D4 Any Added Value of Rear Diff lock over TRS?

[David Hannett]

Hi All
I am having to replace my 6 mth old D4 due to it being a write off - (ingested water engine hydraulic lock) but thats another story ...
Question is should I go for the rear Diff lock option this time around? - Is there additional value in having the rear diff lock beyond what the standard TRS functionality provides to justify the added cost and wait time for delivery from the factory?
cheers

[Tote]

Depends on what you are doing....
I've got one on my D3 and I reckon its worth it for that last 5% of traction when you really need it. I've got a mate with a 100 series cruiser, dual diff locks and lifted 2" on 33"tyres and on the really tough stuff the Disco is it's equal despite the smaller tyres. My thoughts are that the diff lock contributes to this.
If you dont often need this sort of capability save yourself the wait and the $1000 and dont specify it. I think it would also make the vehicle a little easier to sell when you want to as well.

Regards,
Tote

[isuzurover]

IMHO - yes - if you will be taking it on the beach/mud/difficult terrain.

Have a read of the last 2 pages of the independant vs live axle suspension thread (if you can wade through the BS).

There are a couple of quotes from puma owners, and a vid of a RRS offroad. From the quotes and the vid you can see that the stop-start/not completely smooth action of the ETC/TRS causes you to lose some momentum, which can hamper your progress in some conditions offroad. The D4 system is likely better but it cannot be completely seamless otherwise they wouldn't have bothered with deeveloping the e-locker.

With a full locker this effect should not happen, unless both rear wheels have negligible traction and you are relying on the front.

[CSBrisie]

When I sold my D3, every second person (carsales.com.au) asked if it had the Rear E-diff...it didnt....I now own a D4 and ticked the $1050 option.

[WhiteD3]

I have a D4 on order with an e-diff. For $1000 it was an easy decision. I'm sure it'll add value to car when I sell it and will be handy in those very few instances where its needed.

[101RRS]

I saw a slighty used e-diff for sale on Ebay UK for $600 and was very tempted to buy it.

I know that they supposedly cannot be retrofitted but I cannot see why not - the wiring loom to hook it is up is most likely there and if the software is not already in the car, then the appropriate software update should fix that.

So for those in the know - why cannot the e-diff be retrofitted?

To the thread - if I was buying new I would spring for the diff.

Garry

[gghaggis]

I saw a slighty used e-diff for sale on Ebay UK for $600 and was very tempted to buy it.

I know that they supposedly cannot be retrofitted but I cannot see why not - the wiring loom to hook it is up is most likely there and if the software is not already in the car, then the appropriate software update should fix that.

So for those in the know - why cannot the e-diff be retrofitted?


Garry

"the appropriate software update" - there's several modules that would have to be re-flashed. Who's going to do that for you? Certainly not LRA. I doubt you could do it with a Faultmate - I recall a couple of guys in the UK trying to do this and they couldn't get the software, even though they had all the hardware to do a reflash. The wiring loom apparently had to be replaced, which meant stripping the upholstry and internal wiring down. They never reported that they got it going, so I assume it didn't work?

Cheers,

Gordon

[isuzurover]

"the appropriate software update" - there's several modules that would have to be re-flashed. Who's going to do that for you? Certainly not LRA. I doubt you could do it with a Faultmate - I recall a couple of guys in the UK trying to do this and they couldn't get the software, even though they had all the hardware to do a reflash. The wiring loom apparently had to be replaced, which meant stripping the upholstry and internal wiring down. They never reported that they got it going, so I assume it didn't work?

Cheers,

Gordon

Why can't you just fit the e-locker and install a switch to engage it manually???

IMHO that would be preferable, as you can decide when it is needed rather than the software.

With the e-locker engaged the rear TC will not activate, so I can't see any incompatability with any of the other systems if you have a manually activated locker.

[gghaggis]

The eLocker is not designed to be permanently locked, so I'm unsure of the implications to the diff itself or the axles. And of course, you wouldn't have the advantage of an infinitely variable lock, as per the OEM solution.

Cheers,

Gordon

[isuzurover]

The eLocker is not designed to be permanently locked, so I'm unsure of the implications to the diff itself or the axles. And of course, you wouldn't have the advantage of an infinitely variable lock, as per the OEM solution.

Cheers,

Gordon

So it doesn't lock solidly using a dog-tooth arrangement like other lockers?

Does it use friction plates like an LSD and just increase the pressure as needed?

It would probably be simple to pull it apart and check if it is up to the task of manual actuation.


EDIT:

Here is a pic:


The e-motor seems to end in a toothed gear which runs on the bronze coloured gear? Is that correct, or is it simply an in-out solenoid arrangement?

Ither way - looks like it would be simple to control it using an on-off switch or potentiometer type arrangement if you wanted variable control...


And here is the t-case/CDL - which appears to show an electric motor driving a worm gear which moves a selector fork