Delica Canada | Mitsubishi Van Club

Manitoba deli wrote:Less parts turning=less wear=less fuel consumed. {snip} I would still like to put manual hubs on my l400, if I can save 1/2mpg, its worth it.

I'll agree slightly with the less wear. But given that in 2H there is no strain on the u-joints, diff., etc., the wear will be minimal. The likelyhood of the front parts needing service from just turning is negligible compared to the need from doing off-roading in nasty conditions.

I doubt there is a measurable reduction in fuel consumption. If the parts are properly lubricated, there won't be a lot of drag. Therefore little improvement possible.

The downside of putting manual hubs on the L400 is that you will have to stop and lock up the hubs before you can use the AWD mode. The scenario I'm thinking of is driving highway in overcast, then run into a major thunderstorm. Perfect scenario for switching to AWD, but you have to stop and in pouring rain lock the hubs. Yuck.

Just my 2 cents worth.

actually the front parts turning in 2h could be seen as a good thing, you don't have to remember to put it in 4x4 every now and again to make sure the grease doesn't dry up or what ever else happens if you don't use it much.

There is actually considerable drag on the L400's front driveline when in 2WD mode.

I've looked at 9 different L400's up on a hoist with fresh brakes, cv's, etc...

They all feel the same until you pull the flange off or put a set of manual's on.

The wheel will spin for 8-9 rotations without the flange (unlocked) instead of 2-3 rotations (with flange) by hand.

When the L400 is suspended on hoist and you move one of the front wheels, the entire hub, cv, axle shaft, front differential gears, the other side axle shaft, entire hub spins in the opposite direction (open diff working) and the front driveshaft connecting the front differential to the transfer case is moving as well.

With manual hubs unlocked, in the L400 suspended on a hoist, when you spin a wheel, only the wheel/hub rotate. The rest of what is mentioned above does not rotate.

We had this same conversion last year regarding L300's with auto hubs disengaged compared to manual hubs disengaged.

The L400's are different as they have a solid flange which keep the hub <-> axle shaft permanently locked.

I averaged about 1-1.5 km/L more with unlocked manual hubs on my LWB L400 compared to the solid flanges.

My findings pretty much mimic the guys over in Oz who have done this simple mods years ago.

jfarsang wrote:There is actually considerable drag on the L400's front driveline when in 2WD mode.

I've looked at 9 different L400's up on a hoist with fresh brakes, cv's, etc...

They all feel the same until you pull the flange off or put a set of manual's on.

The wheel will spin for 8-9 rotations without the flange (unlocked) instead of 2-3 rotations (with flange) by hand.

When the L400 is suspended on hoist and you move one of the front wheels, the entire hub, cv, axle shaft, front differential gears, the other side axle shaft, entire hub spins in the opposite direction (open diff working) and the front driveshaft connecting the front differential to the transfer case is moving as well.

With manual hubs unlocked, in the L400 suspended on a hoist, when you spin a wheel, only the wheel/hub rotate. The rest of what is mentioned above does not rotate.

We had this same conversion last year regarding L300's with auto hubs disengaged compared to manual hubs disengaged.

The L400's are different as they have a solid flange which keep the hub <-> axle shaft permanently locked.

I averaged about 1-1.5 km/L more with unlocked manual hubs on my LWB L400 compared to the solid flanges.

My findings pretty much mimic the guys over in Oz who have done this simple mods years ago.

very good point

Jesse,

I bow to your real world experience, compared to my theoretical suppositions.

No bowing required

I'm just trying things that others across the pond have been doing and what I learned from Toyota pickups years ago which use an almost identical IFS system than the Delica/pajero's use.

jfarsang wrote:No bowing required

I'm just trying things that others across the pond have been doing and what I learned from Toyota pickups years ago which use an almost identical IFS system than the Delica/pajero's use.

you mentioned something in another post about putting manual hubs on an L400 taking away one or more benefits of the super select transmission I think, I could totally be mis-remembering though, can you remind/correct me please :)

It's a give and take.

Upside to manual hubs = less rotating parts

Downside to manual hubs = To use the shift-on-the-fly 2H to 4H (AWD) mode, you need to lock the hubs (hence the flanges on the L400's).

The upside is more to me than the downside, so that's why I use them.

Most of the winter, I'll leave the hubs locked and shift between 2H and 4H(AWD) when I need it. Sometimes on icy roads in the morning, sometimes when it rains like today and the roads are slick.

jfarsang wrote:It's a give and take.

Upside to manual hubs = less rotating parts

Downside to manual hubs = To use the shift-on-the-fly 2H to 4H (AWD) mode, you need to lock the hubs (hence the flanges on the L400's).

The upside is more to me than the downside, so that's why I use them.

Most of the winter, I'll leave the hubs locked and shift between 2H and 4H(AWD) when I need it. Sometimes on icy roads in the morning, sometimes when it rains like today and the roads are slick.

thanks, I figured that was what it was but I didn't want to make any assumptions :)

Looks like all the people on here hot for locking hubs lost out to an american bidder.

wetcoast wrote:Looks like all the people on here hot for locking hubs lost out to an american bidder.

Too bad for that American bidder...he paid too much money. Just ordered two sets of the same hubs for $135.00 ea. They are getting scarce but not impossible to find. I have seen it so many times where bidders on auction sites or at public auctions pay way too much for items. I managed an auction company for 16 years and had a few good laughs at ravenous bidders...............................Kirk out.

wetcoast wrote:Looks like all the people on here hot for locking hubs lost out to an american bidder.

Delica owners are small potatoes compared to the tens of thousands of Montero owners down in the US who have been using aisin/superwinch hubs on these axles since the 80's.

Only a handful of Delica owners truly 'need' and would use the manual hubs so you'll see American's buying them up like crazy.

If I remember, the locking hubs on my 89 4Runner are Asin Hubs - they come standard with the 4Runner. I am assuming though, that they are the wrong size for a Delica? 4Runner hubs are easy to get, but from the looks of pictures I have seen the bolt pattern looks fairly close...

The super select system in the L400s is brilliant. If you are driving at up to 100kph and in a straight line you can engage 4x4high on the fly. No need to stop . You can disengage it the same. Just back off the gas a little and slip it in. It is good if it starts to rain. You just pop it in to 4x4high. To engage 4x4l with center diff lock you do have to almost stop 5kph is ok although the book says stop...There are over 4000 members here and maybe half a dozen have bothered to put in manual hubs. Getting out in the mud or whatever to do something that you used to do automatically is not something many people bother to do. Unlike the L300s you can leave your deli permanently in 4x4 if you like. There is no windup like you get in some 4x4s. there are very few Delis with LSD (limited slip diff). A lot of the Chamonixs have it and some Supers and Royals. You are far better off spending your money on a diff locker than manual hubs.. Cheers..

Mr. Flibble wrote:If I remember, the locking hubs on my 89 4Runner are Asin Hubs - they come standard with the 4Runner. I am assuming though, that they are the wrong size for a Delica? 4Runner hubs are easy to get, but from the looks of pictures I have seen the bolt pattern looks fairly close...

The inner ring/retainer/sleeves are interchangeable but the hub is not. Toyo's are taller.

Stiful wrote:You are far better off spending your money on a diff locker than manual hubs.. Cheers..

$100 vs. $1000

No comparison.

Apples vs. Oranges