Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Hi y'all, just scored a budget rangie and have already cut the back off behind the wheels. I was contemplating welding the rear diff up figuring with centre-diff the plough effect would not be to severe.....Most keen to hear any advice or experience with such things. cheers

axle snap here you come

Mick (Bobtail) on here ran a welded diff for a while because of delivery delays with his maxi-drive. He pulled one of the rear axles out when he was on the road though. Maybe PM him.

I ran a welded rear diff in my V8 Rangie, Lasted 1 rock step.

I've ran a welded rear diff on one of my old Rangies for a year or so and never had a problem. It was a 4.4 as well so produced more power thanthe old 3.5 shitter.

I run a front stub axle in the diff until I get off road and then it only takes 2-3 minutes to put the correct length axle back in and away she goes. I always carried a spare set of axles but never needed them.

I used the car for mainly gymkana work and eventually snapped the old girl in half with a huge jump at Yandina a couple of years ago.

Cheers
Simo

just weld it and drive it I run 1 for about 3months broke 0 did alot of miles Sold the 4by to a bloke in roma 1year latterseen him at cruiser park still same axles But iv,e only driven around woollies car park

B-Dang!

Get familiar with the sound, won't last long welded, more stress than 2wd if anything. The tyres used to howl if I left my rear ARB locked with the centre diff unlocked on the road.

if you weld it up just run a free wheeling hub on one side, disengage for road use, if this works for you do the front, just make sure its the opposite side
serg

uninformed wrote:if you weld it up just run a free wheeling hub on one side, disengage for road use, if this works for you do the front, just make sure its the opposite side
serg

This could cause some weird wet road handling/braking? Rangies are AWD when the centre diff is not locked.

Rainbow Warrior wrote:Rangies are AWD when the centre diff is not locked.

I don't realy believe this statement.

My Rangie (not sure about later models) has an open front diff, an open centre diff, and an open rear diff.
In very slippery conditions, if one wheel spins, then all power is transferred to this wheel. ie 1 wheel drive.

With the centre diff locked then power is applied equally to front/rear.
In some situations you could end with 2 wheel drive, ie 1 front, 1 rear.

That's why diff locks were invented!

There are alternatives, like viscous diffs or LSDs in other makes.

Ralf the RR wrote:

Rainbow Warrior wrote:Rangies are AWD when the centre diff is not locked.

I don't realy believe this statement.

My Rangie (not sure about later models) has an open front diff, an open centre diff, and an open rear diff.
In very slippery conditions, if one wheel spins, then all power is transferred to this wheel. ie 1 wheel drive.

With the centre diff locked then power is applied equally to front/rear.
In some situations you could end with 2 wheel drive, ie 1 front, 1 rear.

That's why diff locks were invented!

There are alternatives, like viscous diffs or LSDs in other makes.

This is true, but it in almost all conditions, all 4 wheels will be driving the car, even with 3 open diffs. I have been offroad with people with who have forgotten to engage the centre diff lock (or it broke), and it is surprising what can be driven with 3 open diffs. It is definitely a lot better than 2wd.

Ralf the RR wrote:

Rainbow Warrior wrote:Rangies are AWD when the centre diff is not locked.

I don't realy believe this statement.

My Rangie (not sure about later models) has an open front diff, an open centre diff, and an open rear diff.
In very slippery conditions, if one wheel spins, then all power is transferred to this wheel. ie 1 wheel drive.

With the centre diff locked then power is applied equally to front/rear.
In some situations you could end with 2 wheel drive, ie 1 front, 1 rear.

That's why diff locks were invented!

There are alternatives, like viscous diffs or LSDs in other makes.

Well perhaps we should call them 1WD/2WD's by your definition, I owned one for 5 years and they aint 2WD and aint 4WD until you lock the centre diff, even tried a few hills with the rear diff lock in and centre one unlocked and watched the front wheel spin uselessly. I also drove mine for a week each in FWD and RWD modes, AWD is the go for handling when you get a full 30 degree bodyroll happening while sliding sideways on wet road.

Driving off road without locking the centre diff is very hard on the centre diff. The spiders apparently spin the oil out of the housing and then weld themselves to the pin.
From memory the early rangies had a centre lsd which was discontinued as they said they found it wasn't necessary.
J Top

thanx for all the advice guys....its a project vehicle so I dont need to worry about on road handling. I've got a few spare landrover diffs and axles so I might give the weld up a go...cheers[/img]

J Top wrote:Driving off road without locking the centre diff is very hard on the centre diff. The spiders apparently spin the oil out of the housing and then weld themselves to the pin.
From memory the early rangies had a centre lsd which was discontinued as they said they found it wasn't necessary.
J Top

It wasn't something I intended to do but got some laughs, I tried putting up a hil I had driven up with some stick beforehand, didn't work so I hit the rear locker and only went another 3 feet before a front tyre started spinning, mates didn't know Rangies were AWD, saw the spinning front wheel an called a broken axle, then we thought 2 as neither back wheel was turning, when they said that it clicked, hit the centre diff lock and putted up the hill.