What does the Differential Locks Front & Rear Do Compared to Centre Differential Lock?

[DaveB]

Now y’all got me thinking about the safari windows!!!

Safari windows are such a unique feature of the vehicle that you would need a very good reason not to get them.
Some people have those reasons but...................
too hot in Australia is one I hear a lot but there are window tinting and coatings available that block out 99% of UV
Ceramic window coating does a fantastic job and as the Safari windows are easily removable they are also easy to coat.

 

[Mercurio]

Safari windows are such a unique feature of the vehicle that you would need a very good reason not to get them.
Some people have those reasons but...................
too hot in Australia is one In hear a lot but there are window tinting and coatings available that block out 99% of UV
Ceramic window coating does a fantastic job and as the Safari windows are easily removable they are also easy to coat.

One of my projects is an international scout. Last year made was 1980. There was the Midas edition which had the “dual sunroof”
the more I look at them the more I want them!

 

[alvan]

Solmanic explained it all succinctly. So you will order one with front and rear diff locks and (unless you live in Oz or Africa) you'll never ever use them, maybe once or twice to see what they do. So maybe you'll settle for a centre diff (fine for 99.9% of situations, certainly in the UK) and when you sell, your prospective buyer will say: "Does it have front and rear diff locks? What? It doesn't?" Because his mates have told him, as above, that you need them and how could you hold your head up at the bar with just a centre diff? The shame of it. The irony is that when the car gets to 20 years old and it's bashed about plenty and you're not going to spoil much taking it seriously off road, that's when the front and rear diff locks might earn their keep. But unless you have money to burn , and some owners do, you may want to try and protect your £60,000+ investment as much as you can by avoiding the most ridiculous of off roading challenges. Or do those specialist off-roading events in someone else's car as I do. And if that's the way you approach your Grenadier ownership, the centre diff is all you need. OK guys, pile in. I can handle it.

Absolutely right, on my account.
For sure I don't live in Africa or Australia, but in twenty years of Defender ownership (both Td5 and Puma) I never needed f and r diff locks. And also the 'when I will sell her (it? him?) not to have them will cost a depreciation' is a relative issue, unless you are thinking to sell the Gren in few years, that is unlikely, I guess, for the majority of us... The principal asset for a good sell is your reputation and the general conditions of the car...

 

[DaveB]

Absolutely right, on my account.
For sure I don't live in Africa or Australia, but in twenty years of Defender ownership (both Td5 and Puma) I never needed f and r diff locks. And also the 'when I will sell her (it? him?) not to have them will cost a depreciation' is a relative issue, unless you are thinking to sell the Gren in few years, that is unlikely, I guess, for the majority of us... The principal asset for a good sell is your reputation and the generale conditions of the car...

I have mentioned this before but your comment leads to the same conclusion.
4wds are used in very different ways in different parts of the world and by different people.
That is one of the good parts of the forum that we are getting to see so many different uses, needs, accessories and fitouts from around the world.
also one of the beauties of the Grenadier is the ability to specify it and option it to suit your needs.
some countries have more options than others and some countries are getting more standard features than others.
Early adopters had a lot more choices than currently available, but also had a lot more issues.

 

[255/85]

Solmanic explained it all succinctly. So you will order one with front and rear diff locks and (unless you live in Oz or Africa) you'll never ever use them, maybe once or twice to see what they do. So maybe you'll settle for a centre diff (fine for 99.9% of situations, certainly in the UK) and when you sell, your prospective buyer will say: "Does it have front and rear diff locks? What? It doesn't?" Because his mates have told him, as above, that you need them and how could you hold your head up at the bar with just a centre diff? The shame of it. The irony is that when the car gets to 20 years old and it's bashed about plenty and you're not going to spoil much taking it seriously off road, that's when the front and rear diff locks might earn their keep. But unless you have money to burn , and some owners do, you may want to try and protect your £60,000+ investment as much as you can by avoiding the most ridiculous of off roading challenges. Or do those specialist off-roading events in someone else's car as I do. And if that's the way you approach your Grenadier ownership, the centre diff is all you need. OK guys, pile in. I can handle it.

This is partially true for our build as we will initially try not to beat the devil out of it. That way we'd either have some fun later on down the road or something worth selling if needed. But I should point out, in situations more common to us than hardcore four wheeling, lockers are also handy in deep snow (and even when there's less than a foot) and can really change the outcome of the day from cold and miserable to warm, dry, and pleasant. Safari windows not so much.

 

[bimmerteck]

I find lockers cheep insurance in deep wading, chained up on solid ice, and in deep unplowed snow situations. Being able to get to work regardless of conditions means I get more time at with my family, while many of my coworkers bunk up at our office away from theirs.

 

[Earthwatcher]

This is the first of a series of videos which pretty well explains how diff locks and various articulations work. The Grenadier gets a good workout here.

 

[AWo]

I recommend to use the centre diff lock every time if you're on loose ground, if you need it or not. The reason behind that is, that usually there are small non-ferrous shims between the gears and their housing. As these gears are wedged, they are pressed apart against the shim and the housing when torque is applied (which is even more in low gear while offroading). That leads to heavy wear and depending on the thickness and quality of the shims you'll soon need them replaced. If worse and you do not reckognize increased play in the drivetrain (caused by the gears having more play as the shims are gone) you even ruin your housing. You can see that these shims are falling apart by looking at the gearbox oil. You'll see golden parts or golden particles within the oil.

By locking the differential the gears are still pressed apart but they do not turn. Thereby you do not have any wear.

This only applies to the centre diff as having that locked has not such an impact on stress in the drivetrain as the stress the axle differentils would apply to themself and the drive shafts.

AWo