while doing steep hill climbs?

Thanks

Brian

 

[OneBadExpSport]

I saw it on The World's Most Dangerous videos once. The driver was going up this hill slowly, but then the front started to slip, swung to the left, and then it tipped over. It did about 20 rolls before it reached the bottom. big OUCH. Some guy at 4wheelparts told me this happens with 2wds. I just wanted to verify that with the real experts here, before I let it stop me from 2wheeling on hills.

Brian

 

[DocVijay]

Originally posted by OneBadExpSport
I have 33" tires now, previously 235/73/15r (29") with the 3.73 Limited Slip. It slips doing steep climbs so I won't even bother trying to make it up.

One thing to remember, LS diffs can be made with more or less preload to make them more or less like a true locker. There are some LS diffs that have a ton of preload, so they only allow a tiny bit of slip, just enough to drive on the road. Others, (like the factory units), are made more for the on-road traction the average person would need (the one that considers a gravel road as "of-road").

I'm not tryingt o convinve you that you should get a LS, just to let you know what each does.

As for gears, I got 4.10's for my X with 33's. Haven't had them installed yet, as I'm waiting for my Eaton LS to arrive. The 4.56 is just to low for me, as I take long trips in my X. Every bit of gas milage helps.

 

[Alec]

Buy the best compressor you can afford. Remember that some cheap compressors may be fine to operate the locker, but will either burn up when airing up your tires or be way too slow to be convenient.

Your brakes are the same, you just won't get engine braking from the front on decent which is ok.

On climbs, sliding sideways and over is a possibility, but if the surface is rock, you probably wont have this problem. I wouldn't try really steep sand or mud hills though. I've done some pretty steep dunes, but they had set tracks and underlying rock. I've done baby lion's back in Moab which is a very steep granite hill. No problem whatsoever.

 

[OneBadExpSport]

What about new bearings for the air locker? Are those necessary?

Thanks

 

[Alec]

Yes, you should get new bearings for your differential. Kinda stupid to try to save $10 and jeopardize $1000 of work and parts, don't ya think?

 

[Robert]

Going from 29" to 33" would require going from a 3.73 to a 4.24 to keep the same RPMs for the same given speeds. I would go with the 4.56. That will put your RPMs 7.5% higher than stock for the same speeds.

So if your cruise RPM was 2200 RPM while stock, you would turn 2365 RPM with 4.56s. With your 33" tires you are only turning 1934 RPM at the same speed that you would have turned 2200 RPM with stock tires. The 4.88s would probably be overkill unless you favor off-roading more than highway mileage.

 

[OneBadExpSport]

OK, I have all the information I need. 4.56 with air lockers. Any tips on sleazy money making tips for college students?

Anyhow thanks a lot for all the advice and opinions. I appreciate it, especially the fast responses. It helped me out a lot!

Brian

 

[DocVijay]

Originally posted by OneBadExpSport
Any tips on sleazy money making tips for college students?

Well, you could always donate. And I'm not talking about blood...

 

[OneBadExpSport]

haha, good idea. I have an unlimited supply! How much do they pay? It'd be kinda embarrassing though to tell everyone what I had to do to build my X.

 

[DocVijay]

the $$$ depends on the place. If you "qualify" they will pay by your desirability. The smarter, more athletic, and other positive qualities you have boost the payout. Then again, some places pay a flat fee, about $200.

Women get paid big, up to $30,000 per egg.