Anyone installed a front locker in a 4runner?

daughterofromer · 06-16-07, 11:37 PM

Hey ladies, I'd like to hear all of your opinions about this one...

I would love to have a front locker in my 3rd gen 4runner, right now with just rear it does good, but i would love to have front too and be able to do even more.... anyone done it? how hard is it? any major obstacles you ran into?

Mace · 06-18-07, 02:56 PM

One of the problems with a front locker in a 3rd gen runner is the strength of the front shafts.. They (and the CV's) are fairly weak..

I would do an ARB if you are going to do it at all..

Mark W · 06-19-07, 01:12 AM

No argument with what Mace says, but I would have to say it depends on what kind of wheeling you do. I've bot a 350 in a mini with Lockrights at both ends. No problems with th half shafts. I have ripped the teeth off of a ring gear whne both front tires caught traction at the same time spinning up out of a frozen creek that I broke through on.

If you use is largely on low traction stuff (mud, snow, wet clay, sand, loose rock, stuff like that) then I would not expect any problems at all with the drivetrain due to the locker.

If money is not a concern (isn't it always though?) than a selectable locker is always a better choice up front over an auto locker. Especially if you want to use 4x4 on the road much (winter use usually). I much prefer to keep the front end unlocked for icy roads instead of using an auto locker. On the trail, with any but the largest tires there is there is little about an auto locker that concerns me.

Mark...

daughterofromer · 07-03-07, 02:55 PM

thanks for the replies, i was just curious to hear about it.... dont know if it will be able to happen any time soon, just wishful thinking i guess

LukeZero · 07-08-07, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daughterofromer

thanks for the replies, i was just curious to hear about it.... dont know if it will be able to happen any time soon, just wishful thinking i guess

If you do end up doing this mod- I'd like to know how it goes, I've been thinking about the same thing. I, too have the rear locker and have thought about an ARB in the front, but the cost hurdle seems pretty high, only to open up a new can of worms in worries about CVs and halfshafts.

billmiranda · 07-24-07, 06:14 PM

... I've had a locker (lockrite) in the front of my ifs second-gen. Lots of wheeling and road driving. i have about 40k+ miles on it,.. put it in after my detroit in back. Detroit has about 50k miles.

billmiranda · 07-24-07, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billmiranda

... I've had a locker (lockrite) in the front of my ifs second-gen. Lots of wheeling and road driving. i have about 40k+ miles on it,.. put it in after my detroit in back. Detroit has about 50k miles.

Okay,.. detroit front,.. lockrite rear...

H8PVMNT · 07-26-07, 08:00 PM

Try an aussie locker. They are a lunchbox locker but they work really really smooth. Almost no torque steer, even in snow and ice.

As for the install: pretty easy really, just take the diff apart and follow directions. Everything goes back in the same as it came out when youre done installing the locker in the carrier. The hardest thing is getting the danged center housing out from under the truck. It weighs enough for two people but there is only room for one!

Durability: Yes, I have broken CV axles with 33s and a front locker, but if you drive smart, without testasterone, which I assume you can do since you are a girl, you should be OK! Besides, CV axles are cheap from the junkyard and my wife can replace one on the trail in about 35 minutes.

An ARB is also a good option except for the outrageous price tag. The only drawback to an ARB is this: Everybody, I mean EVERYBODY I ever wheeled with who had an ARB has had issues on the trai with their air lines getting snagged, or just leaking from somewhere, or the compressor not running... which leaves you out in the bush or up a trail with NO FRONT LOCKER. This has really been a liability in super deep snow, where 3 wheel drive won't cut it.

Sorry I'm not a girl, but my wife is a better driver than me on th trail anyway, so I think that makes it OK.

Wheel On!

94 4Runner · 09-22-07, 03:14 PM

I have a Lockright in the front of the 4Runner. I love it. The steering is a little stiffer and the vehicle tracks to towards the crown on a trail. You don't have to get on it as much with all that extra traction.

tntoyota · 09-22-07, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daughterofromer

Hey ladies, I'd like to hear all of your opinions about this one...

I would love to have a front locker in my 3rd gen 4runner, right now with just rear it does good, but i would love to have front too and be able to do even more.... anyone done it? how hard is it? any major obstacles you ran into?

I swear I'd go with something soft up front, probably get flamed here but if you cant go selectable get something less as hash as a locker,

I like to think as soft as the TrueTrac is if you have an A.T then you could easily stab the breaks and it would lock. I dont know your location but Ice and snow don't fare to well with harsh traction. You could be in a situation you might be in a lot of trouble if you induce a slide. Hard not to with a spool! "Kind" traction as I call it, may have a tire holding you steady.

Stress is stress maybe not now, maybe not tomorrow, but it will shorten you front ends life span. Also when cheapo's fail it is usually catastrophic (teeth shear, carrier damage) there are pix all over this board, and it may hinder your return. (you might not be able to get the truck home)

Adding traction in the rear first is good as the rear is not as complicated as the front, are you having problems now with getting around?

I wouldn't add a locker at all if I wasn't getting stuck.

Most light pockets get the "lunch box locker's" well....because they are the cheapest, most people that know you get what you pay for stay away.

my .2 (where the hell is the cents key?)

have fun

94 4Runner · 10-14-07, 04:22 PM

I think it all depends on the type of terrain you drive on. If you have very soft sand then having both front tires pulling helps a lot. Same thing in mud. Not all that necesary on trails but I like it anyway. Everyone gives lunchbox lockers a hard time but considering that the backlash doesn't have to be reset and can be done in the driveway you get an insane amount of value. Yes you get what you pay for, but I know people that have put truetracs in and went with something different later. Buy what works best for your terrain.