NO FLEX ’LUX
ASK ALLAN!
If you’ve seen my DVD segments, you’ll know that I just can’t
help but get to the bottom of your mechanical problems. If
you’re having some trouble with your 4WD, simply
email editorial@modified4wds.com.au to submit your question and I’ll get right onto the case for you.
Allan Gray
Terrain Tamer
10
Hi Allan,
I used to use my ’95 dual cab
HiLux for carrying my tools
between jobs, but since
changing career I no longer
need to carry so much gear in
the back. With less weight over
the rear axle, I’ve noticed that
when I drive off-road the rear
end has next to no flex and I’m
lifting wheels over anything
bigger than a pebble.
I’ve heard that if I remove
the shortest two leaves from
either pack, I’ll free up a lot
more travel, but I’m a bit
worried that by doing so, I’ll be
opening myself up to axle-wrap.
What do you reckon? Should
I be looking at reducing my leaf
pack or should I buy complete
new spring packs that are
better designed for flexing?
Pat Lukovic
Shepparton VIC
Pat,
I haven’t seen the vehicle but
it’s possible you’ve got what
we call ‘two-stage suspension’
which is three of four light
leaves which act as your normal
suspension when you’re driving
unladen and then you have some
heavier leaves for when you load
it up, so pulling out the bottom
leaves wouldn’t help your
flexing ability at all as they’re
the heavy ones that actually take
up the load.
Taking leaves out is probably
not a bad idea though. We used
to do that when travellers
wanted to drive their utes
around in the bush and needed a
bit more ride comfort. There is a
way of doing it and I think that if
you go to a spring works in
Shepparton and tell them what
you explained to me, they’ll
either do it for you or tell you
what to do. But I wouldn’t buy
new springs just for that, I’m
sure you can fix the ones you’ve
got.
Try that Pat and let us know
how you get on.
Allan
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010-011 Ask Allan.indd 10
24/05/12 1:40 PM
EXPERT ADVICE
ASK ALLAN
PULLEY SICK
G’day Allan,
My Jeep XJ Cherokee has
recently had a few problems and
I’m not quite sure how to go about
fixing them. It seized up the
air-con compressor pulley
bearing which caused the serpentine belt to wear through and
snap. Apparently this is a known
issue with the model and there
are idler pulleys available to bolt
in place of the compressor.
The second problem is that
the harmonic balancer on the
crankshaft pulley is also cactus. I
have a replacement balancer
ready to go on but I can’t get the
pulley back on! No matter how
hard I try, I can only push the
pulley on by about 5mm, which is
a little too short for the retaining
bolt to thread into its hole. Do
you think I should ditch the
compressor for an idler pulley
and do you know any tricks to get
the crankshaft pulley back on?
Adrian Kender
Taren Point, NSW
I’m not sure how many kilometres you’ve done Adrian, but I
certainly wouldn’t be ditching
the compressor, that’s a sure
way to get in strife with the
missus if the air-con doesn’t
work. I’d be trying to simply
replace the bearing in the
pulley. Most of those bearings
are very cheap, it’s probably no
more than $5 and I reckon you
wouldn’t be doing the job again
for at least another 10,000km,
and that’s with excessive wear.
With the crankshaft pulley,
you’re going to have to put the
pulley in a lathe and emery it
carefully and just take out a thou
of an inch until it slides on. Don’t
get a bigger bolt and pull it on.
You’ll probably crack something
if you do that! I’d just emery it out
so that it’s a nice fit on there. That
should help Adrian, thanks mate.
AG
FILTERING THROUGH
GO THE 40!
Hi Allan,
My uncle has had an old shorty
40 on his property forever and he
said I could have it if I want, so
I’m after some advice. I’m 17
years old and I’ve always wanted
to build up an old ’Yota. I thought
I’d ask you whether it was worth
it seeing how you’re building one
on the 4WD Action DVDs and you
obviously know what you’re
talking about.
I’ve never built a vehicle before
so I’m not sure if it’s a good idea
to start out on one that needs so
much work, she’s pretty rusty. My
dad says he’ll help me, but only if
I’m going to finish what I start.
Do you think I should do it or
not?
Jamie Phelps
Cunnamulla, QLD
Jamie, yes, go for it! Do
whatever you have to do, you’ll
learn so much building this up. I
s’pose what you have to think
about is what you’re going to use
it for. I don’t know if you’re
going to get it going for running
around the paddock, or if you
want it for bush bashing or
whether you want to put it on the
road. Once you know which of
those three you’re mainly going
to be using it for, you can make
an informed decision on how
much work you’ll have to put in
it and whether you’ll need a
roadworthy in your state or not.
Certainly I think it’s worth it.
The rust is the biggest thing, but
one of the best things about
those models is that they
remained unchanged for
probably fifteen years so parts
are easy to get a hold of. Write to
me again if you think I can help
further (and I’d love to see some
pictures of it). Obviously your
Dad thinks it can be got right,
but how much work you’ll have
to put in will depend on where
you’re going to be using it. If I
can help you any more, get back
to us Jamie. Thanks mate.
Al
G’day Allan,
I’ve been looking into upgrading
my air filter lately and I
stumbled on an online
comparison. It basically said
that the more expensive high
flow filters didn’t filter particles
out from the air as efficiently as
paper or foam filters. This
comes as a bit of a surprise to
me, as I always assumed they’d
be of higher quality.
I have an upcoming trip
along the French Line later this
year with quite a few other
vehicles, which I imagine is
going to be fairly dusty. I don’t
want to be letting more dust
past my filter than I absolutely
have to, but I drive an old diesel
Defender so I want to get as
much easily attained power as
possible so I don’t get left
behind!
Which type of air filter do you
recommend?
Alan Denning
Dalby QLD
I recommend putting an absolutely
standard air filter on and having a
spare in the cabin, I’m generally
against changing to other types of
filter. I think blowing your filter
out with a compressor when you
can is a good idea and having a
spare in case you get some dust or
mud in it.
Also, when you’re on your
trip, I’d be driving out in front of
the convoy or miles behind. I
would never drive in continuing
dust. It can wear the motor out,
as you’re probably aware, very
quickly. You’re much better off
waiting til the dust from the
previous vehicle settles which I
understand may mean sticking a
long way behind in some areas,
but that’s what I’d do!
Thanks Alan,
Allan
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