Mikes Samurai build / use / fixing broken bits after abuse

[mike harris]

There just stronger mate. The internal spline is the whole length of the end of the cv stub shaft.

They're made completely of metal, no plastic at all. They have proper I rings between all the surface and they are recessed into the hub it's self.

And there shiny and say warn on them

[dazerede]

Haha i bet they cost you a not mate

[mike harris]

The main reason I bought these is to just be able to turn drive of. If anything breaks I don't want it turning the drivetrain making things worse. So I can turn each wheel of and be towed back not doing any more damage.

[Anton]

If I had a full floating rear, I think I'd do the same. As long as you have one axle that's ok, you can disconnect the prop (if it's the rear that's broken) and hubs, and limp home in front wheel drive (or rear, whatever).

It's a darned good idea.

[mike harris]

Yeh I just want to turn the whole lot of and be towed out or recovered. If it breaks I don't want to drive it at all.

I got my new boggers at the weekend. Not sure about them yet though, there big. 35 14.50 kind of big.

The issue I have is my boggers clog in mud, but every time this happens all other trucks at these events all have clogged tyres as well. No tyre cleans that well. So what I am thinking is, is it worth it? In sandy terrain or rocks yes. But mud which is most of what I do, I am not so sure.

Conundrum.... Fit them, see what needs cutting to make them fit. Try them.

Or sell them and forget about the whole thing.

[Anton]

Mike - the thing about tyres "clearing" mud is that you can't just look at them and tell.

See, when your tyres *look* like slicks made out of mud, you have to bear in mind that it's only there temporarily - the moment you start moving again, it'll get squeezed out at the bottom and replaced with new mud. Or if you floor it, it'll fling the mud off.

So even when your tyres are completely clogged, you'll still get that "paddle boat" effect and get more traction with decent MT's than you would with road radials or AT's.

Essentially, the new mud squeezes the old mud out through the sides. This is only really helpful if you floor it, or if your tyre cuts through the crap to the solid stuff underneath. When you're flinging mud around by flooring it, the ejected mud is actually sometimes all that is propelling you along - there's a whole science to it (it even has its own name, which I can't remember for the life of me) that the top rally car teams get right into.

But essentially it's a bit like a paddleboat - you push something violently in one direction, you move in the opposite direction. Which is one of the things that makes an SJ awesome - sometimes we "float" over things others sink into because we're so light, and this "paddleboat" effect keeps us moving.

When it goes wrong, you sink, bog down and dig in. Watch some of the american bog runners when they stop - they *visibly* sink. You can see the moment when they stop "floating" and start to sink/dig, and at that moment you know it's all over for them.


Click Here for Youtube Video



Having said that, I think your truck is too far beyond the rest, so for our sanity, you're going to have donate those tyres to the Anton truck awesomeification program...

[dan_2k_uk]

I say get trimming and trying!

[mike harris]

Yeh, il try them

[mike harris]

There sat there looking at me.....

[mike harris]

New springs turned up today, so did the fuel pump and new fan.

Fitting a 35 on a wheel tomorrow to eye them up to see what they look like, my plan is to make my mind up on them then maybe cut the front end. I will also limit the upward travel, to stop the tyres from hitting the bulk head and front flitches. And maybe prolong the life of the springs.

The new springs are the same as the old ones but I am going to leave the bottom hard leaves in, like in the rear. These should help with axle wrap which I am worried about with the extra grip from 35 inch tyres.

Need to get round to doing the rear winch, twin batteries and maybe if I am feeling up to it two alternators....

I am going to rebuild both axles again, just check for any damage or wear, repair the front end where it's been beaten, new scren. I haven't got the money for it yet but I am in talks with the powers above about having a cage made. He's got ideas which are super cool. (Anyone who soor the build of dunks cage, it will be like that but a bit madder

It's silly things I need to do like replace aux belts, redo some wiring and stuff like that which I have been meaning to do since I built it. Little things really annoy me lol

Do that, then mud monsters challenge series next year. If I can sort out a co driver who's mad enough.