Thread: Latest LRO International Mag - article on Diff lock D2 or not

I've heard that the TC set-up improved through the life of D2s, but on early ones (mine's a 99) TC alone is positively dangerous. It is so slow to respond and overly agressive when it does that even with 20psi and BFG A/T I was scrabbling all over the place - thankfully I have the option of engaging CDL which I now definitely do after that first code brown experience... You shouldn't have to hit the accelerator to get the TC to respond - that's a good way to break things and damage tracks. CDL and a more controlled approach is much more sensible...

Thats intersting Feral...didnt know that they improved it but then again its just a computer progam so its easy to do. Mine is late 01 build and complianced 02 - very last of the rectangle headlights.

Cheers

A D2 with TC alone, will not get as far as a D2 with a CDL and TC engaged, i know this because i've tried it numerous times, not only that, the way the car handles with only the TC is god dam dangerous, with wheels spinning and the car bouncing and jumping sideways, it can make an easy hill bloody hard work.

It's even worse if your towing up hill with only TC, but as soon as you engage that centre Diff, the car just cruises up, in most situations with the CDL engaged, the TC won't even activate.

Baz.

And speaking from recent experience, having the CDL you can still get home if your front shaft unis start chirping by removing the shaft before it goes BANG and drive with rear wheels only. I also found on a recent VHC trip after experimenting with CDL and non CDL hill ascents, having the CDL engaged along with ABS and TC the truck climbed loose tracks easier and almost zero wheel spin so environmentally friendly to boot.
Cheers
DaveF

Signature? I thought I had one, must have been mistaken....

Originally Posted by DaveF

And speaking from recent experience, having the CDL you can still get home if your front shaft unis start chirping by removing the shaft before it goes BANG and drive with rear wheels only.

Having had the front prop shaft break and then finding out that this is quite common, I am going to get the CDL for that reason alone. But the rear diff lock will wait until a few other things get done.

When off-road I almost always use my CDL. That being said, the TC recently threw me sideways into a large rock causing quater panel damage. The guys with me said that all was going well until the TC kicked in and the car jumped. The track was rather challenging however, it was out at Menai with the suzuki club.

My panel beating skills are now improving.

..arrhhh..but did the TC: get you up the hill

I would have to agree with most of the comments having fitted a cable recently prior to my trip up Cape York. The traction control is a great system and will get you most places, but if you have an easy option to use your CDL like I did with my 99 model then go for it. It makes the world of difference in your confidence climbing up steep and loose trails. Yep, in the past I have made it through the Vic high country and other tracks on TC alone but always have to wait to get traction with loss of momentum and lots of funny TC noise and wheel spin and using a lot more boot. The other side of the coin is that you should use "hill descent" mode going down a slippery hill if you don't have a CDL as it would be possible to have 3 wheels running away while one is slipping under engine braking. Strikes me as a safety issue if your electronic TC has a failure.