Thread: Confused

There was a small envelope during 2001 - 2003 where they either removed the Centre Diff Lock completely or just removed the ability for the driver to activate it.

Just a few of these seem to be around.

Easy to check if you have one or not

What does it do - it locks the diff so all wheels rotate at the same time at the same speed, simple as that.

In off road conditions diffs/limited slip diffs etc., don't do what we want them to do - so the Centre Diff Lock - does exactly that - locks the diff.

...............I have a D2 - 2002 - without the physical CDL - do I miss it - no not really, but I am an old git who doesn't get seriously off road any more.

G'day Kenlo,

By Definition a Diff allows each of the driving wheels to rotate at different speeds.

This is what allows you to turn a corner... We all know that if you lift a wheel.. that wheel will spin ( unless you have traction control of a diff lock of some type.) The Diff throughs the power to the wheel with the least resistance.

The Centre diff is exactly the same... it allows the front and rear to turn at different speeds... so if you loose traction on the front... it throws more of the drive to the front. Locking the centre means a fixed drive goes to each end... meaning that no traction at the front makes no difference to the back etc.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Differe...28mechanics%29

Hopefully my explaination will help you understand why the CDL helps.

Ladas has already told you a bit about the DII CDL... do a search - there are heaps of posts on them - and by the way... CDL PLUS Traction control in a DII is awesome..

Mark

Originally Posted by Bytemrk

and by the way... CDL PLUS Traction control in a DII is awsome..

Mark

couldnt agree more,,,

Thanks Guys,
Mark, your explanation is very clear - I think.

"Locking the centre means a fixed drive goes to each end... meaning that no traction at the front makes no difference to the back etc."

In other words, if you loose traction on one wheel on the Disco 1 without CDL engaged, all the power is transferred to that one wheel leaving the other 3 wheels without power - even though it is constant 4WD. That makes sense if that’s the way it works.

Cheers

Spot on... that's why you lock the centre... and why if you want to go more hardcore guys use airlockers etc on either front or rear axles to lock those diffs as well...

Just remember though.... never leave your CDL locked on hard surfaces for any length of time - you can damage your transmision if the CDL is locked where the wheels have no slip.

Cheers, Mark

Originally Posted by Kenjo

Thanks Guys,
Mark, your explanation is very clear - I think.

"Locking the centre means a fixed drive goes to each end... meaning that no traction at the front makes no difference to the back etc."

In other words, if you loose traction on one wheel on the Disco 1 without CDL engaged, all the power is transferred to that one wheel leaving the other 3 wheels without power - even though it is constant 4WD. That makes sense if that’s the way it works.

Cheers

No if you loose traction on one wheel the power is transfered to the other three ensuring 'suposed coltrol of the surface, but in off road work - serious stuff you want the power to all wheels

Originally Posted by ladas

No if you loose traction on one wheel the power is transfered to the other three ensuring 'suposed coltrol of the surface, but in off road work - serious stuff you want the power to all wheels

Ladas... you might need to have another think about that...

If you lift a front wheel - with no cross axle diff lock .... all the power at the front is going to the wheel in the air.... it spins and the other doesn't turn.

Also if the CDL is not locked.... same will happen through the Cente Diff.... torque will be senmt to the front axle rather than the rear, so the wheel in the air will spin... and the other 3 stay stationary..

So the torque is wasted via the wheel with no traction...the only way you get traction to the other 3 wheels is difflocks..... or traction control braking the spinning wheel.

Mark

Originally Posted by Bytemrk

Ladas... you might need to have another think about that...

If you lift a front wheel - with no cross axle diff lock .... all the power at the front is going to the wheel in the air.... it spins and the other doesn't turn.

Also if the CDL is not locked.... same will happen through the Cente Diff.... torque will be senmt to the front axle rather than the rear, so the wheel in the air will spin... and the other 3 stay stationary..

So the torque is wasted via the wheel with no traction...the only way you get traction to the other 3 wheels is difflocks..... or traction control braking the spinning wheel.

Mark

Thanks Mark - must have been a million miles away - still thinking about oil in the harness problem for our poor old deisel mates.

Statement retracted - just put it down to a long day and a blonde wig.