Printable View
I'm not convinced about high speed unsealed and locking the centre diff. I just did the Plenty, part of the Birdsville, Walkers Track and various others and did not lock the centre once and it felt fine. On the other hand, I certainly locked up in low on the Simpson.
Locking the centre at speed certainly causes more understeer.
You blokes must have very different engines to what I've got,the center diff needs one side to spin up to weld itself together,what mods have you blokes done to get enough power to either the front or rear wheels to get them spinning on high speed dirt :o. Pat
You're right, mine's a standard 300Tdi so wheel spinning is not a big issue. Ha!
Well that's been an interesting discussion, :o
So my interpretation.
Stop to engage CDL, not on the fly, as that could provide a nasty shock ot the system, although it was not mentioned.
The jury is out on smooth fast gravel where there is no wheel getting excessive or lack of traction, my gut feel is unlocked.
Where traction varies significantly, ie snow, sand, bulldust and corrugations, CDL locked to prevent shock loads through the system, and keep it below 80.
This could be a pain where you get a stretch of corrugation unexpectedly on a fast section. ? (stopping to engage CDL)
I have never stopped to engage/disengage CDL. Just make sure you are travelling straight ahead and not accelerating hard.Quote:
Originally Posted by AndyG
When I turn onto the dirt (usually loose pea gravel in WA). I engage CDL on the fly, when I am coming up to bitumen or hard packed dirt I disengage CDL on the fly, allowing time for it to fully disengage.
I always push in the clutch when engaging 4WD in a Hilux, i suppose doing same for CDL will help it along be removing any load
As isuzurover said, no need to stop to engage or disengage CDL.Quote:
Originally Posted by AndyG
The only time there would be a nasty shock to the system would be if one or more wheels were spinning.
All you need to do to ensure that isn't happening on any surface is to momentarily push the clutch in.
In a 90 I much prefer the added traction and understeer of a locked cd on loose gravel at speed. The 90 can be real skittish if not careful, cdl helps keep my speed in check. If I'm going too fast round a bend I'd rather have an oversteer warning instead of the rear axle overtaking me!
I think cdl is under rated,,Very rarely use it myself , Have changed my opinion now!. Two weeks ago a very steep hill climb in sloppy gravel just couldn't climb it. Traction control was working overtime , 2nd or 1st gear low range but no progress, so cdl on and 1st gear low, foot off the pedals completely and it drove it self up the hill with very little wheel spin at all ..my puma can drive itself better than I can drive it...
The steeper the hill the more weight you transfer from the front wheels to the rear.Thus the more you need to use the cdl. I have no qualms driving mine all day on dirt unlocked but also no problem locking it before I enter a wheelspin situation. And I lock/unlock it on the move.