Chat & Social > The Bar - General Chat
First time off road?
kourgath:
Hiya
Diff-lock is one of those things that make a difference to the ways a vehicle behaves.
LR products have full-time 4x4 so require a diff in the centre between front and rear axle as each wheel follows a different path when you turn- drive onto a sand/gravel flat area and do a tight turn and you'll see what I mean. For off-road driving you want to ensure that power goes to all wheels. A normal diff will send all the torque to the easiest side to turn - think of it being lazy. If you lock the diff then you get 50% at each output shaft no matter what. [I'm keeping this discussion within reason, so no tecky LSD/VC/Torsen stuff :) )
On grippy surfaces this diff-lock and 'not same paths' thing can cause damage to the transfer box/centre diff as the wheels/axles need to rotate differently but you won't let them, so something has to give. Off-road this is fine as it scrubs it away on a slippy bit. On-road it causes handling problems, extra understeer, potential damage as above.
I've suggested putting the diff-lock in (it's only the centre one in a LR unless you paid for more) as it can take some time to engage properly and without it you stop once one wheel spins. With diff-lock in, you need one wheel on each axle to spin before you stop. The light being on doesn't always mean it really has gone in so be careful, give it time.
Now without starting a religious war, LR decided not to put axle diff-locks for two reasons, 1)more profit, 2)better suspension design keeps the wheels more evenly loaded on the ground so less chance of a wheel spinning. Part-time systems don't have a centre diff, so should only be used in 2wd on grippy roads. Also many 4x4's have different suspension design priorities, so often have less wheel movement so are more likely to cock a wheel in the air, so manufacturers offer a rear diff lock to overcome the downsides of nicer on-road handling. You pays your money and takes your choice.
Land Rover have been fitting Anti-roll bars onto disco's for some time now and these can have a negative effect on off-road abilit traded off with less lean on road.
Cheers
Gavin /kourgath
Matt.t.:
thanks gavin, i think i understood, we will see, i will soon learn
baz2236:
Hi I am organizing a trip over to Three Holes near Wisbeach for this weekend it’s a 4x4 pay and play site you are more then welcome to come along its not a very big site like tixover but it might be good for you to get used to your truck and see what it can do.
Here is the link
http://forums.mud-club.com/viewtopic.php?p=467443#467443
Matt.t.:
cheers i would, but doubt i will have a car now the disco i was gettin, caught fire!!
another weeknd searchign by the looks of it!
kourgath:
bu&&er me backwards throuh a hedge as a mate used to say (no not in the evening when camping)
Hope you get a decent motor, maybe it's better it caught fire before you bought it not 10 mins after...
C ya G
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