Date: Tue, 19 Oct 2004 20:00:52 GMT From: "SAABurger" <furnyburgernospamorld.com> Subject: Re: What exactly is "free wheeling"
"MH" <nomailnospamere.no> wrote in message news:ck9n7e$a26$1nospam6.zwoll1.ov.home.nl... > > I recall that Waartburgs ( also 2 stroke ? ) had freewheeling hubs > > But I think that is different, more like a differential lock. > > > and Land Rovers used to have it as an option. > > Years ago (late 1970s) I used a Ford Bronco that had the lockable front > wheel hubs too. > Yes. My mate's Suzuki X-90 (circa 1997) has lockable freewheels at the font. They are common on 4WD off-roaders. The logic is that freewheeling front wheels are good for steering when foot is off the accelerator. Otherwise you can lose steerage under engine breaking on downhill slippy bits. You can therefore regard freewheeling front hubs (on off-roaders) as "passive ABS" if you like. Also, with the drag at the back you are more likely to stay facing downhill. This reason is completely different from that relating to Saab's 2-stroke days (as provided by Goran and with which I completely agree, I hasten to add). Adrian