To weld or not to weld

[Smith3210]

I've been considering welding my rear diff for some time now and want others opinions.the reason being im getting annoyed at being cross axaled and going nowhere also the last time I was out on a particularly argumentative lane I got stranded in a deep rut and had to watch the guy In front disappear into the distance on what looked like one wheel drive.he dose have a welded diff . so far I believe the negatives are extra wear on the tyre and poor cornering what else? I'm Also thinking of putting my spare road wheels on this save the MUDs is this going too be a good or bad idea i was thinking about the extra grip on the road with a welded diff and the extra load on the rest of the drive train what's likely to break next. Ho and by the way I'm cheep so an lsd swap or some kind of aftermarket locker is out of the question
Thanks in advance for the replys

[fudge]

well if i was you i would do the front if any.. as then you can have it unlocked for the road and then one side locked in, and lock the other in when you need it

[DarrenH_2.2]

as mentioned to me, lokka.com do auto locking frontera diffs for a laughably cheap price,

[Retro Pedro]

Steve - have a drive in mine on the road to give you the full picture of the downside of the welded diff. OK once you get going but for those tight manoveurs, I got to say I hate it. With road tyres on (which I've got at the mo) I'm concerned the extra friction will take it's toll on the UJs and anywhere else the extra strain is going to get transferred to. I've just had to do the rear UJ again and on not alot of miles since the last one let go.
The welded diff or locked diff is awesome off road in the mud. As you saw, 2 wheels pushing does make alot of difference and you definately get rid of the cross axle situations. Plus when in 4 wheel drive, with the rear wheels controlling the speed of the front wheels via the transfer box, it definately helps preserve the front diff.
I know it's the wrong time of year with Chrimbo etc round the corner but if you want to lock the rear, Lokka is coming up trumps at the moment with their Aussie locker for the Frontera.
There are a few guys that have run with welded fronts who may come in with some pointers for you but I remember Paul used to quite often have to run with one of the manual hubs unlocked because of the steering problems with both sides locked up.

[ghosthunter]

I'd weld the front and run with unlocked hubs. As people have said a wedged rear is not much fun on the road, a novelty at first but a pain in the butt after a short time.

[DarrenH_2.2]

official land rover instructional video says that to avoid getting cross axled plan your route and dont get cross axled

left foot braking can get you out of bother sometimes (brake holds the unladen wheel which then channels torque back through the diff to the loaded wheel)

[gregster]

[Smith3210]

Pete I'll take you up on that offer next time were out if that's ok.
How would a welded front diff work with auto hubs ? And I agree a lokka would be the answer and if it was a 2.8 I would save the penny's and do it but it's a 2.4 so the lokka would be worth more than the car out of interest has anyone fitted an Aussie lokka or know someone who has ?

[Retro Pedro]

Steve, when I looked earlier in the week and then done the $ to £ conversion the rear Lokka came in at £143 delivered to the UK.
They advertise 2 flavours for the Frontera listing, seems one for the A series and one for the B series.
Chris had Aussie lockers front and rear in his LWB 2.8 and I believe all worked brilliantly. Also there is a fella on Muddies that says he's done he's B series rear with a Fronty locker. Seems he had an issue initially getting the right part but eventually got it sorted.
From there you will have to consider fitting the locker. Actually taking the spider cogs out and fitting the locker is not to difficult, but it's the pre-load and back lash malarky that puts the wind up me. Does need to be done correctly because it's an intergal component that won't last 5 minutes if it's set up out of kilt.
Lokka listing that they now sale Aussies that fit direct into the Frontera seems to be a real gem. Pre this, it meant buying the locker for the Isuzu Trooper, sourcing a Trooper rear axle with an 'open' diff which are like rocking horse poo and then doing the rear axle transplant with the modded locker diff. On top of that the rear prop would have needed shortening by the 2" required. What I can't get my head into is that Lokka want getting on for double the money for a Trooper locker compared to the Frontera flavour.
Don't think its to good to be true but a few confirmation factors would be very welcomed. What would really be a massive help is if anybody that has got a Frontera A or B series removed rear axle and could confirm shaft spline count and shaft diameter.
If a front locker is being considered, I know for sure the Trooper Aussie locker will NOT fit into a Frontera 3rd member housing. The Frontera housing isn't big enough to accept the Trooper Aussie. Weather an angle grinder will sort the problem how knows but with lumps cut out wouldn't have thought it will do the strength of the housing any good.

[gregster]

Why dont you fiddle brake the rear end instead Ste....that way when one looses traction you can lock it off and drive out, you can turn tighter circles, and you will have better steering on reverse decents...

[yaki]

[DarrenH_2.2]

[albeano]

I cannot find the locks for a swb 2.0 any ideas chaps?

[Retro Pedro]

Haven't looked lately on Lokka.com but when they used to list for Frontera they seemed to have got their specs wrong which Steve had the unfortunate experience of finding out.
The key factors are the spline count and shaft diameter. Then from there the unit as to physically fit into the 1/3rd member carrier housing.
I believe the history was that Matt of Indy4x4 persuaded Lokka to additionally manufacture a production run to fit the MkII and III Trooper, hence for the 2.8 with accompanying axle transplant Lokka ratchet lockers are an option.
Don't believe it would be a feasible consideration to fit Trooper axles on a 2.0 Fronty and even harder should the Fronty be a leafer

[crash_ndie]

probably a stupid question but are air lockers out of the question ? been thiking of welding my A series up but reading this pros and cons i think ill give it a miss and try something eles

[Retro Pedro]

[RatCav]

[robbie]

Would one of the newer tfr (dmax)pickup axles not be closer ratio

[RatCav]

New D-Max specs:



No joy there .. and besides you have the complicated SOTF system to also take into account and make work. Combine that with the lack of support in the States for Isuzu you won't find an aftermarket diff lock system for It I fear.

Cannot find anything for the Isuzu Rodeo (our pickup Rodeo .. not the Rodeo the Frontera was based on)

[crash_ndie]

did you hear the whoosh ? that was the ratio and final drive things going over my head ...am actually thinking of changing the lump out to something a tab bit meaty, what sort of horses would these axles take before melting out? ... and no i havent decided on what lump yet .... hummm what about a

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MERCEDES-ATEG ... SwmtJXYArZ