These conversions improve fuel economy, reduce driveline backlash and reduces vehicle maintenance costs. It also enables the LOKKA automatic diff locker to be installed to the front differential.
Fuel Economy
Obviously there is a reduction in the load on the engine if the front section of the transfer case, the front tailshaft, differential, axles and wheels are not being ‘driven’. This reduction in load translates to increased fuel economy.
Maintenance
Front axle seals, CV joints and the outer drive flanges wear heavily with constant use, resulting in expensive and needless repairs several times over during the life of the vehicle. The cost of overhauling the front differential housing once will be nearly twice the cost of the Part Time Conversion Kit.
Other major parts such as the front tailshaft, axle seal surfaces on the front axles and the front differential itself also wear but at a lesser rate than the other parts. These parts will require repair – at a much greater cost – but fortunately less often.
Backlash
The existing driveline has multiple points of contact where ‘backlash’ or ‘play’ can occur. There are 3 differentials in the system with many splined couplings and flanges. The accumulation of all these points of backlash often result in the sloppy feel and clunky noises when rapidly changing throttle position or when changing gears.
Fitting of the Part Time Conversion Kit reduces the total amount of backlash by 80% in some cases. The vehicle has a much tighter feel and considerably smoother gear changes. Although less noticeable in automatic vehicles, the problem still exists. The steering is also noticeably lighter.
Fitting
There is no centre differential after the conversion, the centre differential gears are removed. It is these gears that make the front drive parts move ALL the time. The conversion is performed to stop the front parts moving altogether.
After conversion, only the rear drives, until you use the differential lock mechanism/switch in the transfer case to engage the front shaft. The factory lock mechanism is not inside the centre/transfer case differential, it is right at the front of the transfer case and simply locks the front output shaft to the front half of the centre differential case.
Once ‘locked’ the front ‘side gear’ in the centre differential cannot turn, so all the other planetary gears are also fixed relative to the case and the two tail-shafts are effectively locked together. The Part Time Conversion Kit simply uses this existing mechanism to get drive through the centre differential case to the front tail-shaft, after conversion.
Saves between 14 – 16% fuel useage (according to almost everyone that has taken any notes and reported back to us), limits wear on all front end components – particularly the CV joints, boots and axle flanges, substantially reduces the drive line backlash most noticeable with rapid acceleration followed by deceleration or poor clutch pedal control on manual vehicles. Makes a much smoother more economical vehicle.
If you have large 4wd tyres or front differential locker, the HD hubs are the way to go. If its mainly a tow vehicle and not used much off-road, then standard hubs are fine.
A simple kit can be fitted to the Transfer Case in approximately 4 hours. No special service tools are required. A quality Free Wheel Hub set is included in the kit.
There are comprehensive fitting instructions for the DIY owner.
Fitting of the Part Time Conversion Kit also provides the opportunity to fit the LOKKA automatic differential locker to be fitted to the front differential.
The alternative is to fit a manual differential locker. The cost of parts alone is far greater (locker, compressor, other fittings etc) plus fitting. Then you have the problems of air lines or wires under the vehicle, potential pressure loss inside the differential housing and limited steering when engaged – all associated with manual lockers.
With the Part Time Conversion you have all the advantages of the LOKKA Automatic Locker (for off-roading) with the benefits of the Part Time Conversion – virtually at no cost – as manual lockers are a much greater cost than the LOKKA) – which are 14-15% better fuel economy (according to almost everyone that has taken any notes and reported back to us), no wear and tear on front end components, smoother driveline. Fuel savings alone will cover the cost of conversion.
Our Lokka’s are AUSTRALIAN made, they come with a 3 Year UNCONDITIONAL Warranty.
Comprehensive Fitting Instructions included. The differential gear set does not have to be re-set and the carrier bearings are not replaced, so its a pretty simple fit for the mechanically inclined.
Warranty is the same no matter who does the fitting.
All GXL105 Series and a few 80 Series have ABS brakes, which uses sensors on the axle to monitor the system.
When the Part Time Conversion is fitted, the ABS will ‘fault’, as the axle with the inductor fitted stops rotating – the whole purpose of the conversion.
There are various ways of going around this, but one option is to fit a relocation kit – moves the existing sensors to a new location and new inductors are fitted to the hubs. (like the IFS 100 series).
Transfer Case parts Manufactured in Australia
3 Year Warranty – Unlimited Kms
1 Year Warranty – Unlimited Kms for FWHubs
