Nissan Patrol 4x4 (Africa)

Engel wrote:Another thing is you also put a lot of load on the one wheel that has grip and the front axle is much weaker than the back. You can get up very serious inclines with only a back locker.

This is true, but the front axle on the Patrol is still seriously strong (stronger than the rear axles on many other 4x4s).

Lyk my Engel is 'n moffieknoppiedeskundige.

Moderation Note: Duplicate post deleted.
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Hi Tjaart,

To be very honest - no I don't know the answer - But I will allow you to enlighten me and tell me why toyota install diff locks on all diffs and props . Remember I am the dum blond and not very technical minded bloke on the Patrol Forum!!!

But that I will lead the way that's for sure - I HAVE A MONSTER TRUCK NOW!!!!

waar het ek al ooit iets van moffieknoppies gese?

Ek hou nie van lockers nie, want dit impair jou driving ability!! jy leer nooit lyne ry met die goed nie!! Pieter menigde kroozers het die datsun al probeer aanvat. Tjankend huistoe broer! En die Datsun het oop diffs [lsd werk gladnie] Wat ek se is indien jy reg ry sonder lockers kom jy verder as verkeerde lyne ry met lockers. Lockers maak ook n samoosa verskil aan waar jy kan ry of nie

Pieter

The answer is very simple: BECAUSE THEY CAN NOT BUILT SUSPENSIONS.

Ever driven a Land Cruiser Prado off road? A land Cruiser pick-up off road or on tar? Ever driven a 70 or 80 series? They simply do not have suspensions in standard format. The LC Pick up is notorious for it terribly hard and unforgiving ride. A joke goes around that a kidney belt is supplied with every LC Pick up sold. The 70 series featured in Andre de Villiers' never had a wheel on the ground, because the suspension has such bad articulation, that they had to install 3 diff locks on the car. It will be very interesting to see him drive without diff locks.

The Patrol's suspension is simple, efficient, durable and strong. The diffs are also much stronger than anything else on the market. Another thing, I don't know why anyone would buy a 70 series, because it's 1984 technology at 2009 prices...

Herman,

Ek stem 100% saam met jou - maar dan wil ek darem net by se ek het die locker ingesit net vir daardie ekstra bietjie "edge" wanneer mens dit nodig kry. Ek sal altyd eers alles probeer voor ek lockers gebruik - ek glo dis hoe mens jou voertuig leer ken en ook jou eie vermoe en selfvertroue "improve"!! Menigte 4x4 se mislukte poging bo-oor, op teen of af teen n "obsticle" word veroorsaak deur "lack of knowledge and experience" aan die drywers kant (ekskuus net dr*lle dryf - dis bestuurders) - jy moet weet waartoe jou voertuig in staat is sonder die meganiese hulp van lockers!!! Dis meer vir wanneer n ou nou regtig n bietjie wil "rough it up"!!! En dis nie sinoniem vir f*k dit op nie!!!!!

Tjaart wrote:Ever driven a Land Cruiser Prado off road? A land Cruiser pick-up off road or on tar? Ever driven a 70 or 80 series? They simply do not have suspensions in standard format. The LC Pick up is notorious for it terribly hard and unforgiving ride.

I don't quite agree here.

Among the 4x4 wagons with independent front suspension the Prado has very good flex in standard trim. If aftermarket suspension lifts are fitted, the front end flex diminishes dramatically.

The 80 Series Land Cruiser and the Y60/Y61 Patrols have practically identical suspension layouts and they work pretty much identically off road. I have driven both in the rough. It is also true with these vehicles that one can loose a lot of the flexability of the original suspension when fitting aftermarket suspensions if the springs are not matched to the vehicle mass.

The Land Cruiser pick-ups do flex relatively poorly in standard format when compares to the Y60/Y61, but then one has to remember that it is built to carry loads and this requires stiff rear springs, so it is not an apples-with-apples comparison.

I don't understand the problem here, its simple.

I'd never put a Limited Slip lock-up of the front diff. That just spells BIG SHIT.

If you gonna put a diff lock on the front make sure its one that matches the rear (ie:arb or other make) , and make sure they both operate only by driver input (ie:either on or off by means of switch - electric to pneumatic or by Lever - as in Merc G-Wagons)

I would never keep the LSD in the rear and install a full lock up front. and always use rear first, and then front if need be, but retain the use of the rear at the same time.

Problems are massive with steering and you'll feel like you fighting the vehicle all the way. They do work well though in straight lines (ie:up steep hill etc or steep rock - but stay away from slick rock cause you'll get diff wind-up and huge failures either in diff, gearbox or transfer case follow that)

I would first throw on some serious mudd tyres with huge lugs (ie:Kumho KL71's or similar) before i spent money on a Front locker - R16k + odd seems crazy.

My 2c Worth

I agree with you there Russ....LSD on the front just spells disaster waiting to happen to me...I know what it feels like to have an LSD suddenly grab on the rear wheels...I can only imagine the carnage that would result if the same thing happened on your rear tyre.

Guess I'm the odd one out here. As soon as I go on a trail I switch my rear locker on. It enables me to (so far) get up every obstacle first time, very slowly and with no or VERY limited wheel spin - to me this minimises the impact on the trail and leaves it in a good condition for the rest of the vehicles in the party.

Generally the speed is so low that the understeer associated with the DL is hardly noticable.