Diff Lockers unlock on their own??

[Tinerfeño]

Hi, Myllis!

My guess: The teethed part (that changes position) has splines on the drive shaft (Am. half shaft) and in locked condition connetcs the drive shaft to the differential cage.

 

[Clark Kent]

I wonder if anyone is familiar with the operation of the Grenadier axle locks. Ineos says the switch is electronic (i.e. the one's on the roof), but the lock itself is mechanical. Attached are two photo's, one with the lock open and the other one, the lock closed. The only difference is the 10% rotation change of the "front pressure plate ????", photos doesn't really tell you what actually locks the crown gears? Nor does it tell you how the information about pressing the button in the cabin comes to the locker?

Has anyone measured the diameter of the Grenadier Trialmaster shaftaxle and how many splines shaft has?

Hi @Myllis
Actuation is done by an electromagnet hence the e-locker name. Lock and unlock requires a small rotation of the wheels to drive a locking pin along a ramp.
A single wire circuit connects to each axle housing. Operation of the overhead switch applies power to the electromagnet to lock (provided the conditions for locking are met as per the owner's manual). Removal of power deenergises the electromagnet allowing the diff to unlock.

Watch the Harrop video here.

The Grenadier uses the wheel speed sensors to confirm lock and unlock. When Lock is selected the switch light will flash until a signal is received to confirm that both wheels on that axle are rotating at the same speed, i.e. the axle is locked. Same for Unlock which can cause a delay between selecting Unlock (off) and the light ceasing to flash. The delay is waiting for the wheel speed sensors to detect a difference in wheel speeds across the axle. The vehicle needs to be driven a short distance in an arc to cause the wheels to turn at different speeds.

I have no info on the axle shaft diameter or spline count.

 

[4x4-freak]

On the weekend we went 4x4ing in convoy. So we were stopping fairly regularly and getting out of the vehicle to watch other vehicles attempt challenging sections of track. One thing which really annoyed me what that if you:

• are driving with front and rear diff locks engaged
• then you stop briefly and turn key off
• then start the vehicle again and move off - then the diff locks will disengage by themselves (and take their time to do so on a narrow track where you can not do some turns to help them to realise they are disengaged. And you don't have the option to re-engage them until the diff lock button lights stop flashing

That was a bit of a problem if you face a challenging obstacle straight after you restart the engine/vehicle.
You are basically forced to continue to drive without the axle diff locks engaged...

Just for information - I checked this "issue" last weekend on a Jeep Wrangler JL (MY21) Rubicon -- the diffs will stay locked even after more than 1/2H with engine off, they do not disengage automatically when you restart your engine until you push the button to make them disengage. INeos should really change this.