New-tech limited slips

["Kenneth Emanuel" <KEMANUEL@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

"Karl Bellve, Ph.D." wrote:

>Ken, I will reply to all electric locker posts on this mailing list :-)

Good!  I would hate to see good info like that stay all couped-up in your head!   :-)

Lately I have taken an interest in the "new-tech limited slips," specifically those being offered by Land Rover and Toyota on the 2000 Land Cruiser.  The 2000 LC will no longer be available with a locker *at all.*  The locker is being replaced by a system called "vehicle skid control" that uses the ABS sensors to lock a wheel up when it is the air, thus transferring power to the wheel(s) with most traction.  Similar systems have been used by various manufacturers for several years, but apparently ONLY the system offered by Land Rover and by Toyota (on the LC) are effective in low-speed crawling conditions.   (The Mercedes Benz ML420 has a similar system, but it does not work well in low-speed conditions.)

I would be skeptical of such systems, yet I have seen them in action.  A promo put on by North American Land Rover showed an "open" Discovery Series II attempt to climb a hill with large ruts located below opposing front and rear wheels.  The vehicle easily got stuck.  Then an identical Discovery SII with the traction control system hit the same rut, and as the wheels began to lift off the ground, you could see the wheels with traction grab and pull the vehicle through the rough terrain.  This system really works!

I'm hoping that Toyota will begin to use such systems on the 4Runner and Tacoma.  In fact I bet you'll see this system on the 4Runner Limited within one year since it is already available with a full-time 4WD system utilizing a lockable viscous coupling center differential.

In my opinion, the Toyota electric locker is the nicest one on the market, but I think this new system will work even better, cost less to produce, and be more reliable since very few parts are needed to work in conjunction with the ABS system.

Just my 2 cents.

Ken Emanuel
'94 Xtra Cab SR5 V6
http://www.off-road.com/~kemanuel/