LSD for Vitara

jeremyisme · Post by **jeremyisme** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 9:53 pm

Hi, I had been making some enquiries to a 4wd parts dealer a while back, for either a locker or an LSD for a 93 vitara, lwb. And he said that he can pick up LSDs for the vitara from wreckers for about $200-300, as some suzukis came out with them.

Does anyone know what car came out with them, or anyone ever installed one, got one?

I had gone into Macetown, (back of Arrowtown) in the weekend, and the poor vitara was spinning its wheels quite a bit in the mud there, so I reckon I could do with a bit more traction. But I dont think I need to get carried away putting a locker just yet (and the bank account doesnt agree with that idea either).

Anyway, any ideas?

Thanks

mroffroader · Post by **mroffroader** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 7:09 am

You can put in an auto lokka??? there about $550-$600 from a guy off trademe and then you put them in...you can do this yourself if you know abit...otherwise maybe $1000 all up and fitted? maybe the grand vitara has a LSD in the rear because i know that they beefed up the front diff and made the alloy case that breaks steel so it doesn't do that any more. maybe have a look around trademe look up vitara or escudo in the search and see if you can find a guy called suzi spares selling stuff on there and ask him. cheers

jeremyisme · Post by **jeremyisme** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 8:13 am

Yeah, I was looking for that guy, but couldn't remember his name, or find any of his auctions.

I don't mind getting my hands dirty, so i will find out about the auto lokkas. The 4wd parts guy I was talking to said that air lockers require proper mechanic like skills. Anyone done a air locker diy installation? Any comments on how it went?

Thanks

mroffroader · Post by **mroffroader** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 5:24 pm

apparntly very hard and expensive.... guy for diff locks:

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Members/Listin ... ber=280878

guy for question about LSD:

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Members/Listin ... er=1546102

hope this is of some help!??

jeremyisme · Post by **jeremyisme** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 5:29 pm

Haha, thanks, if you look closely at the auction for the vitara axles, you will see it was me asking the question. But I didnt know about that other guy. So I might try him too.

Thanks

Bubba · Post by **Bubba** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 2:09 pm

try this guy. He seems to know every thing about Zuk's

http://www.mudbits.co.nz

jeremyisme · Post by **jeremyisme** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 2:22 pm

Cool, thanks for that.

So just to check before I go spending money.

What are the implications of installing an LSD? Will I see much improvement is slippery conditions? Road handling? etc,

Bubba · Post by **Bubba** » Mon Aug 21, 2006 1:18 pm

jeremyisme wrote:Cool, thanks for that.

So just to check before I go spending money.

What are the implications of installing an LSD? Will I see much improvement is slippery conditions? Road handling? etc,

Don't qoute me on this but it's my understanding that no, it wouldn't make a huge difference. Better off saving your time and pennys and put in diff locks.

zuky · Post by **zuky** » Mon Aug 21, 2006 5:34 pm

I'd go for a locker over an LSD.

Remember that auto lockers need a bit of getting use to on road. An LSD is better than nothing but only just! You still need some resistance for them to work, so as soon you lift a wheel (even by 1mm) then it will still just spin.

Oh and if you do this with some revs on, your LSD will wear out double time

Keep an eye out for an air locker. They come up every now and again on Aussie sites.

Lockers are great don't get me wrong but you'll get more performance gain out of:

A - Good mud tyres
B - Suspension, which will help keep all four wheels on the ground longer

Both probally cheaper, better bang for your buck options.

jeremyisme · Post by **jeremyisme** » Mon Aug 21, 2006 6:27 pm

Yeah, I Only got the car about 8months ago. But it hard some small road tyres on it. With lots of tread, so I dont want to through away some fairly good tyres yet. But that just means I have to work harder at making them bald!!

I really just want to be able to not spin wheels heaps when climbing muddy hills, and so I dont get stuck on soft gravel/sand when launching the jetksi etc.

How difficult is it to install an airlocker diy? I never like paying for what I can do, and I like to learn.

What kind of suspension mods do you reckon? My shocks are leaking, so I am looking at some KYBs, a pair of rears for about $150, which seems fairly good.

Thanks

zuky · Post by **zuky** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 9:08 am

Installing an air locker is the easy bit if you buy one that is already in the diff head. There is a small hole to drill for an air line and you'll need a compressor. They use next to no air so any compressor will do. But you'll find lower tyre presures to make a huge difference in the soft stuff so you want something that can pump your tyres back up again.

As for the shocks you want to get the longest you can fit in

But you might want to consider if you are going to change the springs in the future before you get them so you don't have to revisit that area. I'm no Vitara suspension expert but if you put up a post you'll soon get a good idea of what works and what doesn't. Better to learn from others mistakes than to make it yourself.

jeremyisme · Post by **jeremyisme** » Sat Oct 07, 2006 9:22 am

Ok, so I found an lsd now http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=72438062&permanent=0

How much should I pay? I offered $200, but I am not sure if that is too much or too little. Any thoughts?

icekayak · Post by **icekayak** » Sat Oct 07, 2006 12:13 pm

Depends on what you are actually gettin? ie whole diff, diff head, or just nugget...

But i was quoted $400 a little while back for one.
Another thing to think about is the ratio of the diffs.

mroffroader · Post by **mroffroader** » Sat Oct 07, 2006 5:09 pm

id just go diff lock $480 to your door i was quoted by a guy in CHCH (lockrite) i am going to get one asap