E-diff retro fitting.

[oldsalt]

This makes very interesting reading.....

Disco3Club The Discovery 3 and 4 Owners Club • View topic - Locking Diff retro-fit (http://www.disco3club.co.uk/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=943&start=20)

download the PDF for full info....

[RichardK]

Yes it does, Spooky did that some time ago, I had a link when he posted it on the D3 site, a lot of intricate electrical work but a way to add the diff lock if you want to. was well thought out.

[oldsalt]

Yep, a lot of work.....I think I'll just order the e-diff on my D4 - a lot easier....:p

[isuzurover]

Or just fit a potentiometer (or switch) and make it a manual locker.

[bbyer]

Or just fit a potentiometer (or switch) and make it a manual locker.

Did you just say that one can install the "lump" on top of the rear differential and then run some wires to a switch and for good or bad, have a manually operated locking rear differential?

If I misunderstood, I sure swallowed that one.:o

[isuzurover]

Did you just say that one can install the "lump" on top of the rear differential and then run some wires to a switch and for good or bad, have a manually operated locking rear differential?

If I misunderstood, I sure swallowed that one.:o

Sort of - I imagine you would need to change the entire diff/internals from standard to the e-diff - but that is basically what I meant.

It would be quick and easy to run completely seperate, manually controlled, wiring for the e-diff. You would just need to know the voltage needed to achieve a complete lock (which you could find using bench testing) - but presumably this would be 12V. Then buy a either a switch or suitable potentiometer to work it.

The computer won't know that an e-diff is fitted, and won't be able to control it, but it you can. The traction control system will just think that both wheels have the same amount of traction when the diff is fully locked.

Unlike the e-locker fitted to toyotas, the e-diff is not really a true locker, more an e-lsd.

[101RRS]

Surely an aftermarket diff lock could be modified to fit in the diff housing. I guess it would be a matter of finding which one is the most suitable and having the skills and equipment to make it fit and work.

Here is chance for some enterprising individual.

Garry

[isuzurover]

Surely an aftermarket diff lock could be modified to fit in the diff housing. I guess it would be a matter of finding which one is the most suitable and having the skills and equipment to make it fit and work.

Here is chance for some enterprising individual.

Garry

I posted this in a previous thread:


G'day Ben,

No immediate plans for Disco 3/4 in the pipeline.
We have done the tear-down feasibility and LR made them very tough and and
an expensive development for us.
But ARB has always been a strong supporter of Land Rover, and no doubt at
all you will see them available in the future.
I think currently the cost of the Disco 3/4 is keeping the average guy away
from wanting to be too rough with them.
But when the sales numbers are there to begin thinking about paying off the
development costs then it will all happen.

ARB need to be sure there is quite a big market out there before they invest the R&D

So it seems it is not easy. Maybe Ashcroft or Jacmac are a more likely option.

[WhiteD3]

Yep, a lot of work.....I think I'll just order the e-diff on my D4 - a lot easier....:p

What I did and only 7 weeks to go before she arrives :D But I can't think of too many places where I think the e-diff would have been a must have.

[trobbo]

Given the integrated nature of the whole terrain response system I wonder what negative side affects you would achieve by tricking the trs into beliving that both back wheels are turning at the same speed? Thinking here activiation of the centre diff lock and perhaps something when the steering wheel is turned which would cause the system to expect the back wheels to turn at different speeds and thus triggering some sort of unwanted intervention.

[bbyer]

Given the integrated nature of the whole terrain response system I wonder what negative side affects you would achieve by tricking the trs into believing that both back wheels are turning at the same speed? Thinking here activation of the centre diff lock and perhaps something when the steering wheel is turned which would cause the system to expect the back wheels to turn at different speeds and thus triggering some sort of unwanted intervention.

Yes, your comment above re "some sort of unwanted intervention" is what I meant in a previous post when I said "for good or bad".

I kind of think that with the addition of anti skid and anti lock features, and the high articulation suspension systems that allow for much more than walking speed, that the days of "locked all around" may be over. It could be that the Land Rover name is now the only element common between the 3 and a Series Rover.

[isuzurover]

Given the integrated nature of the whole terrain response system I wonder what negative side affects you would achieve by tricking the trs into beliving that both back wheels are turning at the same speed? Thinking here activiation of the centre diff lock and perhaps something when the steering wheel is turned which would cause the system to expect the back wheels to turn at different speeds and thus triggering some sort of unwanted intervention.

You wouldn't be "tricking the trs" - both back wheels would actually be turning at the same speed offroad. This would be the same as you could actually encounter offroad - if the rear wheels were on a hard packed, smooth surface and the front was on an uneven surface. At lower settings (voltages) there could be differences between the wheels, as the e-diff is not a true locker as mentioned.

Doesn't the terrain response control suspension, gearbox shift patterns and throttle control??? The ETC is coupled to terrain response but acts much in the same way as ETC on earlier models (albeit further refined).

As ARB have mentioned, they have had a good look at an LR3/4, and dismantled the diff(s) on one. The only reason they haven't built a locker yet is development cost, not because it will interfere with the TRS.

[Graeme]

The E-diff uses a stepper motor that is operated by sending a predetermined number of pulses of the full operating voltage in the appropriate direction to achieve the desired pressure on the plates for anything from totally unlocked to totally locked. Full 12v will burn-out the stepper motor once it can no longer move the adjusting cam and no voltage will not reverse the motor to reduce pressure on the plates as stepper motors don't move without voltage.

A manual system could be setup to provide forward (lock) and reverse (unlock) voltage for a short period only - probably just a few milliseconds.

If one is going to the trouble to fit the diff itself, why not go the rest of the way to install the ecu and wiring and reconfigure the vehicle to use the e-diff?

[gasman]

I've got a 05 D3 poverty pack, so no air sus. I have lamented many a time the lack of a diff lock and have been stuck on so small a diagonal it's not funny.
What would be a simple fix?

[~Rich~]

Nope!
It would be easier to sell your D3 and buy one with one!