Vaccum Front Hubs

Can anyone tell me what the problem appears to be with the original front hubs. What goes wrong with them and can they be made to perform satisfactorily.
Mine appear to be ok at the moment, but I would like to keep them that way.
Ian.

Two problems really, IMHO:

1) They stick-out (not physically) the inners stick ... thus you losing traction to front wheels - happened to me at Tong last year

2) Vaccuum Pipe Break and air loss - and Hubs fail - again no front wheel traction

3) Sometmes the 'switch' on T-Case fails and leads to no vaccuum pressure - again lack traction

Get Manual Free Wheeling Hubs - so much better, but dont forget you'll need spacers for Manual Hubs - BigJimny, B4V, and JimnyBits all sell spacers.

HTHs?

I love them and would never change to manuals. If you ever encounter a problem message me.
I keep the proper socket a drive on my truck at all times in case I am in the mud and need to un do one side and manualy pull the locking device. takes five mins .

jo king wrote: I love them and would never change to manuals. If you ever encounter a problem message me.
I keep the proper socket a drive on my truck at all times in case I am in the mud and need to un do one side and manualy pull the locking device. takes five mins .

It takes 5 mins to undo the vac hubs but once you've gone manual it takes 30secs to lock them, all without tools!!!
I did quite like the fact you could lock them without getting out of the truck, they soon got on my wick when they wouldn't disengage. I had to take them off and do it manually after using 4wd everytime.
Even if you have to knock it out of 4wd you just leave them locked.
I would rather have the piece of mind that they will work when i want them to. Its just not worth the effort of trying to keep the vac hubs.

Mine have been fiddled with and the pipes have been replace with nylon lines. OK, i have not had the Jimny fo more than a few months but im very happy with the locking hubs so far. Also due to the rock lobster I have a switch in the cab to lock them, so at least a few of the negatives have been dealt with!

Jo King, what are the tools you keep with you??

I keep a socket set with the star shaped sockets and a few spanners including me pliers mould grips just for peace of mind.
As for the pipes well I use 4 mm legris polyurethane tubing and two plastic push fit equal tees.
I have never not even once had to undo the hubs and engage the hubs manually.
I have the tools just in case but my pipes are routed from the hubs straight up through the inner wing following the brake lines. Like I say I truely love how suzuki have done this set up but not the route of the original pipes.
Sponne's truck is done similar to this and like he says he has no issues. I am on my fith jimny and I believe that pneumatic RULE!!