Snow Day

[whowey]

12" of snow fell between last night and today.

 

MJ handled it quite well.

Once again confirmed that Bridgestone Dueler Revos are the best snow/combined surface tires available.

 

My universally hated vaccuum disco system worked almost flawlessly. It only failed to disconnect on command once. As soon as I came to a stop it disconnected though. I need to do a bit of work on it though, it made a slight bang everytime it engaged.

[Twisty]

you should get a cable posi-lock, so you can lock and unlock the front axle manually.

[whowey]

I'm not spending $150 on a truck I bought for $500.

 

Not to mention its purpose is hauling stuff, and putting around.

 

It may get one of the 'home-built' kits at some point, but thats SO FAR down the project list, the truck may rust into nothing before then.

[Bounty Hunter]

I'm with you, vacuum discos aren't as bad as they're made out to be.

[feerocknok]

I'd prefer manual locking hubs, but with drive flanges, I'd rather have a vacuum disconnect than the extra wear of not having the disconnect.

 

How long have you had the Duelers?

[whowey]

I agree, manual lockouts would be my first preference. But AMC didn't design them in so we get what we got.

 

I've had the Duelers for 3 winters now. I got the Revos right after Sears tire started carrying them. I didn't necessarily want Revos, but that it was them, another set of Wranglers, or the Sears branded Michelins. I had never used the Revos so I wanted to try them.

[Oizarod115]

i agree vacuum disconnect is kindof a blessing... i can throw a cheapo locker in the front and not have to worry about being able to turn... where-as my brother HAD to buy a selectable front locker in order to be able to turn.

 

but i gummed up the disconnect in the mud so it doenst work like it used to, but luckily its stuck in 4x mode not 2x mode... plannin on a cable system.

[CWLONGSHOT]

i agree vacuum disconnect is kindof a blessing... i can throw a cheapo locker in the front and not have to worry about being able to turn... where-as my brother HAD to buy a selectable front locker in order to be able to turn.

 

but i gummed up the disconnect in the mud so it doenst work like it used to, but luckily its stuck in 4x mode not 2x mode... plannin on a cable system.

 

With your '89's axle disco stuck engaged, its technically the same as newer D30's with one piece axles. Just not quite as strong.

 

I gotta tell you, allot of people have run a locker in the front with out any problems, myself included. As long as there is no power going to it it will be invisible. I ran a Aussie in the front of my TJ for two summers and a winter. The only times I knew it was there was IN 4WD and sometimes in 2WD you could hear the ratcheting with the doors off in corners.

 

Having a disco AND a locker would only eliminate most of the ratcheting. One could argue an miniscule amount of better fuel economy but even adding hubs the difference is negligible.

 

CW

[aemsee]

I've looked at the cable lock systems only cause I've seen so many different issues with bad vacuum lines etc, but just can't see where they come up with the price for them. Anyone come up with their own manual system?

[CWLONGSHOT]

I built my own a while back. It worked OK, not great. i picked up a used unit for CHEAP!!! i now have the posi-lock in the MJ. More so because the vacuume system was an issue, or so I thought.

 

After installing the Posi-loc, I found the real problem was the "motor" in the disco, it wouldn't allow the fork full travel.

 

Anyway, the Posi-loc works perfect everytime and also allows 4LO WO/engaging the front axle!! Very nice for launching a boat on a steep ramp, pulling stumps or having to make tight turns off road.

 

CW

[pingpong]

I say just swap in a solid passenger side axle shaft.. put a seal in the VD housing and call it good. I can tell you from experience.. I drove Pong everyday with a front locker... and had no issues with tire wear, or hard steering.