Diff Lock & ETC

[DevilDisco]

This is probably a stupid question but here goes...I have an '04 DII. It has the CDL and of course ETC. Would I still need lockers or will the two together work like if I had Diff Locks Like ARB Air Lockers in each axel?

[disco12]

I don't know to much about the CDL with the ETC but my opinion is that with the right throttle ,driver knowledge and off road tire it would be a pretty damn tough system to use. Without needing lockers.

[Jupiter Rover]

is ETC electronic traction control. and whats CDL
i have a 03 dII // so we're in the same ball park.. im looking for the same answer about lockers. because i dont have a differential lock.

[DevilDisco]

CDL is the Central Differential Locking. Splits power equal front to rear. The Diff Lock Like an Air locker, locks the wheels on the axels together. When on turns the other will as well. Even if one wheel is up in the air the one on the ground will still move. It sounds like ETC does the same thing only using the brakes.
From what I understand the Open Diffs that alow the wheels to travel at different speed when turning will alos send power to the wheel with least resistance. Off road an in slippery conditons it means you are going no where. The ETC brackes the wheel that has no traction so power can be sent to the wheel that does. So in a corss Axel situation it would break the wheels in the air (off the ground) and send power to the wheels still in contact with the ground.
With a locker it seems as though no matter what wheel is in contact with the ground that both wheels get the same amount of power to keep you going forward. So why use a locker in the axels?

[Disco Mike]

Originally Posted by disco12

I don't know to much about the CDL with the ETC but my opinion is that with the right throttle ,driver knowledge and off road tire it would be a pretty damn tough system to use. Without needing lockers.

Wait on adding lockers untill you have had a good years worth of experience wheeling with just the CDL and ETC. By doing this you will get a better idea of what your truck is capible of and really learn how to drive it. At some point if you want to go and add lockers because you want to do alot of heavy 4wheeling then add them. Lockers are great for certain types of trails but they are a big BIG expense.
In the mean time, if you are wanting to play alot, look at tires, a lift, sliders and a diff. guards.
Enjoy your truck,
Mike

[Searcaigh]

You are very lucky to have picked up a Disco II with CDL, unfortunately the one I bought for my wife two years ago did not come with CDL (but can be fitted)

I recently fitted CDL to my 2001 Disco and the improvement on handling on sand is pretty good.

Additionally I did fit ARB air lockers to both front and rear axles and that has made an incredible difference in climbing steep dunes plus aiding in self recovery from embarrassing stucks.

As Mike says, get used to the vehicle first before adding air lockers, and depending on what type of off roading you are doing a rear locker might be all you need so look at other alternatives such as limited slip diffs (e.g. Detroit)

[jhmover]

To give you an example, I went on an off road trail a few years ago. My D2 had CDL but I never locked it, guy behind me had his locked. On several bad parts of the trail places where I had trouble getting through he went right through with little or no trouble with his CDL locked. Trail was bad enough I broke a motor mount and u-joint to give you an idea. It convinced me that the ETC with the locked CDL is a very good combination. You'd really have to be in some bad stuff to need the lockers. If you're not going to do stuff like that I'd stay with the current setup until you feel the need.

[DevilDisco]

Thanks everyone! I'll be taking her out this weekend to check it out. I'll wait until I have a few good trip under my belt to make the decision. I probalby won't need a locker for a while. I don't plan on doing a lot of mudding or rock crawling, but I do like to be prepared.

[Dan Erickson]

For the last three times I have been out on the trails, I have used the CDL in combination with ETC.

I noticed a huge difference the very first time and I am pretty satisfied with that setup. The front wheels are locked to the back wheel, and any slip from side to side is taken care of by the ETC. Once one wheel starts to slip the computer puts the binders on it and the power is transferred to the one not slipping.

While going through tough spots on the trail, I would experience some slip, and then (keeping steady constant throttle), I would begin to move again. Really pretty cool. I would imagine that the nice thing about the lockers would be that you would not have to wait for the ETC to kick in, giving maximum traction at all times.

I'm not saying that I'll NEVER get lockers, but my current setup seemes to have been plenty good for what I have been through so far. Plus, with all the other mods/equipment that I need, getting lockers is one less thing I have to worry about (at least for now).

I have seen stock D1s with the CDL and stock D2s with ETC on the trail, and each one seemed to have it's unique advantage. It seems to me that using the combination of the two, one would have the best of both worlds.

My 99 D2 did not come with the CDL lever, but had the nipple on the transfer case. The first time I decided to use it, I had to crawl under the truck reach up in there with a 10mm wrench to engage it while it was running. I burned the crap out of my arm (I mean really), but was amazed by the difference it made.

Not sure about the 04s but on mine, the CDL has to be engaged while the truck is running (hence me burning my arm). If it is started with the CDL engaged, ETC and ABS are disabled (as indicated by the lights on the instrument cluster). There is a wire to the SLABS ECU that can be cut to prevent this from happening.

Since burning my arm, I have installed a cheap linkage with a handle that is located under the passenger door. All I have to do now is walk around, reach down and pull the handle and all is good. I would love to get the 04 lever, but it's still $500, while the home made handle was pretty much free.

Sorry for the long post, but just got back from a trip to Livingston, KY last night and I'm just still pumped by the way this combination worked for me.

Peace,

Dan

PS: Mike, I thought I read somewhere that you had lockers (Detroit rear and TT in front?). How do the lockers play with ETC? Just wondering if anythig has to be done, or wheel slip just becomes a non-issue and the ETC just never engages.