I currently have a 2wd Axiom and would like to improve my offroad traction. I've already upgraded my tires and have a 3" lift. Will a rear locker or LSD help my offroad traction?

<small>[ July 01, 2003, 05:48 PM: Message edited by: sveltax ]</small>

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans"> Sveltax
I currently have a 2wd Axiom and would like to improve my offroad traction. </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">Sell it and by a 4x <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" /> (Ok, you have to admit you set yourself up for that one <img border="0" title="" alt="[Razz]" src="images/icons/tongue.gif" /> ).

A LSD will help traction marginally IMO. A locker will help more, but there are some drawbacks: bling-bling ($$) for selectable lockers or torque steer on acceleration/deceleration with mechanicals.

One good option may be the Electrack; a selectable locker when engaged and LSD otherwise, though I don't know what differential is used in the Axiom.

Tough call...what type of off-road traction are you trying to improve (dirt/gravel, snow/ice, mud)?

<small>[ July 01, 2003, 03:14 PM: Message edited by: jgalt ]</small>

This would probably be better in the talk forum, but here goes my answer. I have a 2wd and I am gonna go the electrac route for a selectable locker/lsd. With that and nice tires I can do most of the stuff I want to do, mainly fire roads and oteh stuff, but not necessarily rock crawling or mudding. I figure that since it is an isuzu it will live doing that until I get another car in the future for a daily driver, I figure 5-7 more years, at which point it becomes a project car. Whatever these guys tell you, an isuzu with a nice locker can do many things you couldn't dream of in an explorer or like 4wd. Course, I would get a winch too cause stuff happens.

I've been messing around on some small double track with steep climbs. I loose traction on the hills even when aired down. Reviewing some of the video that was shot, the rear wheels were both moving? Mostly dry, loose gravel and rocks. The rear end is a Dana 44 open differential.

<small>[ July 01, 2003, 06:09 PM: Message edited by: sveltax ]</small>

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans"> Whatever these guys tell you, an isuzu with a nice locker can do many things you couldn't dream of in an explorer or like 4wd. Course, I would get a winch too cause stuff happens.
</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">As much as i would love to agree with you, no 2wd locked or not is better than an open 4x4. I do most trails in 2wd now with my locker and tera lows, but there are lots of places that open diff 4x4's can go where I can not in 2wd, but 4x4 does it just fine. So IMHO no 2wd will ever do what a 4x4 can.

Troy

if both tires aren't gripping I don't know how much a locker or lsd is gonna help. You might the wheel with the most traction would get more power but if they aren't gripping, they aren't gripping. The only solution besides 4wd would be more aggressive tires. you are running at's now, so mt's or more aggressive at's may help.

<small>[ July 01, 2003, 07:35 PM: Message edited by: Ryan12980 ]</small>

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">Originally posted by sveltax:
<strong>I currently have a 2wd Axiom and would like to improve my offroad traction. I've already upgraded my tires and have a 3" lift. Will a rear locker or LSD help my offroad traction?</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">While I agree with the above that either an LSD or locker will help somewhat, I also just wanted to confirm that a 2wd vehicle with a locker is just not as good as an open 4wd vehicle. Even though there may be a rare situation where a locked 2wd vehicle will win the day over an open 4x4, it's very rare. And the lack of a low range is killer too.

We met some people in Moab once for some early year wheeling, and after a few hours of wheeling discovered that we didn't have front wheel drive anymore. Couldn't find the parts to fix it locally, but decided that since we have an ARB rear and always have 2 tires pushing we're as good as an open diff 4x4 so we'll just continue with wheeling.

Well ... after quickly embarassing ourselves and being unable to make it up easy climbs (which admittedly did have light snow on them) that stock vehicles were making effortlessly, we turned around and struggled back to pavement.

Instead of trying to off-road a really nice 2wd vehicle like you own, you might be better off spending the $$ on an old 4wd vehicle (seen some great deals on 1st gen amigii) that you keep just for fun.

Just my .02. If you're committed to wheeling the 2wd, though, you will definitely get some good benefit from either locker or LSD.

A locker, or LSD defiantly. And get yourself a good set of chains. I know its old school, but they do work I the right situations. Mud, snow, anything but rock. Rear tire traction can be increased dramatically. And with a 2wd rig chains on the front will help the front tires drive in the direction the tires are pointed. A major problem when I have been wheeling in 2wd rigs. The front tends to follow down slopes if there is any off camber.

Sounds like some great advice! I do want to get into a real 4x4. A used Isuzu is probably in my future! Thanks everyone!