center locking diff VS rear locking diff
- Thread starter 410toy
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/differential6.htm
Basically, when you lock your differential, it makes both wheels on the axle spin at the exact same rate. If you locked the rear diff, both rear wheels would spin the same number of rotations, not allowing for any slippage. Hence why you have to be careful doing this on pavement, because as you can imagine, it creates unwanted stress in the drive train.
Locking the center differential would make the front and rear wheels behave the same way. 3rd gens dont have center differentials, which is why you shouldnt use 4wd ever on dry pavement. Hope this helps a little. The link above goes into much more detail
Basically, when you lock your differential, it makes both wheels on the axle spin at the exact same rate. If you locked the rear diff, both rear wheels would spin the same number of rotations, not allowing for any slippage. Hence why you have to be careful doing this on pavement, because as you can imagine, it creates unwanted stress in the drive train.
Locking the center differential would make the front and rear wheels behave the same way. 3rd gens dont have center differentials, which is why you shouldnt use 4wd ever on dry pavement. Hope this helps a little. The link above goes into much more detail
cooljello6233
New member
so a center diff. is basically and front and rear locker all in one?
No. A front locker keeps both FRONT wheels spinning the same speed as one another.
The REAR locker keeps both REAR wheels spinning the same speed.
A center locker keeps Both front wheels spinning and same speed as both rear wheels. Basically, if you locked the front, rear, AND center, each and every wheel would spin the exact same speed.
Without a center locker, it is possible for the front two wheels to spin one specific speed, and the rear wheels to spin a totally different speed (when in 4wd that is).
Is that more clear?
The REAR locker keeps both REAR wheels spinning the same speed.
A center locker keeps Both front wheels spinning and same speed as both rear wheels. Basically, if you locked the front, rear, AND center, each and every wheel would spin the exact same speed.
Without a center locker, it is possible for the front two wheels to spin one specific speed, and the rear wheels to spin a totally different speed (when in 4wd that is).
Is that more clear?
cooljello6233
New member
i think i got it now. thanks for clarifying
kellogg
New member
I thought it was:
Center diff unlocked: AWD
Locked: True 4x4
So you can have in 4WD all the time driving around town (essentially AWD), but once you lock the diff, it becomes like any other part time 4WD.
I think toyota gave that option so people could have superior traction all the time, but when they wanted to go off road and have a real 4x4 they could lock the diff and be good to go.
Center diff unlocked: AWD
Locked: True 4x4
So you can have in 4WD all the time driving around town (essentially AWD), but once you lock the diff, it becomes like any other part time 4WD.
I think toyota gave that option so people could have superior traction all the time, but when they wanted to go off road and have a real 4x4 they could lock the diff and be good to go.
JB.
New member
410toy said:
Not really any cons, only pros (unless you don't want the weight or something). The confusion of there being any cons may be due to criticism by some of SUVs that only have a locking center without a locking rear also.
It locks the front and rear drive shafts together so the vehicle has essentially one shaft driving the front and rear differentials. Considering only the differentials, themselves, as traction devices, having three open diffs -- rear, center, front -- could result in the vehicle losing traction and spinning one wheel while the others remained motionless. Lock the center diff and it would require two wheels --one front, one rear -- to lose traction and spin. Now, also lock the rear OR front (if there was one), and it would take three wheels losing traction. Lock all three and you'd only be stuck if all 4 wheels lost traction.
Unlocked, you can drive in 4WD on pavement without worrying about the binding that can seem to come on suddenly in slow speed turns.
Depends on preference and usage. Off road, it's the difference between having one wheel on the front and one wheel on the back locked together (can be any of the 4 combinations, depending on traction) or both wheels on the rear locked together.
Last edited:
pat161
New member
Couple have it here, and then some just posting up what they think.
1. 99-00 Limited models 4wd 4Runners have a center diff
2. All 01-02 4wd 4Runners have a center diff
3. No 3rd gen w/ a center diff 99-02 utilized a Torsen, they use an Aisin unit, the Torsen is in 4th gens, which is better is open to discussion.
4. Axles are open, meaning when you go around a tight corner the outside wheel can travel a greater speed and distance then the inside wheel, if the axle was locked the tires would be forced to spin the same speed thus they would hop, bark and skip around the corner, on dirt of course it would be no issue as the tire could easily slip, on dry pavement not so much.
5. Now the same theory goes for you front diff either locked or unlocked, but no 4Runner ever came stock w/ a front locker.
6. The center diff does the same thing as any other diff in a way, it allows your front and rear driveshafts to spin at different rates. With most 4wd systems you have one inside wheel spinning and on the other diff the outside wheel will spin, so the theory is the same going around corners, they need to spin at different rates, the center diff is what allows for this slippage between front and rear axles via the driveshaft.
1. 99-00 Limited models 4wd 4Runners have a center diff
2. All 01-02 4wd 4Runners have a center diff
3. No 3rd gen w/ a center diff 99-02 utilized a Torsen, they use an Aisin unit, the Torsen is in 4th gens, which is better is open to discussion.
4. Axles are open, meaning when you go around a tight corner the outside wheel can travel a greater speed and distance then the inside wheel, if the axle was locked the tires would be forced to spin the same speed thus they would hop, bark and skip around the corner, on dirt of course it would be no issue as the tire could easily slip, on dry pavement not so much.
5. Now the same theory goes for you front diff either locked or unlocked, but no 4Runner ever came stock w/ a front locker.
6. The center diff does the same thing as any other diff in a way, it allows your front and rear driveshafts to spin at different rates. With most 4wd systems you have one inside wheel spinning and on the other diff the outside wheel will spin, so the theory is the same going around corners, they need to spin at different rates, the center diff is what allows for this slippage between front and rear axles via the driveshaft.
trd_4runnin
New member
pat161 said:
^Great post!
To some of the other posters above, I know that we all start somewhere and everyone has posted incorrect information at times but there is quite a bit of inaccurate information in this thread and all that does is confuse people. Try and research before you answer.
Nice 4WD Demo
Although this is an overseas video & 4th gen too I might add, it will help with some 4wd answers. Well' unless you have the Ford Escape /Maverick shown here like my brother had for a minute or two, then you must pretend to see it do better here rather than admit its :toilet: AWD design, am I the only one with a warped minded bro? The truth hurts so Ford lovers beware..:cry2:
Go Yota - :whip: = :first:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQPNH4XRbWA
More drive line reading material.
hwell:
How Differentials Work - HowStuffWorks
*
Although this is an overseas video & 4th gen too I might add, it will help with some 4wd answers. Well' unless you have the Ford Escape /Maverick shown here like my brother had for a minute or two, then you must pretend to see it do better here rather than admit its :toilet: AWD design, am I the only one with a warped minded bro? The truth hurts so Ford lovers beware..:cry2:
Go Yota - :whip: = :first:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQPNH4XRbWA
More drive line reading material.
hwell:How Differentials Work - HowStuffWorks
*
