Diff lockers, practicality

Cipher

You should get plenty of input on this topic from the OZ gang so be warned.

If you are heavily into the dirty stuff and are forever going places where no man fears to tread, I would probably reccomend the air lockers. Front first and rear if you still have the readies. However they are expensive by the time the compressor is setup and in real terms there seems to be no definitive proof that they are superior to the Auto lockers except perhaps in the extremes of competion or hairy chested off road hero stuff.

I installed auto "Lokka"'s in the front of my 75 series which is also part time, same as yors, as I sometimes found myself in situations you describe which could have been avoided with more traction before the vehicle ran out of puff.

As I was buying a winch at the time, the Lokka's were on special inclusive with the X9 winch, from the supplier which made them a pretty affordable extra for the Tojo. From memory the buy price was $499 - not fitted which was an extra $200 by a diff centre down the road.

I have read all the different opinions on both and with the experience gained from my own set up, can not really see why you would bother spending the extra dollars for air lockers on a "recreational" off roader, unlees of course you were after the little glowing switch as another gadjet for the dashboard..

Their auto lokka operation is quiet and in real terms, I can not hear them engaging or disengaging.

They are not an issue at all on the open road as the front hubs are obviously unlocked so the front diff is having a rest so to speak.

When in use in the soft stuff they have proved invaluable with only a slight tendancy to steer straight, unlike the air lockers which will really push straight in those conditions. This in my opinion is an absolute plus for the auto lockers as you simply wander along windy tracks with the locker engaging - disengaging as is neccessary.

The air locker has to be manually locked in and out as you come to the soft bits and the windy beach tracks I describe above are more the norm than the exception.

Still there are plenty here who will disagree - so good luck sorting it out.

However IMHO, the auto is easily the most cost effective and certainly does it for me.

Have Fun

I'd have to agree with all of that John

Don't forget TJM sell an air operated diff lock, so they are likely to be biased towards fitting air operated rather than auto lockers.

Hi Cipher

I am running ARB lockers front and rear and I can only say good things about them. They have taken me places where I never would have been able to go without a locker

Hi there cipher I'm with you there I am presuming the same thing that unless your hubs are locked in the front lock rite would not be working which is what we would want.?? Hopefully some one will give us the correct answer we are looking for Regards Steve M

that is correct. Lock the hubs, engage 4WD and both wheels will turn together.
Unlock the hubs and they will unlock during cornering. Nowhere near as rigid as air lockers when engaged and steering is very manageable although I haven't experienced extremely muddy conditions as yet.

Locked hubs are "locked" no matter how you "lock them". I have Lok right in the front of the 80 series and it is great. Sure air lockers are the ants pants but the lokright type are actually "auto unlockers".

Yes cipher
If your front hubs are unlocked then you can weld the diff centre solid if you like - it will have no effect whatsoever on steering.
Cheers

Thanks Maverick for confirming the bit about the front hubs part of it.I am actually in the process of pulling out rear diff and getting limo fixed and fitting new wheel bearings etc and will put a lock rite in the front only for now and see what sort of trouble I get myself in befor I worry about the back. Only costing me $ 550 to get the limo and new wheel bearings done thats with me pulling aprt and putting back together Regards Steve M

If you're gunna get the LSD fixed anyway, why not do the lokka instead.....i wouldn't think it would cost a helluva lot more than getting the lsd done up?

Also, they (the experts) say that a locker (of any sort) is better off being in the rear diff, with the possible exception of the Patrols (because they are re-knowned for having a very stron LSD in the first place. So, if you can only aford one locker (in anything other than a Patrol), then you should whack it in the back pumpkin.

I have a air locker in the front diff and wouldn't feel comfortable without it there these days.

The understeer is minimal but there is more a tendency for the steering to feel a tad heavier and self centre more readily. It is a much more steerable option than the air locker if that is switched on.

hi john my question is if the hubs are locked but you haven't engaged 4wd does this mean that the lockers aren't yet working as i am technicaly still in 2wd

Regards BigFella

Big Fella

Basically yes.

I did wonder about that myself, before my brain became a bit overclogged with information, as the turning input to the differential is being provided by the drive from the wheels rather than the power input from the engine via the transfer case.

Certainly once I'm in the scrub; I leave the hubs locked and simply select four wheel drive when I actually need it. It simply means that when I'm in four wheel drive the front diff lokka is operating without me having to think about it.

Once you re-select 2WD high range the vehicle simply becomes a two wheel drive again with the front wheels and diff idling along with the momentum of the vehicle.
You don't have to get out and unlock the hubs as the arrangement seems quite happy operatring in that manner and certainly there is no steering effect from the front end when in that mode.

When you then need 4WD, select Hi or Low 4WD and you will automatically bring in both front wheels into play providing drive to both front wheels and whatever else the back of the vehicle feels like contributing.

I think that's probably as clear as mud but it sort of makes sense to me.

If still confused, nag me a bit and I'll have another go.

Regards

thanks for that understand perfectly as you say you don't want to have get out of the car all the time to lock and unlock when going from road to dirt

Regards BigFella

Hi there Cipher, I have been told the exact same thing that they will unlock when turning the wheel.?? Regards Steve M

You got it Browny....the auto locker is actually an auto unlocker

me too, I'm air locked both ends but for some reason the rear is usually enough to get me through so the front rarely gets used....guess I'm not trying hard enough :)

Wayne you make good sense here thanks,, I see the pattern and my usage will be same as you I suggest. we have arb.

Cheers Barry