Thread: Locker(s) vs flexy dislocating suspension

Reading the comments indicates that a TruTrac LSD is in the front of the series as well...

Sam

Originally Posted by series3

Reading the comments indicates that a TruTrac LSD is in the front of the series as well...

Sam

Fair enough, but you can see in the S3's first run up the hill that a TT doesn't help when a wheel lifts off. The front left wheel spins and the other remains stationary.

However the key point still stands - no matter how flexy your suspension is, lockers will win.

I was thinking if it would even make any difference at all considering almost all of the weight would be on the rear wheels while going up the hill? The front wheels with no weight on them don't make much difference?

Sam

Originally Posted by series3

I was thinking if it would even make any difference at all considering almost all of the weight would be on the rear wheels while going up the hill? The front wheels with no weight on them don't make much difference?

Sam

You would be surprised. Try driving up that hill in a series in 2WD low (you need FWH, a broken front axle, removed prop, or modified t-case selectors to do this) with the rear locker engaged. You won't get far.

Generally I would agree with lockers being better, but there have been a few muddy climbs I've tried, got most the way up with no lockers. next go very little difference with both lockers. I have 33in BFF muddies, heaps of flex and full tuck front n rear.

My mate has no lockers n a bit better flex (controlable air springs) n we are pretty even. Mind you has in running 37s.

I think it's due to in mud (if you can keep wheels on the ground) if you can keep them all spinning it's still pushing you forward. Rocks are different altogether (higher traction) lockers win hands down.

Its just like LandRover engineers watched that video and finally decided Long Travel suspension was not required so invented the Discovery 3

I don't think that was the point this video was trying to get across. You have long travel suspension, and you have dislocating suspension. Generally, a well setup long travel suspension system will maintain a reasonable amount of down-pressure on all wheels, even at full extension. With dislocating suspension, once the spring become dislocated its simply the weight of the wheel and part of the axle assembly applying down pressure to the ground, it really doesn't offer much advantage over the same setup but with retained springs.

Watching a stock D3 offroad through some nice frame twisting sections, it had better articulation than any (edit*) standard (*edit) D1 or D2 there. I don't think they have abandoned long travel suspension going by how well it performed.

G'day all. I can't see the point in debating this. Just do Lockers front and back AND Long Travels all 'round, end of discussion. It's called having your mud/cake and eating it too then going back for 2nds. Cheers, Bushranger.