Thread: Whats the difference between a locking center diff and Viscous Coupling

Originally Posted by oversite

So the viscous coupling works to lock the center differential automatically?

No the VC is permanently locked with the ability for a little bit of slip between front and rear. Jeep Cherokee use the same Borg Warner transfer box.

Originally Posted by oversite

Thanks Guys,

Is there anything like a 2wd conversion kit for range rovers that allows for driving in 2wd and then locking into 4wd?

I know they make them for 80-100 series land cruisers but I've never seen anything for land/range rovers/

There is the Santana gearset for the LT230. Santana where licenced to build Land Rovers in Spain and they made derivatives of their own, the Iveco masstif was the last version before they started building the Iveco Forward Control 4X4 that has recently gone on sale in Aust.

The Santana version of the LT230 was rear 2WD with selectable 4WD but they discarded the centre diff so you can't have constant 4X4 on road. That said, unless you have a rear Salisbury diff, you wouldn't want to be pushing the entire weight of a Range Rover or Defender on one Rover diff and axle half-shafts for very long.

Diana

So is the viscous coupling serviceable??

Servicable NO replaceable YES.
Regards Philip A

Yes, its a "consumable"... along with the output shaft. If you're going that far, the chain may be suspect as well...

A certain British company did at one stage pull them apart and re-fill with the correct "stuff". - But due to the extreme hazards involved, they lost interest.

Do not even think of grinding one apart....