welding or locked front diff with hubs.

[Robber80]

I am going to be swapping to a np208 at some point. but right now i have a np219. I wanted to weld my front diff and i was wondering, if i get manual locking hubs, and put my jeep in 4 high, with the hubs unlocked would it hurt to drive around like that until i get a part time case? Thanks for any help.

[Robber80]

btt

[dublt]

Sorry, I really wouldn't recomend welding th front even with manual hubs. I did this once to a dana 27 in a Commando. I had a dana 44 to switch in later, so I thought I'd weld the 27 for grins. Anyways, in 2wd (hubs unlocked), of course, I didn't even notice it. Then came the 1st test: Kelly Flats in CO. In 4wd (hubs locked), at 1st it was great, it was a little difficult to steer, but I could live w/it. Then the trail got tighter. Turning was virtually impossible, compared to what I was used to. My idea was to just unlock one hub. WRONG. All's it did was pull so hard to one side that it SUCKED to drive. That combined with having to lock/unlock/lock/unlock/lock the hubs so many times just to finish one trail made the trip VERY un-enjoyable. Sorry.

[Robber80]

I've driven a number of rigs with welded front diffs so I know what I'm getting into when it comes to steering. I just want to know if with my fulltime tcase, running it in 4wdlock, and unlocking the hubs if it will screw anything up. thanks for you help though.

[porchpiggy]

I'm not familiar with the 219, does it lock in 4 high?? I know an NP203 will lock in 4hi, and you could do what you described, but I would pull the front shaft (temporarily) to save on the front stuff turning and maybe running into an obscure problem. I know a lot of guys that have sone that trying to save some gas milage on a daily driver.

[Robber80]

the np219 has 4wd full-time, 4wd part-time, Nuetral and 4wd Low. I will be using this setup all summer, its not to save on gas its just to keep the viscous clutch (not sure how its spelled) from burning out if i put manual hubs on it. I'll be swapping to a Np-208 as soon as i can afford one. So I just plan on installing manual hubs, putting my jeep in 4wd High (which is locked). and welding my front diff and unlocking my hubs. i dont' care about the driveshaft spinning, thats how it is in all the jeeps that have fixed hubs.

[Brown Bear]

IIRC, with a viscous coupler, unlocking the front hubs will burn up your case in a short period of time.

[tomd]

That is very true, like one trip w/o one of the driveshafts, and no go no mo'

[Robber80]

ok maybe i'm not explaining this right. a np219 is just like a np 208 with out a 2wd mode. so putting a np219 in 4high is like putting a np208 in 4high, it locks both driveshafts together. therefore not using the viscous at all, so i won't burn it out. so if i were to put either of this cases in 4 high, and unlocked the hubs, would it do anything bad?

[Brown Bear]

appearantly the 219 does have a vchttp://www.ifsja.org/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=016318#000001

[ March 17, 2003, 07:30 PM: Message edited by: Brown Bear ]

[RustyJeep]

well, on the NP219, there is normal fulltime 4hi, and then there's the 4hi-lock selection. It WILL burn up if ran in normal 4 hi, but not if run in 4hi-lock, as then it's like a 208, as Robber said.

[Brown Bear]

what i was getting ready to say, run it in 4hilock......fast fingers ben! smile.gif

[RustyJeep]

heheh :D

[Robber80]

i know it has a VC. Thats because it has fulltime 4wd. But it doesn't have a 2wd mode like the 229, and with the 229, i don't think there is a 4wd high lock. but my 219, has a 4wd lock mode. which is like 4 high in any part time case. locks both dshafts together.

[RustyJeep]

Yes, so you'd be ok as long as it'd be run in that mode. It's settled then. smile.gif

[Brown Bear]

you're right, 229 has no hi lock on it, would be nice though...

[Robber80]

Ahh thanks guys!!!!! smile.gif smile.gif

[dublt]

So that's what ur gonna do? How long are u gonna leave it welded? What's yur opinion of the welded front? Not trying to be a smartGreat Googley MoogleyGreat Googley MoogleyGreat Googley MoogleyGreat Googley MoogleyGreat Googley Moogley, just curious.

[Crazy_Jeepman]

The only thing I would see wrong with this plan, is that when you turn and on wheel or the other speeds up the bearings in the hub would be subjected to wear. I understand the hubs will be unlocked, however the axles will still be turning with power, in a straight line the wheel and axle should turn at close to the same speed, however on turns and normal steering there would be differances, not sure the hubs would take that, they are not really designed to support the axle in that way. There would be also be the times when the rear axle is spinning and the axle shafts are spinning inside the hubs, can't picture any of these conditions being good for the hubs. I would weld it later, if thats what you really want to do or pull the front driveshaft, untill you could get the P/T Case. Then again you could go for broke and run it as you plan and change the hubs out if they really do fail, they might not. ;)

[Robber80]

well actually i think i'm goign to go with what you said crazyjeepman. I'm just goign to wait on a front locker because i haven't really needed one yet. But thats what my origianl question was. I wanted to know if it was goign to hurt anything, you have let me konw of something that may get hurt. thanks!
dublt, Welding the rear diff is good. I like the performance of a spool or welded. I dont' really mind chirping around corners or tire wear. The only thing to remember is if you do weld, make sure everything is clean after or your bearing will get eaten up by the metal floating around inside the diff housing! The first time i welded i didn't weld hot enough and the welds fell off. so i had to clean all the metal out. axle still seem fine and has full differential!.