VCU Life

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How long did your VCU last before failure?

  • Up to 70000 miles

    Votes: 12 19.7%

  • up to 90000 miles

    Votes: 9 14.8%

  • up to 110000 miles

    Votes: 10 16.4%

  • up to 130000 miles

    Votes: 10 16.4%

  • still going strong over 130000 miles

    Votes: 20 32.8%
  • Total voters
    61
DD3 said:
Nodge68 said:
I'm actually aiming to go back to Def / Disco permanent type 4x4. The VCU, IMO has always been a get you out of trouble system, rather than 4 wheel drive. With mine, at least the rear wheels snatch into life and drive you out reasonably effectively. Could be this is just my FL, could be that after nearly five years together, I have the itch to move on!!:)
Click to expand...

Technically a defender or disco is'nt a 4WD !! I'll probably get hung for that ;) But it's not, At least not without some driver intervention anyway. If you were to drive a defender up a snow covered hill without locking the center diff all the engine power would simply spin the wheel with the least grip. This is why LR chose the VCU as it's automatic in operation requiring no input from the driver, it drives the rear wheels when needed and disconnects them when you don't!! Well when it's working that is ;)
Click to expand...
 
Nodge68 said:
DD3 said:
Technically a defender or disco is'nt a 4WD !! I'll probably get hung for that ;) But it's not, At least not without some driver intervention anyway. If you were to drive a defender up a snow covered hill without locking the center diff all the engine power would simply spin the wheel with the least grip. This is why LR chose the VCU as it's automatic in operation requiring no input from the driver, it drives the rear wheels when needed and disconnects them when you don't!! Well when it's working that is ;)
Click to expand...

Agree. Selectable via CDL. Best of both worlds!!
Click to expand...
 
jamesmartin said:
disco /defenders are 4wd just only have a cdl
Click to expand...

The only reason they are 4WD is because they have a CDL. But not all do. I've rescued a friend twice in his disco 2. His just spins one wheel in mud which is pretty pointless really. But what I'm saying is you have to engage the CDL if you have one. If you don't then it's one wheel drive.
 
Nodge68 said:
The only reason they are 4WD is because they have a CDL. But not all do. I've rescued a friend twice in his disco 2. His just spins one wheel in mud which is pretty pointless really. But what I'm saying is you have to engage the CDL if you have one. If you don't then it's one wheel drive.
Click to expand...

Most D2's dont have CDL and rely on TC and HDC - (received info and may need editing forv truth):)
 
Nodge68 said:
The only reason they are 4WD is because they have a CDL. But not all do. I've rescued a friend twice in his disco 2. His just spins one wheel in mud which is pretty pointless really. But what I'm saying is you have to engage the CDL if you have one. If you don't then it's one wheel drive.
Click to expand...
by that definition most cars arent 2wd but 1wd,the ability to lock diffs in someway is a different question,doesnt his d2 have tc cdl or vc may lock both axles together but it wont help give traction to all 4 wheels only 1 wheel per axle
 
DD3 said:
Most D2's dont have CDL and rely on TC and HDC - (received info and may need editing forv truth):)
Click to expand...

The D2's TC has to work across both axles but all the drive can still spin one wheel. The Freelander drives both axles so the TC only has to cope with cross axle locking.
The RRC and P38 are in a different league compared to a disco or defender where traction are concerned but they use the good old VCU ;)
 
Last edited:
Nodge68 said:
The D2's TC has to work across both axles but all the drive can still spin one wheel. The Freelander drives both axles so the TC only has to cope with cross axle locking.
The RRC and P38 are in a different league compared to a disco or defender where traction are concerned!!
Click to expand...
how so rrc and p38 use vc but that gives no more traction to all 4 wheels than cdl
 
Nodge68 said:
DD3 said:
Technically a defender or disco is'nt a 4WD !! I'll probably get hung for that ;) But it's not, At least not without some driver intervention anyway. If you were to drive a defender up a snow covered hill without locking the center diff all the engine power would simply spin the wheel with the least grip. This is why LR chose the VCU as it's automatic in operation requiring no input from the driver, it drives the rear wheels when needed and disconnects them when you don't!! Well when it's working that is ;)
Click to expand...

D2's have diffs locked, TC, HDC etc. D1's have a lever to lock/unlock diffs and no fancy gismos. All Discos have Hi/Lo selection. My understanding was that the FL1 was intended for road use mostly (nothing wrong with that) and the VCU was a less inexpensive get you out of trouble solution (or compromise to 4x4). Now I will get shot!!;)
Click to expand...
 
DD3 said:
Nodge68 said:
D2's have diffs locked, TC, HDC etc. D1's have a lever to lock/unlock diffs and no fancy gismos. All Discos have Hi/Lo selection. My understanding was that the FL1 was intended for road use mostly (nothing wrong with that) and the VCU was a less inexpensive get you out of trouble solution (or compromise to 4x4). Now I will get shot!!;)
Click to expand...
none of them have lockable or lsd axle diffs
Click to expand...
 
jamesmartin said:
how so rrc and p38 use vc but that gives no more traction to all 4 wheels than cdl
Click to expand...

Understood. You chaps know more than me. What of these LR systems (haldex aside) actually works best in your opinions. What I am after is something that drives like a car - like my FL in mondo but that you can select 4x4 when / if required??
 
DD3 said:
Understood. You chaps know more than me. What of these LR systems (haldex aside) actually works best in your opinions. What I am after is something that drives like a car - like my FL in mondo but that you can select 4x4 when / if required??
Click to expand...
id have borgwarner fitted to my disco 2 just havent got round to it yet ,with lockers fitted in axles for ultimate ,though tc does most of what i need
 
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