Land Rovers are NOT 4WD's

[dave stimson]

Land Rovers and Rangies are not technically 4WD's.
Because they are fitted with 3 differentials only one wheel is driving at any one time. The wheel with the least resistance gets the power. You can prove this by jacking up one wheel and attempt to drive away. (be careful doing this because 'oil drag etc' may give a small amount of drive to another wheel).
Hence a locking centre dif is provided to give - wait for it - one more wheel to drive. With centre dif locked the Rover is now a 2 WD.
Discovery 2 without a locking diff are given Traction Control to apply a brake to the spinning wheel.

So, a locking diff or traction control is absolutely required to give at least a 2 wheel drive functionality. Hence my previous Forum Question - how does one clear a TC /abs fault indicator if you are not near a dealer.

[dobbo]

Land Rovers and Rangies are not technically 4WD's.
Because they are fitted with 3 differentials only one wheel is driving at any one time. The wheel with the least resistance gets the power. You can prove this by jacking up one wheel and attempt to drive away. (be careful doing this because 'oil drag etc' may give a small amount of drive to another wheel).
Hence a locking centre dif is provided to give - wait for it - one more wheel to drive. With centre dif locked the Rover is now a 2 WD.
Discovery 2 without a locking diff are given Traction Control to apply a brake to the spinning wheel.

So, a locking diff or traction control is absolutely required to give at least a 2 wheel drive functionality. Hence my previous Forum Question - how does one clear a TC /abs fault indicator if you are not near a dealer.

Interesting concept you have there

Better go back and have a rethink about it though

[BigJon]

I think your logic is a little flawed with reference to your opening statement. I can put my Rangie up on the hoist and put in gear with all the wheels off the ground. They all go round, hence it is driving all four at the same time. You assert that it can only drive one at a time and this is clearly not true. I think your understanding of differential action is not 100%.

[BigJon]

- how does one clear a TC /abs fault indicator if you are not near a dealer.

You can't, unless you have access to aftermarket diagnostic equipment.

[weeds]

i have three diff locks....they work a treat, positive drive to all wheels all the time

i'm no expert but i think land rover have done it a little better than the jappers.....no free wheeling etc

[sclarke]

dont worry about him, he is from Overlander and drives a Part time 4wd...... Land fill accually.... TOYOTA

[Lotz-A-Landies]

Land Rovers and Rangies are not technically 4WD's.
Because they are fitted with 3 differentials only one wheel is driving at any one time. The wheel with the least resistance gets the power. .....

Oh how contemporary and myopic some people have become.

• Only some Land Rovers have 3 differentials.
• Only some models do not have the ability to lock the centre diff.
• Even with the third diff, when all wheels have equal traction (and load) all 4 wheels drive.
• Are we about to suggest that most cars on the road are 1 wheel drive.

Diana

[Dougal]

Who let you in? Don't we have a beginners section?

Quick lesson.
Diffs spread torque, in a fulltime 4wd vehicle all wheels get equal torque. That torque is limited by traction.
If you jack up a wheel then it has no traction, the only torque available to each wheel is due to the friction in the wheelbearings.

[Camo]

dont worry about him, he is from Overlander and drives a Part time 4wd...... Land fill accually.... TOYOTA

haha thats makes sense now

I used to have a Toyota Landcruiser.. bought the rangie so I can have something capable offroad

Camo

[Reads90]

I think your logic is a little flawed with reference to your opening statement. I can put my Rangie up on the hoist and put in gear with all the wheels off the ground. They all go round, hence it is driving all four at the same time. You assert that it can only drive one at a time and this is clearly not true. I think your understanding of differential action is not 100%.

AHHH but non of them are driving the car forward

At Land Rover Experiance instuctor training they teach you to trick people and ask them how many wheels drive a land Rover.
You always get 4Wd so you then drive the car up a bank so one wheel (normally at the rear) is off the ground. Then the wheel is spinning and the car is going no where. And you ask again how many wheel drive is a land rover.

The you ask when you put the diff lock in how many wheel drive is the car Again someone will say 4 wd and it is at this point you you cross axel the car and get two wheels spinning (one on each axel and the car is going no where) So you say Nah it is 2 wheels are driving.

This is the first thing you show people on the teraching courses. This is what Land Rover taught me to do when i took my Instutor exam
This is the simple way you also explian the workings of the land rover 4wd system

Ali