I've a pain in my head now... [Vacuum Hubs]

This info should be a 'sticky' if it isn't already, thanks façade, hope I never need this info ..... :whistle:

Fair play Facade. I'm new to the jimnys but not adverse to tinkering about. Seems like I unintentionally bought the right car. hahahaa.

Whipped off the solenoids and bench tested them with some GT85. Didn't break the blocks, just snipped the wire. Some heat shrink and soldering will join 'em back.

The VSV2 soloinod wasn't working at all. A bit of the good GT85 and a earthing it to a 12v sorted it. Now a good audible click on earthing it.

I'll put it back together in the morning, hopefully this is the end of the problem.

Thanks again

Did you check the action by sucking/blowing a piece of tubing on the spigots?
Most important that the spigot that goes to the vacuum tank is sealed, or you never build up enough vacuum to work the hubs.


The connector just releases somehow and pulls off. It is obvious after you cut it off what you should have done :pinch: .

I spent about half an hour trying to disconnect the oxygen sensor on the RAV4. Couldn't do it, squeezed/pressed/pulled, stuck screwdrivers down the sides etc.

Cut the wire and lifted it up where I could see it, got both hands to it, and it just slid apart :ohmy:

Stripped the solenoids down to their internals; springs, plugs and o rings etc and cleaned them like new. They're now working as they should, it's holding a vacuum to the tanks and actuating as they should.

However, I'm still not getting any movement of the hubs. I think I may have a rouge leak someplace.

It never ends! The poor jeep has been up on the stands most of the week

If you can get hold of a big syringe, you can attach it via rubber tube to the spigots on the hub and check the hubs move.
You can blow into the opposite spigot, but don't use more than a few psi as the seals are not designed for it.

The air passages go along the stub axle, and are easy to block with grease on reasssembly of the hubs.

If you take the black hub off, with the 6 E bolts, you can merrily get the airline to the spigots, and hear the air coming out.

The air passes through the wheelbearing, and one of the seals is the wheelbearing seal. If a wheelbearing has gone, the hubs don't work.

Keep at it, you are nearly there

Found a syringe in the shed, and attached it up to the spigots.

Spigot at 4 o'clock : suction locks the hubs
Spigot at 12 o'clock: not holding a suction. Won't unlock. (Same on both sides)

Shorting out the solenoids gives the same result. I can get locked hubs from an unlocked position but they will not unlock.

What seemed like a broken pipe has uncovered a Pandoras box of problems.


(I'm ready to throw in the towel and get some manual hubs off an SJ)