aftermarket locking differentials for LR3

[speedmancool]

Greetings everyone.
I bought an LR3, it doesn´t have the original equipment rear locking differential I thought it had. I need that, since I do a lot of offroading, and by now, I have been in a couple of situations where the rear locking differential would have made me go trough without the help of the winch. Can I install aftermaket front and rear locking differentials? Which ones could I use? Thank you very much anyone that can help me.

 

[nwoods]

Sorry Speedy. No retrofit possible, and the factory locker is only availble for the rear, but it is very intrinsic to the vehicle ecu and harness and cannot be retrofit. You either have it or you don't, there is no interium solution.

However, I would like to know more about the conditions where you felt it was neccessary. I have a LOT of off road experience in the LR3, with and without the locker, and have not found the precense of a rear locker to prevent accomplishing an obstacle. It is easier with the locker, but still possible without. The traction control, and effective, practised use in how to employ it effectively, makes all the difference in the world. This is why there is no front locker. It just isn't necessary. The TC is that good.

So if you can, explain the scenario, maybe post some photos, and if you are in the west, perhaps look up OffRoving.com and we can provide some hands on training.

 

[zbysiu23]

I do agree ..with the TC on my Discos or the LR3 I could just let the car crawl on its own..and it would pretty much over anything...
Driving Jeeps ..that was a different story..big difference...
I wish i could have two LR3s side by side and test them...
Lockers were always the ultimate goal for an off roader .. now days it almost seems like the TC makes them absolete...
After seeing the stock freelanders fly over mud holes and rocks on their low profile tires my way of thinking about the lockers changed for ever..nearly brought a tear into my eye... remembering the extra cash and elbow grease I had put into my jeeps to make them crawl ..now you get a freelander and it crawls over everything..

 

[speedmancool]

thank you

Thank you guys for your answers and advices. I hope the traction control does it. I would only guess why does Land Rover offers the locking rear differential option if it is not neccesary?

 

[Houm_WA]

Speedy...I'm more interested in finding out how you bought an LR3 that you thought had the locker when it really didn't?!?!

 

[speedmancool]

Hello Houm_WA.
I live in Mexico. I bought the full equipped version. There wasn’t more equipment available. It is the HSE and it has the full size spare tire. For what I have read, that meant the truck had the heavy duty package, but now I am thinking that here in Mexico the equipment packages most be different from the USA, and I have understood that the rear locking differential is not available in Mexico at all. Just have to take it or leave it.

 

[Houm_WA]

That sucks, Speedy. Too bad you couldn't take it out in some off-road course, put 'er in Rock Crawl and do things to engage the would-be locker.

I think that the feedback you've gotten on this board is true, though. I think you can do just about everything with the traction control. Things would probably be easier with the locker, but still very very doable without.

One interesting note. I have peeked at the ol' 4x4 info center many times while off-road and it's quite entertaining to see when and how the computer decides which diff to lock and when. I would've figured that if the rear was locked the center would always be locked too...but that's not the case at all. Sometimes it locks one or the other...or both.