Club 80-90 Forums

i've put this in tech no answers so thought i would ask on the dark side how hard/easy, expensive/cheap,worthwile/pointless would it be to fit rear diff locks to a 2wd cheers baldy
viewtopic.php?f=37&t=78999

I asked aidan same question 3 or 4 months ago. It's possible, can be done when gearbox rebuilt. Then you have to sort vacuum lines and knobs, diff lock facia ect. Won't be cheap.

I'd imagine it would also be mostly pointless.

Sure, it will get you out of that soggy campsite or that snowed in parking spot, but actual (road) driving on snow/ice with a locked diff isn't particularly safe nor stable.

Even just climbing a snowy hill with a locked rear diff would most likely get you more sideways than up.

If you want extra traction on mud or snow just use snow chains or mud tyres...or mud chains and snow tyres...you know what I mean

andy simpson's 2wd van with a rear diff lock never sceams to amaze me with just how far he can take it off road. he manages to go most of the places that us in syncro's go .
it sounds wonderful too but that is his engine, would be worth talking to aidan about the costs involved in the work.

neil

oh and i think that doug has some sort of electrical set up to engage his diff locks, so that vacuum lines do not have to be used.

neil

depends what you want to do with it. if its only more traction you`re after on road then a lsd may work out cheaper as its only the unit you need to buy. no switch and vacuum gear.

Might be cheaper to get a limo diff from GoWesty .....

>>CLICKY<<

thanks for you comments chaps, looks like i'm still gonna have to keep searching for a rhd diesel syncro single cab then

Diff lock works well, if used sensibly..
LSD good all round road option and user friendly.. (ie you dont have to worry who's gonna pull the lock on at the wrong time)

Aidan can biuld a 2wd diff lock box..

He can also supply the OE LSD's now too...

But if you really need the ultimate traction... then yes.. full on Syncro system works so well..

The added traction of a rear locker in 2wd is only marginal. it works best on uneven terrain where you are likely to lift a wheel but you'll be disappointed if you are looking to have a rear locker give you any more than an edge on standard 2wd on flat surfaces. I have a decoupler fitted to my syncro so have had the privilege of testing the syncro in all modes of drive. I tested the rear locker driving up a steep grassy gully which is impossible to drive up in open 2wd. With the rear locker engaged and the front diff decoupled I tried to drive up the hill while maintaining the same pace to make a fair comparison. The result actually surprised me as I really expected to get much further up the hill having the rear diff locked. It did get me up slightly further but it was nothing to brag about and I soon lost all traction only unlike with an open diff I began sliding sideways towards a fence.

Engaging 4x4 without lockers on the same slope is a night and day difference over the rear locker. Not only will it drive up the gully but with absolute impunity. I am able to crawl up at a snails pace without wheel spin and can even restart from a standstill at the steepest point on the hill. I can't imagine a lsd making any noticeable difference over an open diff.

Even if you can just find a syncro without difflocks you'd have something far more capable than a 2wd with a locker
Just me .02c

Quite a lot of LHD Syncro's came with no lockers and the sure footedness of just 4WD is quite amazing. Lockers are for when it gets rough. I have noticed most of the German Government vehicles were not fitted with lockers.