Nissan Patrol 4x4 (Africa)

Just a passing thought/observation that maybe someone can enlighten me on.

I've got a whole whack of 4wd Action DVD's that a mate sends me from Australia. He subscribes to the magazine and he gets a free DVD with each issue that he sends once a year to me (what a legend ).

I keep noticing that all of the Oz Patrols only have an LSD in the rear diffs.
In SA, as far as I know, we got an electronic diff lock as standard.

Any idea why that is ?
Doesn't make sense to me that the manufacturer would put an LSD instead of an E-locker from the factory

I've also noticed that a lot of other vehicles in Oz either come with an LSD or with no diff locks at all. Strange.
If you see how these guys in Oz modify their 4x4's, your jaw will drop.
One guy featured on a 'readers rides' segment runs a 2001 GU 4.2 turbo diesel UTE with coils in the rear and about 230kW at the rear wheels

Another thing I picked up (on a side note) is the Ozzie guys don't really support ARB products like we do.
The only ARB accessory you'll see on some of the vehicles will be a winch bar and that's it.
They tend to lean towards :
Air compressors - Thumper
Diff locks - Harrop E-locker
HID spots - Lightforce or Narva
Winches - Runva or Warn

My 1980-83 H260 rear diff from a Safari or MQ Patrol has LSD and 4.88 gearing..

When I was looking around for a locker, the E-locker from Aussie seemed to be the best option, but present pricing, with the exchange rate, will put me in ARB territory of around R26K.

I think I will rather look at locking the front C200 on my Sani, and live with the LSD till my level of expertise off road warrants locking diffs. I ran IFS open diffs to date, now SFA with 180mm lift, should keep me busy on the learning curve for a while

Dustin, as far as I know all the GU wagons in SA comes standard with the rear locker that works via vacuum and the pickups have LSD.

Im not sure about the GQ's, maybe someone with more knowledge can comment on this

Apologies. You're correct Michael.
It was a vacuum driven locker.

Here's an interesting question for the fundies out there :
Is it possible to modify a rear vacuum driven diff lock from a GU to fit and work in the front diff ???

In Australia, the current GU Y61 wagon comes fitted with a difflock (on both the DX and ST varient). Not sure about the older models though.
http://www.nissan.com.au/Cars-Vehicles/ ... 1/Overview
http://www.nissan.com.au/~/media/Files/ ... ation.ashx

Nice that they got a coil version of the pickup.
Does not look like they can get the 4.8 pickup there either.

Hmm...OK.
I answered my own question on the rear to front diff lock modification.
http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forums/a ... -1436.html

Problems are :
1. Spline count on front diff is less (31 front, 33 rear).
2. Rear diffs Low Pinion & Front diffs High Pinion.
3. Rear diff centre won't work without steering modification - tie rod runs underneath the pinion.
4. Crown wheel will need modification to inside chamfer where it contacts the carrier.
5. Rear diff housing (hat) is different - will foul on panhand rod.

I wondered why no one has attempted it yet

https://www.harrop.com.au/shop/4x4-perf ... rick-front



Aus $1570.95

Dustin wrote:Is it possible to modify a rear vacuum driven diff lock from a GU to fit and work in the front diff ???

Dustin.....I have wondered about this many times, and have thought about it last week again actually.
I have not find anything on the net of anyone who have done this before,but that does not mean it cannot be done, it will be way cheaper than an ARB and I prefer this system as you do not need an external compressor

Ah ok.......only saw now you found the answer.....

Thought the question was worth the shot.
Would be a hell of a lot cheaper than an ARB air locker.

The guy with the mad Patrol UTE on those 4wd action dvd's said he's running a rear Detroit locker (LSD) modified to fit in the front.
That's what got me thinking about the vacuum driven units in the front.