Thread: Traction Control broke my front Diff (I think)

Originally Posted by rovercare

How do you figure that?

It will become redundant as both wheels will travel at the same speed

good point.... Think I need to take that holiday now. 6 weeks too far away......

Just tried the 10 taps on the brake before the T/C light goes out technique to disable traction control - and it works! Yeeha.

I agree that 90% of the time T/C is awesome - for mud, when wheels lift etc.. the only time I whinge about it is in soft sand where it seems to do little more than counteract engine power and tell me that my wheels are spinning. No kidding Sherlock... the rooster tails of sand flying off each wheel in a near perfect Cooper STT tread pattern are telling me they're spinning!

Originally Posted by Staggers

I agree that 90% of the time T/C is awesome - for mud, when wheels lift etc.. the only time I whinge about it is in soft sand where it seems to do little more than counteract engine power and tell me that my wheels are spinning. No kidding Sherlock...

Yes, one or more wheels are spinning, TC in this case tries to calculate an average road speed and keeps braking alternate wheels to maintain even spin on all wheels. This alternate braking happens milliseconds apart. I found when the engine labours periodically whilst traversing sand, TC is actually forcing drive to the wheel/s with greatest resistance (grip). This is what keeps you moving on unstable surfaces. TC must have wheel spin to work.

Cheers

IF ETC is constantly on in sand then your tyre pressures are too high and/or the CDL isn't locked. Drop pressures and lock the CDL. I barely get ETC on in the sand, though if I do it is usually when climbing.

BTW, I do occasionally get the ETC light on while double locked and CDL locked. I just assumed it was from flex in the axles. No pics though.

To also add to the conversation, the general thought is that ETC despite the chattering in the driveline is easier on the diffs because it helps reduce big wheel spin that suddenly gets traction - the impact is what causes a lot of damage. In the grand scheme of things, the ETC doesn't produce a lot of force on the driveline.

I gotta ask....

what the hell are you doing to work the TC that much that its spragged the diff (and to me that looks more like failure of the circlip that holds the diff cross pin in place and happens regardless of tc or not). Ive done plenty of soft sand work and barely get the TC to come on...

have you got the CDL? what tyre size and pressures are you running?

Originally Posted by Slunnie

To also add to the conversation, the general thought is that ETC despite the chattering in the driveline is easier on the diffs because it helps reduce big wheel spin that suddenly gets traction - the impact is what causes a lot of damage. In the grand scheme of things, the ETC doesn't produce a lot of force on the driveline.

Interesting... I am sure I remember Sam (overton) saying many times that TC was hard on axles/diffs in his experience - but maybe that is just in comp situations.

Mal Story once delighted in telling me about a customer of his who had snapped all 4 axles in 1 trip to LCMP in his near new TC equipped defender. I'm sure he must have been driving it hard though!!!

Originally Posted by isuzurover

Interesting... I am sure I remember Sam (overton) saying many times that TC was hard on axles/diffs in his experience - but maybe that is just in comp situations.

Mal Story once delighted in telling me about a customer of his who had snapped all 4 axles in 1 trip to LCMP in his near new TC equipped defender. I'm sure he must have been driving it hard though!!!

Sam would know a lot better than me. Mind you, he also has an ETC setup which is a lot more positive than an OE setup, but I still wouldn't argue with the man.

I'm with Slunnie. That was my thought....have you got the CDL engaged? If not, why not? Our ETC only seems to engage at max wheel travel and not in soft sand, as when you encounter wheel spin in soft sand, both wheels are usually spinning.