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AWD box, diff locker?

Posted: Sat Oct 29, 2005 12:09 pm
by Phizinza
When a AWD subaru has a "diff locker" does this mean you can lock the middle "diff" so it drives like a old subie does? Or what else does it mean? People are always talking about how AWD offroad is bad, this would make it much better right?
Thanks for any imput.

Posted: Sat Oct 29, 2005 12:40 pm
by Fang
Hmm - if you are talking about L Series - yes their "Full Time 4WD" box (AWD) has a "diff lock". The diff lock makes it like your average L Series in 4WD (both front and rear wheels locked together)

The problem with the box for offroad is the poor Low Range (assuming it is dual range - not all full time boxes are). In a Full Time 4WD box the "Low" is not as low as a Part Time 4WD box. So you lose your crawling ability.

It IS possible to change the low ratio out of a standard 4WD box and put into a Full Time 4WD box. I will be having this done so I dont lose the lower "Low range"

Posted: Thu Nov 03, 2005 4:40 pm
by Phizinza
Sorry. I got confused. I saw somewhere that most Libertys have "Cent.Lock" I now relise that means Central Locking, not Centre Locking (which I would think would mean a centre locking diff.) My bad.

Posted: Thu Nov 03, 2005 8:39 pm
by Guest
Although some AWD L series models do come with a central diff lock.

I didn't think the low-range was so bad in those 'boxes? You're just limited to 3.7:1 final drive.

Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2005 8:48 am
by Fang
Part Time 4WD D/R Lo Gear : 1.592
Full Time 4WD D/R Lo Gear : 1.196

The Low is bad enough to notice a fair difference - and as you say - you would notice this moreso with a 3.7 diff.

I thought ALL Full Time boxes had central diff lock - just not necessarily dual range. Maybe someone else knows the answer to this.

Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2005 9:44 am
by PeeJay
I think my AWD box is dual range and I'm buggered if I can tell the difference between hi and low :?