I have off roaded Jeeps and Toyotas for over 50 years . I have never seen a Jeep FAD failure ? Lots of front U Joint and rear axle fails . Not sure what Fire guy has heard . Maybe because some old ones would fail to engage because of a leak in the vacuum line ?
TFL just broke their Tacoma
- Thread starter Fightnfire
- Start date
Fightnfire
Moderator
There's a whole aftermarket support network for deleting the FAD and/or replacing with with beefier components in the Jeep off-road world. It is not as susceptible to issues as the Toyota ADD but it's something Jeep people talk about.
The FAD, or front axle disconnect device, is a theoretical weak spot in the solid axle of the Jeep Wrangler. It's made up of two components, a collar, and a hole in the axle housing. The FAD is a fuel mileage improvement device that's used in some JL Wrangler and JT Gladiator vehicles. It frees up the front axle from rotating when four-wheel-drive is not engaged.
It's become enough of an issue that some newer Rubicons are shipping without a FAD device.
Fightnfire
Moderator
Needed is an interesting word because it's on the vast majority of them and many of the hardcore off-road group and over landing group delete it or modify it.
That is something bad that comes from forums. People start deleting or adding or modding things not out of necessity but because, "Everyone on the forum is doing it", with no real reason behind it. Then it's cemented in stone, "this stock part is crap". You start following those fads and the next thing you know you have "angry eyes" on your Jeep and you look like a tool....
Beninbeta
Well-known member
I agree with this as well @Dusdaddy, but I'm probably still getting tires right away. LOL. However, we're just going to do tires and sliders and wait to see if we need skid plates or not. No lifts or new suspension until we see if we need that or not. So I appreciate this forum and all of the help and resources everyone provides. And because it's more general, you get more different thoughts and experiences to balance what's on the specific forums too.
Oh yeah, you do you. Never worry about what others think or do. And changing stock tires is extremely common. I used to go to a local custom wheel/tire shop and get take-offs cheap. Until stock wheels became $1200 a piece for some reason.
Beninbeta
Well-known member
You are definitely not your average old fart and it does kind of look like a Dyson, but I've always liked it myself, but it is polarizing.
Lol ..yeah, I have been in tech my whole life from avionics on aircraft to electronics manufacturing. And turning wrenches with my father on trucks/jeeps. I'm a sucker for "new". Sometimes it doesn't work out but sometimes it turns into everyday life. Like auto tranny's and fuel injection, EVs will become everyday life, no sense fighting it.
I think the best thing Toyota could do is a full presentation of the findings. I suspect the ADD didn’t engage fully or some other one off situation occurred. If that’s not the case and it’s really a weak link (maybe because the new engine has more torque?) they still should be upfront about it and start planning for a recall.
Fightnfire
Moderator
Ok, that's a terrible video lol.
I think it did what they intended to do. They showed it wouldn’t break under similar conditions.
Fightnfire
Moderator
I meant terrible as in if you're going to title your video "We went where TFL broke their new Tacoma" then make a point to stop and point out the exact area and spot. Talk about the driving conditions at that spot, recreate the scene a little. Tell us if you're in 4LO or 4HI. They bashed the truck 2 or 3 times but I don't really think I learned anything.
Beninbeta
Well-known member
Yeah, I totally agree with you.
GMT 900
Well-known member
Notice the best journalism in the piece; at Timestamp 00:12, when the guy in the foreground says they are going to "Try and Break Something" the smartest one of the three gives his (leg raised) opinion on the left to his partner's stupid idea.
Ben will save us with useful Tacoma content.
Beninbeta
Well-known member
@GMT 900 I will try my best! We're getting a huge snowstorm on the day I'm supposed to pick it. So I'll get a quick test of the tires. But the next morning I'm having Wildpeak AT4Ws installed so I'll get to do a quick comparison of the snow performance between the two which should be interesting. It's going to rain and the snow on top of that and I imagine it'll be icy. I'll get to test 4WD pretty much when I pick it up. I'll just need to be careful so I don't wreck it right away as I'm not trying to break something. 
I think the one thing I found confirming in that video is those tires are not very good in the snow/ice, but they at least got them pretty far. I think they just started with the YouTube videos, so they are just learning, but R4T is an off road Tacoma shop so I did expect a little more from that video!
I think the one thing I found confirming in that video is those tires are not very good in the snow/ice, but they at least got them pretty far. I think they just started with the YouTube videos, so they are just learning, but R4T is an off road Tacoma shop so I did expect a little more from that video!