Disco 2 2004 Diff Lock

Hi all,

This is my first post here - I'll get around to finishing the introdutions off shortly!

I'm looking to buy a Disco 2, ideally a late 2004 model - although as I would be using it off-road / greenlaning, I would prefer to have a CDL.

As I understand it from looking around - the very early discos had the CDL fitted, even when a linkange wasnt fitted and it was then removed all-together around 2003.

However, the CDL was brought back in 2004, as an option I seem to think?

What I'm unsure of is whether this means that all 2004 models would have the CDL internals and could therefore be fitted with the linkage - or if only the ones fitted with it would have had them?

Many Thanks,
Jack

Hi, AFAIK on facelift modells(with original transfer box) there are two options:
1. complete working CDL, ''all in''
2. not at all, not even the wiring to dash light

For the 2004 model year Definitive Editions only the ES Premium had the differential lock as standard, for the Landmark, Pursuit and Commercial D2s it was a £260 option.
For the 2003 model year only the ES and XS had the differential lock as standard.




Sent from my iPad on a train

If you can move the tran box lever to the left and up/down, your in business. Forget stickers saying it has a cdl, it may not have it still. If lever goes just forward and back, you have no working diff lock, but thd internal gubbins may be there, or not.
You need to check the tranny box serial number or look for the triangular bit on front housing to see if it has the internals. No diff lock on the box if its 61D, 62D, 69D or 70D. If its 41D, 42D or 68D you have a diif lock but just need to fit linkages.
Ashcroft will sell you something to install a difflock to a box without it.
Why do you want it? Its potentially only of great advantage using hill descent? I would like one because my old D1s had them. But D2 is well capable without it. Unless your 3 amigos are on. So yes, a good idea.....

I bought a D2 and never even realised there was a no CDL option. Was surprised to find it was not standard fit.

Gotta crawl under and give 'er a look and feel for the CDL nipple.

Don't rely on trim levels, the only way to tell for sure is to physically check. When I bought mine I looked at a 2004 ES Premium that was stickered as having CDL and which the owner (who wanted £6K) assured me was fitted "I use it all the time in the Alps.". When I tested it the lever would not move left, an pulling back the trim showed it was obstructed by steel plate. Looking underneath the transfer box did not have the attachment point. I went with a well looked after (and much cheaper) 1999 model which had been modified with the Ashcroft connections to activate the CDL.

Traction control on the D2 is basic, but pretty good and will get you out of most things. However, with the LT230 it is important to not allow one prop shaft to spin much faster than the other - ie don't let one wheel spin, as the centre diff is not designed to deal with that scale of speed difference and will go bang in a very short space of time. Ashcroft report transfer box failures from this which could be avoided by engaging the CDL. Traction control should, in theory, prevent this and I suspect the majority of Ashcroft failures are on Defenders without traction control. But traction control on a D2 is quite rudimentary, not entirely reliable and needs a fair amount of power to work. If it chose not to work then it could get very expensive very quickly, and I'm not sure I want to rely on it to protect my transfer box.
watch from 1.30.

Si Click said:

traction control on a D2 is quite rudimentary, not entirely reliable and needs a fair amount of power to work.

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Absolutely true. Hate it!

Evening all, sorry it's been so long - however, thank you all for the posts / info above - I appreciate it!

I'm still looking out for the right Disco as before, hopefully I'll find one before long!

TC does burn your brake pads up also. But it is pretty decent if you get the technique right. But yes, not having a difflock is just wrong init. My Rav4 had a viscous coupler difflock!
As another option, Ashcroft do an LSD (viscous coupler) which you could fit in the rear axle. Its cheapish for what it is. But not as cheap as a second hand trans case nose with a difflock in it.

ronsealdeath said:

As another option, Ashcroft do an LSD (viscous coupler) which you could fit in the rear axle.

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That's not viscous at all https://www.ashcroft-transmissions.co.uk/limited-slip-differentials/ashcroft-atb.html , a better option would be this https://www.ashcroft-transmissions....230-rebuild-kits/ashcroft-lt230-atb-diff.html