Thread: Ashcroft atb

Originally Posted by bigkevg

Anyone got the Ashcroft atb diffs fitted to their D2. How does it go with TC. How does this setup compare to electric/air lockers?
Cheers
Kev
99td5

Kev, Only can comment on twin trutracks fitted to a D2 with TC, unstoppable. The Ashcroft ATB operates in a similar fashion so same or better results will be had!

JC

Hi i have fitted the ATB to my rear diff, works amazing very tight the only time it soesn't work is if the wheel goes into the air nd the the t/c takes care of that and gets it moving both wheels again

Thanks for the replies guys, and at the risk of starting an argument, and I hope it doesn't, are you happy with the style of diffs, would you get full lockers given the choice, or are these just as good in your opinion.
If not, where do you think, or find that full lockers would be advantageous?

Sorry about all the questions, but I have driven mostly other brands, both with and without lockers, none with this style of diff, but this is my first D2 with TC.

Cheers
Kev

Kev, I think that a TC equipped vehicle really benefits from the ATB differential, more so than without TC as the application of the brake to the freespinning wheel turns the ATB into a virtual locker. It is also a lot kinder on axles and CV's, so IMO I would go ATB over airlocker etc.

Non TC equipped vehicle I would pick one or the other depending on your perceived use of the vehicle. Lockers (Which will usually require and axle upgrade too) for more extreme stuff, ATB (Which can be installed with no other mods or strengthening required) for allround duties, including extreme if used in conjunction with beadlocks, low pressures and crawler gears etc.

JC

In a previous car (v8 90) I had vacuum operated Maxidrives front & rear,
in my current Td5 110 Defender with Traction Control I have installed Eaton (Detroit) TrueTrac front & rear ( rear is a Salisbury)

Dont confuse the TrueTracs with Detroit Locker they are in no way similar.

For the purposes of your topic Ashcroft ATB are the same as a TrueTrac, they are a Torsen style LSD ( Qualfe LSD is the same too) I am calling them TrueTrac

Alone TrueTracs are very good but combined with Traction Control they are brilliant.

If my opinion means anything (30+ years of Landrovering & (Toyota-erring) for my style of 4WDing the dual TrueTrac & Traction Control far outshines the selectable difflocks.

Now before the I thought the 110 with TC was good, actually better at climbing than the 90 was with difflocks, but when I go out to find a section that really tests the traction control like an open culvert that I drive across at 45 diagonal two opposing wheels leave the ground & the car sits balancing
the traction control would kick in & take a few seconds to realise the problem & 'grind' its way through the obstacle, & you could not reverse back
as the TC wont work in reverse.

Now with the TrueTracs installed I can park on the obstacle & go forwards & or backwards, The TC light dosent even come on.

The biggest test I found was a slippery clay hill with water running down the left side rut. Going up the TC light was on the whole way but I do not hear the ABS pump or the chattering like before, Going up in reverse was impossible before , But now If I gently hold my left foot on the brake to slow the spinning wheels in the rut the TrueTrac transfers torque to the other side & up she goes. ( thats the only time full diff locks will be better)

OK why else do I think the Truetrac are so good

1 they are gentle on axles, you do not have to get HD axles & CV's like with a diff lock
2 they are always ready to go & you dont have to think you might get stuck & conciously engage anything
3 much less back lash - infact apart from the .2 mm CW&P backlash there is no slop in the diff at all , which means less wear & tear on the center diff
4 Cheap & easy to install
5 Much stronger than rover diffs

I could go on but you get the idea.

If you set on Ashcroft ATB's fair enough but I got the TrueTracs from Great Basin Rovers in Utah, they have a great $60US priority postage deal going,
worth an enquiry, nobody knows Landrover diffs like Bill at GBR does

Also be aware the front & rear are diferent so dont mix them up, they look the same.

Once again thanks for the great replies.

I was looking at full diff locks, but in my research saw the atb. I then chanced upon another post with a comment about the good feedback of this style with the TC.

I will have to seriously consider this option I think.
Cheers


Oh, if anyone has a negative response, feel free to jump in.

Kev

Originally Posted by bigkevg

Once again thanks for the great replies.

I was looking at full diff locks, but in my research saw the atb. I then chanced upon another post with a comment about the good feedback of this style with the TC.

I will have to seriously consider this option I think.
Cheers


Oh, if anyone has a negative response, feel free to jump in.

Kev

only negatives i have heard (and experienced) is when they are fitted to the front, a bit of the loud pedal will steer you during a corner, and the use of left to right side uneven tyre diameters and / or different pressures will cause handling problems.

jc

Originally Posted by justinc

only negatives i have heard (and experienced) is when they are fitted to the front, a bit of the loud pedal will steer you during a corner, and the use of left to right side uneven tyre diameters and / or different pressures will cause handling problems.

jc

Yes I forgot about that, I found it a bit wierd at first but you get used to it after a day or so, power will help pull you out of a corner on the tarmac .
You can turn that into a plus because if one of your front tyres has a slow leak it will start pulling to that side after a differance of about 2psi, And then you know you have to fix that tyre before it becomes a problem.