Thread: Truetrac diff carriers: general behaviour and front/rear orientation

Originally Posted by NZ nath

I'm wondering if the behaviour of my front truetrac is normal. It seems most effective off the throttle, based on steering effort. Eg engine breaking or anytime I'm not on the throttle the steering is really heavy and hard to turn. This is on a series 3 109 so no power steering. Driving in 2wd with the front hubs locked the steering is always like that. In 4wd, being on the throttle makes the steering pretty much the same as with an open diff.

This seems backwards to what I'd expect. I was a little disappointed with how the front works, for example one wheel pushing hard against a rut or step seems to be enough to allow the other to spin. I'd read that they generally work pretty well at always keeping both wheels turning as long as they're both on the ground.

So I read somewhere, I think here on aulro, about somebody going to swap the direction of the gears on a truetrac to turn a front into a rear (or the other way round), and finding that they were already orientated that way. Ie a carrier set up for the rear was marked as a front. I now wish I'd checked mine before installing it. Just wondering if anybody else with a truetrac could comment on how they drive.

I fitted a rear truetrac at the same time, and improved my suspension a lot. The result is much better off road performance, but means I can't tell how much the front truetrac is contributing to my new found off road ability.

Front TrueTrack in my Disco 1 is pretty much invisible at no or low throttle input. Giving some revs when driving on dirt/gravel makes a very noticeable difference - you can feel it pulling the front in the direction you are steering. I don't often put wheels in the air, but I haven't noticed any spin on the few times I have. Sounds like you may need to investigate it a bit!

Originally Posted by donh54

Front TrueTrack in my Disco 1 is pretty much invisible at no or low throttle input. Giving some revs when driving on dirt/gravel makes a very noticeable difference - you can feel it pulling the front in the direction you are steering. I don't often put wheels in the air, but I haven't noticed any spin on the few times I have. Sounds like you may need to investigate it a bit!

The torque steer of the atb up front is much more noticeable with more power and torque, i had one in the front of my modded isuzu rangie, removed it because of those same results you mention on dirt, it did that on bitumen.

Something is not right. I ran one in an 88 and the steering was normal.

Thanks guys. Righto, looks like I need to pull the diff and check which way the helical gears run. Pulling apart the wheel hubs is the most annoying part.

sounds like the diff is built backwards,

you dont need to strip the hubs, just pull the wheels off run an plank over the top of the guards (open the bonnet) and use a bit of rope to support the hub, then simply unbolt the hub and slide it outwards about 100-150mm.

Before you pull it out , did you take a photo ? or have a look through the oil fill hole with a camera , There are 2 generations of the TT for LandRover one of then you can see which way the gears are from outside through the carrier, and other through end of carrier.

I have a truetrac in the front of my Series3 SWB and with the hubs locked in 4x4 its easier to steer under power than with it in 2WD & hubs locked. I'd say yours is correct. and I can guarantee mine is. This is the only reason I fitted the hubs , because of heavy steering in 2WD , so I run with one hub locked , 1 unlocked , to keep the bearings lubed but easier steering, The TT keeps both axles and propshaft spinning.

I have had 2 trutracs one in a 4x4 and the other in my current 6x6 and the only thing I have noticed is that when you apply power coming out of a corner on hard surfaces like bitumen there is a slight resistance to turning. The trutrac tries to pull you in a straight line. Wouldn't know it is there in dirt or sand.

Originally Posted by NZ nath

I'm wondering if the behaviour of my front truetrac is normal...steering is really heavy and hard to turn. .

I have a conventional locker up front. When engaged on hard surfaces the steering will be 'heavy' as the locker pulls it straight all the time - soft stuff, steering not so much of an issue. Wonder if a True Trac really is the thing to have up front? With a conventional locker you can turn it off for regular road use.