Diff Lockers - user impressions

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

There was a letter to the editor in the latest Overander asking the same question.The answer from the mag was a general ok on other vehicles but no specific information for the Prado, ask ARB for details on the compatibility with traction control. What worried me was the comment in the letter saying "on constant slippery surfaces where traction control may deplete itself after 30 seconds or so". This statement either means that the TRC switches off after 30 seconds or (HELP) the brakes no longer work after 30 seconds! Does anyone have experience or knowledge about this?

For what it is worth I cannot see any reason why manual diff locks couldn't be used eventhough the TRC is not disengaged by locking the centre diff. The TRC system would simply see that all the wheels are turning at the same speed so would not need to engage the brakes to limit wheelspin.

[StormyKnight Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close StormyKnight]

For what it is worth I cannot see any reason why manual diff locks couldn't be used eventhough the TRC is not disengaged by locking the centre diff. The TRC system would simply see that all the wheels are turning at the same speed so would not need to engage the brakes to limit wheelspin.

I agree....TRC should be quite happy & not get involved!

[halojump Member Find all posts View Profile Close halojump]

surfaces where traction control may deplete itself after 30 seconds or so". This statement either means that the TRC switches off after 30 seconds or (HELP) the brakes no longer work after 30 seconds! Does anyone have experience or knowledge about this?

Like any ABS\brake based traction control they get quite hot. Eventually they shut down to cool. Occasionally the computer gets confused and needs a reset.

If of course you own a POS Landrover like I did for 11 months the TRC disengages\works\wont work at random intervals. (It was so great LR forgot to include the centre diff-lock on this fine example of British automotive history)

I've only had one issue with the Prado system where the VSC\TRC light did not go out until I restarted. Had Toyota check the fault code and it was related to the brake light circuit (???). No problems since though.

TRC is really only useful for light conditions, mud etc. thus the reasoning behind a diff-lock.

[MattWhite Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close MattWhite]

I have had auto-locking diffs in the rear of both part time and full time 4wds. For a part time 4wd I would put the auto locker in only if the vehicle wasn't going to see much city driving.

But for a full time 4wd I would definitely do an auto locker. The big difference is that while only one wheel is driven in corners with a part time in 2wd, there are 3 wheels being driven in a full time 4wd when cornering (one rear and both fronts via the centre diff). With my last 4wd and auto locker you couldn't make the inner wheel chirp no matter how hard you accelerated in a corner.

Does this meen you have one in your Prado? Do you find it obtrusive? What brand do you have. I've fited one to a Hilux (not mine) and it worked well but a bit agricultural.

[quadcam Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close quadcam]

Does this meen you have one in your Prado? Do you find it obtrusive? What brand do you have. I've fited one to a Hilux (not mine) and it worked well but a bit agricultural.

I have had an original type Detroit locker in a Navara and a new style Detroit soft-locker in a Discovery. I haven't fitted anything to the Prado as it was brought to fit in the inlaws (outlaws?) and the kids. I have to admit that it has barely been off a sealed road. When it was new I couldn't bring myself to take it on the beach and since then I have thought if it goes offroad it will knock the resale value. It is 5 years old (with 68k) this month and I am contemplating whether to keep it and go offroad or swap to something new. The main quandry is that it doesn't have drivers seat height adjustment so my wife only drives it as a last resort.

The soft-locker in the Discovery was barely perceptable to me (and I obviously knew it was there) but other people driving it couldn't notice any difference from normal. It might possibly be a bit more noticable in a Prado because the centre diff torque split is biased to the rear axle. You certainly notice them in a part time 4wd but like you say they are effective.

The appeal to me is the automatic operation. With a manual locker if you don't lock it in time you have to lift off the throttle to get the wheels the same speed before locking. And that could mean a loss of momentum when you need it. With an auto locker as soon as the driven inside wheel reaches the same speed as the outside wheel it locks them together until either the outer wheel can freewheel faster with power still applied or else you lift off and it allows the slower wheel to freewheel.
Maybe the answer is a VX (seat height) and the locker.

[MattWhite Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close MattWhite]

You've got me curious now. I always thought about an air locker but while they are great, for me personally, I couldn't justify it. I know you can get some cheap auto lockers like a Lok-rite (spelling?) which is the one I fitted but the teeth were noisy on corners. I'm curious to find prices for auto lockers now.
Matt

[quadcam Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close quadcam]

I think the cheaper lockers replace the inner pinions and side gears in the original diff centre. The Detroit locker comes in its own centre meaning that your crownwheel is fitted to the detroit centre and that goes back in the diff housing. Make sure you get the price for the Soft locker, it will have SL in the part number. That is the newer style.

[Damien Parker Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Damien Parker]

What about the Trutrac???

[MattWhite Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close MattWhite]

Yeah, the one I did just replaced the spider gears and had a ramp sort of set-up. When load was applied under acceleration this ramp or cam action forced the dog gears to engage and lock the axles so around corners all was good till you accelerated and it suddenly locked. Like I said earlier. It was a locker but not sure if I'd buy it now. Maybe 10 years ago! :roll: :lol:

[Wil Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Wil]

Re: Diff Lockers - user impressions

Did anybody ever get around to installing a auto locker into the back or their Prado?

Will

[quadcam Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close quadcam]

Re: Diff Lockers - user impressions

Did anybody ever get around to installing a auto locker into the back or their Prado?

Will

I didn't.

I bought a 2 door Pajero with a factory rear diff lock. And my impression of that is I would would prefer an auto locker because an auto locker does exactly that. The manual lock doesn't always engage when you activate the switch, you sometimes have to move the vehicle a bit, obviously to align teeth, etc.

And, when you engage it you also have to disengage it, so you are constantly reaching for the switch. It would be better if the cruise control switches were dual use so a couple of them doubled as the diff lock switches when the cruise was off. That way you could engage or disengage the lock and not have to reach for the switch somewhere else. At one time I thought the lock was slow to engage only to check the switch and find I had turned on the passenger seat heater instead.

[garystockton Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close garystockton]

Re: Diff Lockers - user impressions

Hi all,

Sorry to resurrect an old thread. And I hope I'm in the right place - had look around via search and this seems to be it ...

I have a 2005 LC5 (Grande equivalent) which seems to come std with an open rear diff and ATRC II+ / VSC, etc. Whilst that is probably great for kerb-crawling and most 'casual' off-road use, and even some more technical stuff, I'm prepping for an overland trip through Africa, back to Cape Town (I hope :lol: ). I also want to start to use the vehicle a bit more heavily in more adventurous ways, like the 2011 la Croisière Blanche in France which can be a bit hectic.

I've managed to acquire a used but in very good condition OEM rear e-locker for the 120, and am starting to look seriously at swapping-out the open diff for the e-locker (being very aware of 'the Diff Club'!). I can't afford an ARB for the back yet - I will have to put one in the front eventually :lol:

So given all that, can anyone see any (other) reason why I should not do this, and are there any other issues / gotcha's I should be aware of when doing this move? It 'seems' that this could be a straight swap - I may need to cut a channel in the housing for the actuator, and I have to find the bits for the wiring loom, so I'm not rushing ... I can get the switch no problem :lol:

Many thanks,

Gary

[samo Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close samo]

Re: Diff Lockers - user impressions

got the rear locker about a month ago and im very happy with it, offroad ability is greatly improved than b4, used it a few times, doesnt impact on vehicle till ya flick that little blue switch, ARB newcastle did the install and it was a very neat job. cheers samo

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

Re: Diff Lockers - user impressions

hi, i had front and rear lockers installed a while ago, the difference in off road ability is unbelivable, i had great fun snatching out a mate in his 100 series last weekend after he got stuck in a spot that i just walked through.

cheers Andrew