Member Since: 02 Sep 2009
Location: Herefordshire
Posts: 105
Active locking rear diff
I am currently looking at buying either a new or nearly new Discovery.
How important is an active locking rear diff? The Disco will get some regular off road use around the farm, but I am pretty sure it is capable enough without the locking diff?
I presume there are not many used examples about with the locking diff on anyway?
Any thoughts welcome!
9th Sep 2009 5:41 pm
AndrewS Tarquin of the Desert
Member Since: 06 May 2005
Location: Y...... because I can
Posts: 10440
Its very capable without the locking diff, with the locking diff its even better. There should be quite a few about second hand In the Beginning there was nothing, which exploded.
9th Sep 2009 5:48 pm
Roel
Member Since: 16 Aug 2008
Location: home
Posts: 1215
The main difference will be that traction controll starts working from about 7 km/hr and the locking diff will work directely depending on what terrain setting is used.
If you be in the field a lot it will save you a lot off rear brake pad and disc wear.Roel
1997 Camel Trophy Disco ex-P101JWK (traded it for a Britains 42101)
1984 90 TD5
2005 G4 Disco 3 BN55WPT
Also member of club MTR
and Club Faultmate
Interested in my 4x4 history see my website: www.mudmachine.webklik.nl
Sorry it's in Dutch and with google translator it gets funny.
9th Sep 2009 6:21 pm
PaulP
Member Since: 04 May 2007
Location: Barcelona
Posts: 4317
We recently had to opportunity to see the differences between a D3 with the active locking rear diff and one without during our recent get together with JF Lux here in Barcelona (I must put the photos up soon!)....
The main obstacle was a V-shaped bank some 1.4 metres high and a sharp slope on either side....It meant going up on a severe diagonal angle and dropping over the over side. At the 'balance point' the front left wheels were probably around >1.5m o more above the ground.
All D3s got up there with no real issues, however the one with the rear e-diff did it much more smoothly and with seemingly more precise control.
The other three had a std rear diff and the TC was kicking in a lot making the driver work a bit harder....these D3s tended to go over the balance point much more abruptly than the one with the active diff.
Resuming......would I specify an active rear diff on a new D3/D4? Without a doubt......it would be one of the first things to get ticked.
Would I worry about not having one when buying a second-hand D3/D4?? Not even slightly....
I still maintain that a non-locking diff equipped D3 will get to the same places as those with the diff, but maybe just with a little more noise and a little less finesse... 2006 Discovery 3 TDV6 SE AutoBuckingham Blue 2007 Golf GT DSG
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