Offroad-Express

Hi all

Still on this bone
Looked at a stock standard 3dr Pajero 1994 today
Could not find a Front Diff housing like the good old Jeep and Toyota.
Is there one tucked up behind the bash plate?
Had to take off before the Car Dealer got me by the short and curlies
Also , what is the Low First gearing like. Can you crawl down a slope with the foot off the brake or is it like a Suzuki free for all?

Cheers

The Pajero has the diff behind that bash plate, quite a solid one it is too. Being Independant the diff is tucked up out of harms way and runs 2 cv's on either side to get power to the corners and account for suspension movement.

Downsides are of course the lack of unspring weight for a starter and then just the straight out articlation a beam axle will provide. Even though you can get some reasonable travel out of them they still have the limitations of unsprung weight, simply not enought weight at each corner for traction. the opposide side isn't 'pushing down' as done with beam axle.

Gearing is not wonderful particually with a petrol and then with bigger tyres on it. I don't find holding back a problem, thats what brakes used properly are for. Simply going slow accross rough terrain is the thing, even worse if its rough and uphill and even worse when winching.

Low ratios are available in oz. mine currently is 36:1, oz kits take it to approx 60:1. Early model rangie's were possibly one of the best from factory with I think 52:1.

Thanks NJ

My Korando is Indipendant and it goes OK. Think the traction control helps lots though as it cocks a leg or two. My old Cherokee Jeep went everywhere.
On a recent Safari in Rotorua I watched many vehicles navigating very rutted and cross axil holes. SWB Landcruisers were king . Then Discovery. Zukes cocked wheels all over . Safari's did nothing, just twisted chassis and got stuck , me in the Korando cocked wheels all over but kept on trucking. In essence I was the only Indipendent/Torsion along with the odd terrano (They went nowhere) A few MU they seemed to navigate OK. So what do you think the Pajero will do in a tractor rutted mud/clay bog hole while trying to turn left onto a steep hill climb? My Jeep would have spat it out for breakfast. Korando has difficulty, think it is a power thing there.