Disco 2

[BrokenBiker]

Do they have diff locks on them or have they got to be put in as aftermarket?

 

[CompoSimmonite]

Diff locks will be aftermarket - I assume you mean actual axle diffs and not centre diff in transfer case.
Check chassis VERY carefully as they rot terribly. Disco 1 body rots but chassis normally still sound however Disco 2 is the other way round and far more difficult to repair so it the reason most are scrapped when a D1 is still going. In fact it's viable to put a D2 body on a D1 !

 

[Robotstar5]

Diff locks will be aftermarket - I assume you mean actual axle diffs and not centre diff in transfer case.

I think the early D2's were built with an electrically operated diff lock, but you could retro fit the operating handle?, or I may be completely wrong

Land Rover thought the electronics could keep traction off-road but the die hards wanted the manual option.

 

[BrokenBiker]

i dont know if i will need diff locks to be honest, but have been told by a few that when opposing corners have no traction they will both spin all the power away and there are a few iffy areas where i will be going. how do manual (freewheeling) hubs work? can remember my fathers hilux having them and took him ages to work out why 4wd wouldnt work until he turned the hubs and it was fine then

 

[BrokenBiker]

I think the early D2's were built with an electrically operated diff lock, but you could retro fit the operating handle?, or I may be completely wrong

Land Rover thought the electronics could keep traction off-road but the die hards wanted the manual option.

im not going anywhere that a die hard would consider off road to be honest, just very lumpy and slippery farms. my navara seemed to be ok there but there were parts where the navara wouldnt fit and a disco probably would and they are quite 'bumpy' areas

 

[evobilly666]

Discovery 2. Early models have centre diff lock (CDL) fitted but no linkage to the hi-low lever. The later models loose the CDL altogether. The very last ones it was an optional extra, due to demand so may be fitted and will have linkage.

Linkage can easilly be fitted if you have the parts in the transfer box, and a wiring mod is as simple as cutting one wire to keep the traction control working whilst in CDL. The later vehicles with CDL have this function programmed into the BCU.

300 tdi linkages will retrofit, but you need like for like (auto for auto, manual for manual)

 

[rtbcomp]

You don't want free-wheeling hubs on a permanent 4WD system, the front prop will just spin and you'll get no traction to the rear unless you keep the centre diff permanently locked.

 

[Robotstar5]

Discovery 2. Early models have centre diff lock (CDL) fitted but no linkage to the hi-low lever. The later models loose the CDL altogether. The very last ones it was an optional extra, due to demand so may be fitted and will have linkage.

Thanks for the info, I couldn't remember what they'd done to the D2

 

[BrokenBiker]

You don't want free-wheeling hubs on a permanent 4WD system, the front prop will just spin and you'll get no traction to the rear unless you keep the centre diff permanently locked.

the disco isnt a permanent 4wd though?

 

[Robotstar5]

the disco isnt a permanent 4wd though?

Technically they are, the same as most models since the SIII (last of the part-time 4WD) the traction control will brake any wheel that spins so as long as one wheel has traction you keep going, Land rover demonstrated it by putting 3 wheels on greased steel plates and it still drove forward.

 

[CompoSimmonite]

The early 110 was selectable 4x4. Basically the LT230 transfer box was modified so the diff lock simply engage front output with the actual diff "locked" (I've never managed to find what LR did). Only problem was it meant no centre diff so off road use only otherwise you get transmission wind up like a Series.I put 110 swivels, brakes etc on a Series axle (via machined adapters) and managed to get a pair of the original 110 Free Wheeling Hubs You can now get the parts, including the FWH's, from Ashcrofts - http://www.ashcroft-transmissions.co.uk/miscellaneous/part-time-4wd-kits.html

 

[CompoSimmonite]

I think the early D2's were built with an electrically operated diff lock, but you could retro fit the operating handle?, or I may be completely wrong

Was this an electric or vacuum (like the LT95) solenoid ? I've only ever had (3x) Range Rovers, 200 & 300 Disco's and 200 Defender so have no idea about the TD5 system.

 

[BrokenBiker]

Technically they are, the same as most models since the SIII (last of the part-time 4WD) the traction control will brake any wheel that spins so as long as one wheel has traction you keep going, Land rover demonstrated it by putting 3 wheels on greased steel plates and it still drove forward.

So even if it's in 2wd it will still send power to the front if the rears spin? If that is the case is there any need for axle diff locks if it will send power where it is needed anyway?

 

[Tinbasherdan]

Was this an electric or vacuum (like the LT95) solenoid ? I've only ever had (3x) Range Rovers, 200 & 300 Disco's and 200 Defender so have no idea about the TD5 system.

D2 uses the traction control system to brake the wheel that's slipping and ten bring in the opposite wheel on the axle

 

[BrokenBiker]

D2 uses the traction control system to brake the wheel that's slipping and ten bring in the opposite wheel on the axle

that sounds like it will be enough to keep me going on the farms i visit. the navara didnt have any off that tech (afaik) and that handled it ok.

so, now lets talk engines...what engines are available in the disco 2 and which is best?

I assume the disco 1 hasnt got the traction control system that the disco 2 has?

 

[Tinbasherdan]

Td5 or v8 available for disco 2. Be aware they do suffer terminal chassis rot alongside the tank on the inside of the legs.

 

[BrokenBiker]

Td5 it is then. when you say terminal, do you mean genuinely terminal

 

[evobilly666]

It is a mechanical differential in the transfer box, delivers torque 50/50 front and rear. There is an optional linkage. It delivers power evenly to all four wheels if the vehicle is in a straight line on hard groun. The three differentials will take up the difference for conering. It is permanent four wheel drive, but loos traction on one wheel and the car will stop.

The traction control should brake this wheel to regain traction and allow you to move. If you fit the linkage to get centre diff lock, you will need to break traction on two wheels, one front and one rear to get stuck. Add the wiring mod to keep traction control active whilst cdl is engaged and you are as close to having axle diff locks as possible.

Traction control is a good system but requires the vehicle to loose traction before it starts to kick in.

It is permanent four wheel drive in exactly the same way an escort is two wheel drive. A diff just allows for different wheels travelling a different distance whilst cornering. The centre diff does exactly the same.

 

[evobilly666]

Was this an electric or vacuum (like the LT95) solenoid ? I've only ever had (3x) Range Rovers, 200 & 300 Disco's and 200 Defender so have no idea about the TD5 system.

Not electrically operated, mechanical, but used bowden cables as opposed to 300tdi linkages

 

[evobilly666]

No tc on disco 1s, td5 is a brilliant engine, not without its problems but well ahead of its time