A

Alistair Lowe

New Member
Good evening folks, First real snow since acquiring my Discovery 2 a couple of years ago.
I was coming home from work this afternoon, on 4 inches of well packed snow, I didn't think I was going too fast but having just negotiated a fairly sharp right hand bend, I lost the back end into a good slide, I caught it in good time with much wheel twirling, and she eventually caught and whipped me the other direction, no other traffic so no drama, but I was just wondering about the normality of losing the back end like this.
My tyres are not bald, and I had not been concerned with lack of grip until this happened.
I learned to drive in, and cut my winter driving teeth in a rear wheel drive, suffered many years driving front wheel drive company cars, but this is my first experience with permanent four wheel drive.
Did I experience something normal or might there be something wrong with my car?
Cheers, Ali.
 
They do loose it at the back sometimes when driving on snow covered bends or roundabouts, so get out and have some fun and find out what's what, with can or not be done, and when a breakaway is likely to happen and if so the same principle applies, which is steer into the direction of the slide.
What I found with my D1 is although I can easily get into a slide on a roundabout is more difficult when the transfer box is in diff-lock or of course I can just slow down. :(
 
Main thing to consider is although you can pull away far easier than most cars it’ll probably take you longer to stop because of the weight. Also worth noting they have a heavy arse, that may have helped the slide.

Loved mine this morning, have been waiting 18 months to try it out in the snow and I was not disappointed, new tyres were fantastic.
 
Had the back end of my 90 out a couple of times last time it snowed, was not going quick for any of them and I was turning gently as well.
Worth noting permanent 4wd means power does go to the back axle sometimes...
 
Perfectly normal.

Unless you lock the centre diff you can grind to a halt if a single wheel is spinning. A Borg Warner transfer box or an Ashcroft ATB in the LT230 is the easy option for the transfer box to ensure relative 4x4 performance.
 
dieseldog69 said:
Perfectly normal.

Unless you lock the centre diff you can grind to a halt if a single wheel is spinning. A Borg Warner transfer box or an Ashcroft ATB in the LT230 is the easy option for the transfer box to ensure relative 4x4 performance.
Click to expand...

I have been wondering about fitting an LSD in the back axle (not because of my snow incident but just in general)
 
I found my back end wants to come out more than usual since fitting the ashcroft atb in the rear axle (in the snow).

I was going down a single track lane yesterday, 2nd gear, low range, difflock, trying to only feather the brake, and you could feel it working away but actually almost braking traction somehow and (because it was so slow, and therefore quite fun) the back end kept trying to come out on me, I changed down to first and similar happened, just even slower as I was running on just engine braking.

My tyres were up at 28psi so that won't of helped, and then going up the other side of the valley, WOW, then you notice how good the diff is! :)
 
I should also say I'm running quite aggressive mud terrains which are fairly renowned for being awful in the snow....
 
Same things been grifting around my head for ages,but thing I'll put an air/electric locker in the back and an ATB in the front, Ashcroft's do a centre diff ½ the price of a Quaiff!!!
 
dieseldog69 said:
Same things been grifting around my head for ages,but thing I'll put an air/electric locker in the back and an ATB in the front, Ashcroft's do a centre diff ½ the price of a Quaiff!!!
Click to expand...

Ashcroft seem pretty good on price to be fair, in regards to their own products. I think they are fairly expensive if you get them to do the installation work, but I do everything myself so that's not a concern for me.

After having seen the build quality and finish of my new diff, and the price, I'm very very happy. Their locking diff is supposed to be superior to ARB's offering (the pin that slides to lock engages deeper so wont 'pop' out under load), and are very well priced!

When I can afford to, and probably after I do my clutch, ill put another atb upfront as that really will help, the only reason I don't want a full locker is price really, and I don't want to complicate things by putting a compressor in etc, I like the fit and forget type thing and keeping everything as basic as possible! :)
 
Also, left foot braking REALLY does work with the atb. I got myself cross axled on purpose after fitting it, and my rear right wheel was off the ground, left foot braking totally transferred the torque and I drove out! I love how you can see, and hear I shifting the power around and getting grip! I am a bit of a kid like that though, easily pleased!!
 
jamesmartin said:
why would you want a different centre diff ?
Click to expand...

I was considering swapping out the LT230 centre diff for a stronger 4 pin unit for durability when I order up a new transfer box, but I also considered the lazy option of an ATB in there as there is no manual input if it gets sticky, although I believe the Ashcroft is lockable?
 
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