Ok... so last sunday I went through some deep water,



I've tried everything to seal up the IFS hubs/spindles. First off I'm never confident that it'll keep water out so I tear EVERYTHING apart (hubs apart and spindles off) to clean out, regrease and repack the bearings.

Everytime, theres moisture in the hub assembly. I think it's stupid that these toyota ifs hub assemblies can't be sealed properly.

I think actual RUBBER gaskets that compress would do the trick. However the actual handle that turns (to lock the hub) isn't sealed so i guess no matter how well you seel the locking hub to the hub assembly, or the face that holds the hub gear and handle... you'll never be able to keep water completely out.

Does anyone have some secrets they'd like to share?

I spent 8 hours last night pulling my front end off and regreasing it all. I avoid water like the plague now, its been about 6 months since i last had to do this (last time i submerged the wheels). but knowing i have to do this everytime i go through water that submerges the hubs for any length of time is maddening.

I dont have to worry about the differential or the rear axle. With breathers the outer seals do a 99% job of keeping water out, no matter how long it's underwater.

These should be sealed systems. argghh

 

put some giant plastic bags over the front wheels...

 

Dont think that it is going to happen. i thought about the same thing as you recently but I came to the same conclusion as you......if the dial has no way to be sealed the all else is useless.

Someone may be able to make a pile of cash if they could engineer, fabricate and market a sealing locking hub.... or at least a new dial face that would seal.

 

what about getting a bigger o-ring seal or just a rebuild.

 

maybe that mixed with actual reusable RUBBER gaskets would work.

i mean effing rubber, not these paper gaskets that toyota and the parts store sell that would be effective you could ACTUALLY freakin RTV the effers. I get frustrated just thinking about it LoL

it's to hard to keep grease off the mating surfaces the gaskets are worthless. RTV never seals because grease gets on the surfaces. I still RTV and gasket them, but i know its only "water resistant".

 

roflmao.. thats what my brother said to me as he was drinking a beer watching me slave on my truck.

wow, priceless.

 

use lots of water resistant greese in them, make no room for the water to get in.

 

My brother would have said something like "well, keep the hubs in the glove box you moron" so, I guess they're all created equal.

 

maybe get some gasket maker and make your own one weekend?? couldnt hurt to try...

 

stretch a balloon or condom or something over the end of the hub. That would probably keep the water from the dial, and you can take it off when you need to play with them.

that, or just RTV the hell out of them, and drive around locked all the time.

 

gas milage =

 

Stay out of the water, get drive flanges or continue to do regular maintenance.

Packing the hubs with grease will only cause them to hydrolock and not function properly as the internals only need a light coating of grease.

RTV won't keep the water out either and will just be a pain next time you take them off.

 

magnum condoms stretch them over the hub think it'll work

 

i dont bother trying to seal stuff that way the water can find its way back out, I have to do the repack my wheel bearings every now and then but I dont get all religous about it every time I cross water

I would have my axle apart every day, more like once a month with my oil changes.

I do however take my rear drums off every time i go mudding and clean out the mud that found a new home

Wheeling = constant maintance

 

If you need some giant condoms to stretch over the hub let me know and I will send you some of mine.