Re: Locking Diffs

[Kneale Brownson <knotnook@traverse.com>]

My two '86 4Kcsq's and my two '87 5kcstq's all have a two-position
differential lock switch and a lighted image of a 4-wheel set up with a
spot in the middle for the central lock and one in the rear for the rear
differential lock.  You engage the central lock on the way to clicking the
switch for the rear lock.

I believe the front differential is the one between the front wheels and
has no lock.  The central differential is the one that locks at any speed
for "equalized" four-wheel power application.  The rear lock, which
disengages at something like 15 mph,  makes the rear differential (and, I
think, the rest of the system) more like a limited slip where one wheel can
turn only a certain percentage of a rotation before the other wheel becomes
engaged.

Kneale Brownson


At 10:32 AM 6/11/99 +0000, erskine@palmnet.net wrote:
>The bootom line is when a car maks a turn the inside tire turns at a slower 
>speed than the outside tire thats why axeles are are not coupled together.  
>When you lock the diferentials somthing has to give in order for your car 
>to make the turn and that somthing is the rubber on your tires.  You can 
>lock them anytime, but unless you are on a slippery surface than you tire 
>life is going to suffer. It also put more stres on the drive train 
>components.
>
>PS I always thought my front differential was lockable that what the switch 
>and two indicator lights on my dash were telling me. At least I thought so.
>
>
>>Hello everyone,
>>
>>
>>Does anyone have any info on when you should / should not lock the diffs. 
>I
>>own an '85 Coupe Q and the manual refers to not much, I have heard of 
>people
>>locking the front diff whilst driving on motorwyas in the wet. Shed any
>>light?
>>
>>
>>TIA
>>
>>
>>Iain