Thread: Active Rear Locking Differential: is it worth? Rational?

Better in tight rough stuff and better re-sale value

While the rear locker definitely adds capability for most situations (particularly sand and even snow) my guess is your tyre pattern, profile and pressure will have more effect on your available traction than a rear diff lock.

What tyre size and pressures are you running in sand and snow?

For the rock step or scrabbly incline the rear diff lock is definitely an advantage, but versions without will go almost as far as those with.

Cheers

Dan

Originally Posted by Disco-tastic

While the rear locker definitely adds capability for most situations (particularly sand and even snow) my guess is your tyre pattern, profile and pressure will have more effect on your available traction than a rear diff lock.

What tyre size and pressures are you running in sand and snow?

For the rock step or scrabbly incline the rear diff lock is definitely an advantage, but versions without will go almost as far as those with.

Cheers

Dan

Dan You have a point. However, generally speaking you compare cars with same tyres and wheels.

I run 255/55 19 Cooper Zeon LTZ on standard pressure. In snow I use Vredestein Wintrac Xtreme same size and pressure.

However when I got stuck on the wet rock climbing, my mate was on the same car but with much better tyres: Cooper STT Pro 275/65 18 on Compomotive wheels. He got stuck the same. On the rear axle one wheel was spinning the other was blocked !

N

If your tyre pressures were full pressure then I am not surprised you struggled on wet rock...

My experience with my D3 was that a rear diff lock would only get you %% further than without. What it did do was make the other 95 % of situations much easier.
Would I fret about not having one if I already owned a vehicle without one fitted? No
Would I order one with a new vehicle or make it a significant requirement for a second hand one ? Absolutely.

Have a look at this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GECmf0B-vT0

The Black RRS does not have a rear diff lock and on the day it was obvious that the diff lock equipped cars did things just that bit easier. For comparison my vehicle was the Atacama Sand D3 with the tyre on the roof.



Regards,
Tote

Originally Posted by Dr LC8

Dan You have a point. However, generally speaking you compare cars with same tyres and wheels.

I run 255/55 19 Cooper Zeon LTZ on standard pressure. In snow I use Vredestein Wintrac Xtreme same size and pressure.

However when I got stuck on the wet rock climbing, my mate was on the same car but with much better tyres: Cooper STT Pro 275/65 18 on Compomotive wheels. He got stuck the same. On the rear axle one wheel was spinning the other was blocked !

N

Hey Dr LC8.

Here's a thread about tyre pressures and rear diff locks

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/l319-disco...omparison.html

As said it definitely helps, but the lack of it shouldn't stop you in most situations.

Hope that info helps you make the call

Cheers

Dan

Also the RRS in Tote's video is from memory a 2005 model. The Terrain Response and Traction Control has come along way in 10 years and is much better, closing the gap to eDiff equipped vehicles.

Originally Posted by Dr LC8

I have done an extensive research and it can't be installed as aftermarket.

Your research has not been sufficiently extensive as it's quite simple to retrofit, with the biggest hurdle finding a complete rear diff with the correct ratio supplied with at least the connectors with wire stubs although wiring right through to the RDCU would best. However the D4 e-diff driveshafts with their stronger CVs should also be fitted.

I have just the diff itself left to fit to my MY12 L322, with the control unit fitted, wired and enabled in the CCF. As the RDCU came from a different vehicle to the diff, the diff will have to be calibrated to the RDCU.