Hilux 4x4 Forum

Hi There,

The Hilux I recently bought has a limited slip diff in the front axle.

It was a bit frustrating when I did the Berahkah trail, due to under steering a couple of times. Also, when I took my skonies (father and mother in law) for a spin, the performance was really bad on a gravel road when I engaged 4H. The Hilux was like a horse who is biting the bit and went where he wanted to go, steering was really difficult.

I originally thought that the previous owner used lead to create a diff lock.

Should I rather take out the limited slip diff, or should I adapt my driving style? Can one use the limited slip diff in 4H when traveling gravel roads (the nice ones, like those in Namibia, which looks and drives better than our tar roads here in JHB - no potholes, etc - ), or should I only use 4L and forget about 4H?

Normally a diff lock is fitted at the rear diff, and you can engage/disengage it. The limited slip diff in the front really affects the steering capability of the vehicle.

Your suggestions will be greatly appreciated
Jaco

If you log on in the morning Oom Thys should have a lekker reply for you as Kaspaas is fitted with a front locker with outstanding effect.

R

Jaco

From what I understood in your other post is that you do not have a limited slip but rather a positive locker (most probably a lockrite).

With a positive locker the two wheels should run independent like an open diff until torque is applied on the axle. then the mechanism engage and lock the two side shafts to the diff. When you turn the outer wheel can now run faster then the diff and you should here the ratchet effect but it does not happen easy and a lot of forces is needed for the outer wheel to "disengage"

On the question of should you keep it or not, all I can answer is: Its your own personal choice. Some people like it some hate it. If you keep it, you will have to learn to drive with it If you struggle to make a tight turn you can always quickly disengage 4wd or just the inner hub in the turn. If you have an import diff in the rear you can move it there. Some say you can not drive like that on tar as it now works i 2wd as well but I have seen people use it like that successfully but again you will have to adapt your driving style to compensate as it will also cause a bit of under steer, maybe not just as announced as upfront.

Did you get the original diff spares with?

Jaco, Any traction device is going to adversely affect your steering. The effect is very similar to a turbo charged front wheel drive car where you have to fight the torque generated by the wheels under hard acceleration. In the case of the limited slip diff in the front, if any of the front wheels loose a little traction, you are going to have more torque on the other wheel thus causing your torque steer. IF the both have the same grip and you want to turn, they fight each other as the one on the inside wants to travel as fast as the one on the outside but is supposed to run slower to make the turning easier.

I personally would only fit a selectable locker to my front axle where I can choose to engage and disengage where needed.

On gravel roads you want to travel in 4H if it is a normal gravel road with no obstacle. 4L is for traversing obstacles or very bad terrain. I'm guessing you actually wanted to know if you should we using 2H or 4H. I always use 4H on gravel road as this gives much better stability and safety as it is much easier to do emergency manoeuvring. It will only be on sealed surfaces where the limited slip diff will badly affect your steering. m2cw

Jaco.

I feel your pain. Kaspaas is also fitted with a lockrite front locker, the same one Bennie refers to. It does have a profound effect on the way the vehicle steers, but once I got used to it it is easily manipulated and overcome. It does take some practice, and Kaspaas will never be as nimble as a Hilux without a front locker, but it makes up for it by the added capability in situations when a locker is really required.

It is personal choice whether you keep the locker or take it out, but if you want to spend some time to get used to it and to learn how to drive with it it could be worth it in the end.

As far as 4x4 on dirt road, I only use 4x4 when conditions are muddy or extremely rutted. Otherwise (especially on Namibian dirt roads) I use 4x2 with tyres at 1.1 to absorb any bumps. I hardly ever drive faster than 100km/h on a dirt road anyway.

Keep the locker in the front and just drive 2x hi on gravel, I dont see the need to drive 4hi on a dirt road. Its a hilux not a rally car.

well in responce to the limited slip diff i have in one of my hiluxs 2 lsd one in the front and one in the back and i couldn't feel the difference after fitting it but i did see the difference on the off road and in the mud. i am at the moment rebuilding my other hilux which has now go a lexus quad cam V8 in it with detroit lockers front and back. this hilux and my other hilux is coming to south africa to visit and to play as i am from south africa but now in nz and the hilux over here is cheap as i have another 4 lined up to buy

Get used to the locker in front. I LOVE mine. :D You will learn how to drive your Lux with it installed in the front axle. I agree with you on all Darryl.

Keep the locker in the front.... I would never go back to a open center front diff. They do take abt to get useto but well worth it.

Thanks,

I think I'll try it out in Kaokoveld this December and see if I can live with it...

Thank you for the input
Jaco

Hi GOOSENZ.
Can you mabe help me with models of Hiluxes that came std. with limited slip diffs on the import diffs.
The only ones I can find so far is the 1984 , d/c , 3y that were built in Japan. They seem very rare in SA.
As far as I am able to trace it was the Botswana spec vehicle.
Any info much apreciated.

@ Helgaard. Anthony ("GOOSENZ") move to OZ or NZ a few years back and has since not been very active on the forum.

I don't think we got any standard Hilux's that were fitted with LSD here in SA. As far as I can recall they were available as an after market addition and were not necessarily always original Toyota.

You'll just have to keep asking around, also try your local diff & gearbox centres .... they might just have one lying about.

Thank you Mud dog.
I apreciate your reply.
Am I starting to sound desperate.... I think I am.

Hehe. Desperate or determined .... it's probably one of those two (determined sounds better).

But ja, phone around to all you can think of in your area, breaker yards included, and let them know you are in the market. Follow it up also so that they remember you .... sooner of later someone is going to call back with an available unit.

My SFA I drive 2H on dirt roads as in the 80's I spent alot of time in Bots and most drove in 2H.
extra fuel and ware and tare for me.

Mud Dog wrote: ↑Wed Oct 09, 2019 12:59 pm
I don't think we got any standard Hilux's that were fitted with LSD here in SA. As far as I can recall they were available as an after market addition and were not necessarily always original Toyota.

My 1995 2.4SRX has a limited slip diff that was factory fitted but its a 4x2.

I was thinking about 4x4's but that's interesting, didn't know that.

Mud Dog wrote: ↑Wed Oct 30, 2019 9:12 am I was thinking about 4x4's but that's interesting, didn't know that.

If a recall Toyota only added a limited slip diff on the 2.4SRX when it was introduced in 1995 and it wasn't on the previous 2.2 SRX, I have a June 1995 CAR magazine that has the test on the 2.4SRX and if I recall it mentions that it was new addition to the SRX when the 22R engine was fitted to them in 95.