Chat & Social > The Bar - General Chat

I better ask this before I break something...

(1/6) > >>

gords:
OK, I've just got hold of a Drivers Manual (thanks Matt_H) and read the gearbox and transmission section.

More specifically, the Differential Lock bit.

Firstly, I claim immunity from smart-arse replies because this is my first 4x4 and I've only had it a short while :lol:

OK, the questions - is my Discovery permanent 4 wheel drive? If so, what is the diff lock doing and why does the manual say "ALWAYS unlock the differential for normal road driving"?

OK, start shooting :wink:

datalas:
The discovery is a Perminant 4 wheel drive.  That is power is applied to both the front and rear wheels.

During normal driving conditions there are occasions where the front wheels (as a pair) need to turn faster than the back ones (as a pair) and vice versa.  In the same way that the left wheel may need to turn faster than the right one.

To cope with this a differential is used, which allows power to be distributed more evenly, or at least allows one side to spin at different rates to the other.  

A discovery has three diffs, one in each axle, front and rear.. and one in the middle.

There are of course occasions off road when you do not want to distribute power in this way, for example if you lift both front wheels off the floor, since they are easier to turn they will get 100% of the power delivered by the engine.   This will leave you floundering like a beached whale.

The Differential lock "locks" the diff, that is to say, it essentially turns it off, so 50% of the power goes backwards, 50% goes forwards.  This will allow you to get out of some nasty situations, but would result in unpleasent handling if used on road (which has good grip etc)

Ergo (as it used to say on the little red plate) "the differential lock should be engaged only when traction is likely to be lost"

Hope that answers the question

Colin 009:
Ok I be gentle  :lol:

Yes your Discovery is permanent 4 wheel drive,

As I understand it the diff -lock, locks the front and rear diffs together.

Well done Datalas beat me to it.

gords:
OK, got it 8)

I was under the misconception that it was normally 2 wheel drive and the "little gearstick" put it into 4 wheel drive, high or low ratio.

So, what's all this about my transmission getting "wound up" and what calms it down again :wink:

Andy.:
Excellent summary there Daz  :D

So you did go to school, or have spent all your years around Land Rovers  :lol:

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page