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Thu Feb 05, 2009 2:05 pm

i want to add a rear diff locker to my gl.

the one time i got stuck while off roading... i wouldnt have with a locker.

i dont have the money to jump into syncro land right now. soooo

is it kinda easy and cheapish.. .to add a locker to my rear wheels?

Thu Feb 05, 2009 2:18 pm

it should be possible for sure, but i'd consider a LSD instead.

also, someone on thesamba posted that using your ebrake at like 1/4-1/2 on will help you get unstuck when your diff is slipping -- it -totally- works. my brother in law was stuck on this iced up hill in tahoe in his truck and even though he had 4x4 his rear right tire was slipping so the left was dead in the water. i told him the ebrake trick and it totally worked! it crawled right on out.

so if your trans is still good, save your dough and get gnarlier tires :)

Thu Feb 05, 2009 2:23 pm

ooh ebrake huh. i've heard about it never done it.. i guess i should have tried it.

is an LSD going to be cheaper/easier?

i woudlnt want to spend more than a grand to do this ne way. if it costs any more than that. i would just sell this and look for a syncro.

and yeah i guess i could use some bf at's or something. ive got hankooks 195/14's nice but.. not offroad worthy

Thu Feb 05, 2009 2:23 pm

I think that vwlovr is right. A posi unit is the way to go. GW sells one that they say is a one-of-a-kind. It's a lot cheaper than trying to install a locking rear diff in your 2wd.

http://www.gowesty.com/ec_view_details.php?id=3897&search_phrase=posi&start=

Thu Feb 05, 2009 2:25 pm

theoutlaw wrote: I think that vwlovr is right. A posi unit is the way to go. GW sells one that they say is a one-of-a-kind. It's a lot cheaper than trying to install a locking rear diff in your 2wd.

http://www.gowesty.com/ec_view_details.php?id=3897&search_phrase=posi&start=

oh wow. thanks...

top of my price limit before instalation O.o... fkn gw guys r $$$

Thu Feb 05, 2009 2:32 pm

I know, man. But that posi unit is pretty sweet. My bro has one in his '87, and it makes a ton of difference. He's up in Tahoe, and he thinks it's the bomb. :)

Quote: fkn gw guys r $$$

Thu Feb 05, 2009 2:36 pm

theoutlaw wrote: I know, man. But that posi unit is pretty sweet. My bro has one in his '87, and it makes a ton of difference. He's up in Tahoe, and he thinks it's the bomb. :)

Quote: fkn gw guys r $$$

hmm... it IS kinda sweet.. maybe i can get into one of those and not worry about a syncro for a while.

Thu Feb 05, 2009 3:14 pm

very interesting this posi thing..I was thinking about maybe one day converting my 2wd into a syncro but this could be a good option.

What would be the difference in terms of off-road performance between a 2wd with a posi and a stock syncro? an example would be a Baja trip, would the posi 2wd perform as well as a syncro in that type of terrain?

Thu Feb 05, 2009 3:23 pm

No way does a 2wd with a locker come close to a Syncro with a locker, assuming everything else in good shape. Adding a locker to a 2wd would help a lot in some circumstances but fall way short in others.

Mark
(more than 100 Vanagon trips to Baja, 2wd and 4wd)

madspaniard wrote: very interesting this posi thing..I was thinking about maybe one day converting my 2wd into a syncro but this could be a good option.

What would be the difference in terms of off-road performance between a 2wd with a posi and a stock syncro? an example would be a Baja trip, would the posi 2wd perform as well as a syncro in that type of terrain?

Thu Feb 05, 2009 4:24 pm

Haven't driven a syncro, but I've covered the length of Baja a couple times in various 2WD and 4WD, including a bicycle ride from SanFran to Cabo.

I would not wait to install a LSD or Locker before going to Baja.

Reality is that you will find EVERYthing you want with 2WD.. Add a little practice in more dicey situtations and you'll get places that the LA offroad crowd would be afraid to go.

THAT said.. when traveling alone in Baja, you need to use your head. Getting stuck in 4WD is likely being much MORE stuck than in 2WD.

If you're driving out along the Pacific Coast mid peninsulaa, there's no need to be a hero and charge that hill.. Take your time and think things thru. Your are already 60+ miles from the nearest pavement and at least that far from services.
Thats a long freakin' walk balk.. and there's places out there where you won't see another person for severla days at a time.

A good quality come-along, a means to reinflate tires, the skills to plug a tire on the road, some sprae parts and an ability to wrench with basic tools is FAR more important than having one more wheel spinning in a deep sand wash.

People have had loads of fun for LOTS and LOTS of years driving basic 2WD vehicles down there.

Posted this once.. but what the hey.. Here it is again
A Caddy 60 miles from the nearest paved road.

Thu Feb 05, 2009 4:35 pm

Yeah, the posi is never going to match what a Syncro can do off-road. But a stock 2wd Vanagon can get to a lot more places than most people imagine, and a 2wd with a posi unit is even better. For the money, it's worth rolling with the posi unit, imo.

Thu Feb 05, 2009 4:52 pm

crazyvwvanman wrote: No way does a 2wd with a locker come close to a Syncro with a locker, assuming everything else in good shape. Adding a locker to a 2wd would help a lot in some circumstances but fall way short in others.

Mark
(more than 100 Vanagon trips to Baja, 2wd and 4wd)

madspaniard wrote: very interesting this posi thing..I was thinking about maybe one day converting my 2wd into a syncro but this could be a good option.

What would be the difference in terms of off-road performance between a 2wd with a posi and a stock syncro? an example would be a Baja trip, would the posi 2wd perform as well as a syncro in that type of terrain?

thanks

could you be more specific? I have never driven a syncro but I've driven my westy 2wd in Baja. What does the posi unit add to your off-road capabilities?

thanks

Thu Feb 05, 2009 4:58 pm

After getting stuck last year on sometimes an embarrassingly small amount of snow in my first winter with it i had to do something before this year. Also i have a 1.7 diesel with the tree crawler 5 speed a 5.5 to 1 rear end, which meant 55 mph top cruising speed. I found a syncro 5 speed with a more reasonable 4,86 R&P LSD and locker. I had my transmission guy swap everything over. Besides the more reasonable cruising speed i get out of much deeper snow and ruts ssoooooo much easier. we've had almost as much snow but i have only had to shovel out a couple of times instead of every time. I haven't had the chance to run the vacuum lines yet but it will make it much better. In all cost me about $1000 cnd and well worth it.

Thu Feb 05, 2009 5:45 pm

TheBlueTurtle wrote: i want to add a rear diff locker to my gl.

is it kinda easy and cheapish.. .to add a locker to my rear wheels?

Try Peloquin - he makes an LSD for our vanagons - about $1,100 I think but you also have to have it installed.

I think this is one:
http://www.smallcar.com/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=116

Paul

Thu Feb 05, 2009 6:36 pm

Agreed, you don't need anything special to see most of Baja. 2wd Vanagons can drive most back roads too. They just can't stop as many great places and then get going again. That was our main reason for getting a Syncro. Less digging out after stopping, more options for remote camping.

As long as you stick to common roads and don't hit rain you can get by in a Camry. If you want to explore remote beaches and pick spots to camp away from other people you need something more. Without high ground clearance even AWD won't do it.

It has only been a couple weeks since I was last stuck in the sand on a Baja beach, in a raised up big tire Syncro, lightly loaded, rear locked, aggressive VC. I let 20 psi out of each tire and then was able to continue, with difficulty. Without a Syncro I would have not gone to that place but someplace else instead.

Mark

j_dirge wrote: Haven't driven a syncro, but I've covered the length of Baja a couple times in various 2WD and 4WD, including a bicycle ride from SanFran to Cabo.

I would not wait to install a LSD or Locker before going to Baja.

Reality is that you will find EVERYthing you want with 2WD.. Add a little practice in more dicey situtations and you'll get places that the LA offroad crowd would be afraid to go.

THAT said.. when traveling alone in Baja, you need to use your head. Getting stuck in 4WD is likely being much MORE stuck than in 2WD.

If you're driving out along the Pacific Coast mid peninsulaa, there's no need to be a hero and charge that hill.. Take your time and think things thru. Your are already 60+ miles from the nearest pavement and at least that far from services.
Thats a long freakin' walk balk.. and there's places out there where you won't see another person for severla days at a time.

A good quality come-along, a means to reinflate tires, the skills to plug a tire on the road, some sprae parts and an ability to wrench with basic tools is FAR more important than having one more wheel spinning in a deep sand wash.

People have had loads of fun for LOTS and LOTS of years driving basic 2WD vehicles down there.

Posted this once.. but what the hey.. Here it is again
A Caddy 60 miles from the nearest paved road.

Thu Feb 05, 2009 7:21 pm

crazyvwvanman wrote: Agreed, you don't need anything special to see most of Baja. 2wd Vanagons can drive most back roads too. They just can't stop as many great places and then get going again. That was our main reason for getting a Syncro. Less digging out after stopping, more options for remote camping.

As long as you stick to common roads and don't hit rain you can get by in a Camry. If you want to explore remote beaches and pick spots to camp away from other people you need something more. Without high ground clearance even AWD won't do it.

Mark

Nice spot.. I won't ask "where?" :wink:

I own a 2WD.
And I think the order of mods I would make for a mid peninsula offroad journey would be:

1: remove stock propane tank assembly.
2: buy good tires.. if mine had many miles, at all.
3: buy a "new" spare" or two.
4: install an auxiliary fuel tank
5: lift with new springs
6: install locker

The vehicles of choice among locals has been Ford pickups, Toyota pickups.. and Camry/Celica/Corrolas.
Most every "road" n Baja was graded with those vehicles in mind..

As you suggest, it starts to get interestnig when you want to get "just thru that area where we can camp on that bluff"
But that area is a wash in an arroyo.

Otherwise, the locals just go around it if impassible with 2WD. For every midpeninsula coastal access there are 4 or 5 side routes that zig zag thru each other... low spot? Just look for where the fish camp residents "went around"

And yep.. the rains can wreak havoc..

Areas south of Guerrero Negor along the coast can get difficult.. mostly sand.

Have done most of the coast north of Punta Santa Rosallita north and in to Catavina (not in Vanagon). Some sketchy sections.. but mostly all passable in 2WD without heart failure or need to dig.

Fri Feb 06, 2009 7:39 pm

crazyvwvanman wrote: No way does a 2wd with a locker come close to a Syncro with a locker, assuming everything else in good shape. Adding a locker to a 2wd would help a lot in some circumstances but fall way short in others.
yeah, like expense of repairs :wink:
unless you are rockclimbing you'll be fine and won't have to worry about all those pricey syncro parts

Fri Feb 06, 2009 8:33 pm

Is GW the only place to get the posi differential mentioned above? anyone know of a cheaper option?

Fri Feb 06, 2009 9:03 pm

Contact Daryl at

http://www.aatransaxle.com/

He rebuilds these for a living and is well respected in this crowd. He'll be able to tell you what works and how much it costs to install in your tranny.

It's easy to UPS ground your trans to Daryl and he ships it right back to your door. :)

Fri Feb 06, 2009 9:46 pm

If you can reduce your self to getting slightly dirty, chains will make a huge difference in where you can or can't go in your van, dirt, mud, snow, chains chew through all of it. Chains also only cost $40 instead of $1500 for an installed locker or $5000+ for a syncro. For the very few times a year you actually need extra traction chains are far and away the best bang for the buck.