Anyone installing a rear locker?

[wasilvers]

I have an unlocked 80 and am interested in the install of a rear locker - either ARB or the Detroit style. I'm curious how it all goes together and the adjustments/shims etc are done. If you are planning an install, can I watch/help? I don't claim to be more than a guy, but I have rebuilt an engine in my teens, know my way around small engines pretty well, and am not usually afraid of tackling a job. Just like to know (or have an idea) how it all should work before I tear into a job.

Thanks,
Will

 

[woody]

A full Detroit or the ARB both require setting up the gears as well as full install kits for bearings and such...$$$$, and unless you'ce done gears before, not something to try at home...especially on the 80/daily driver

The Aussie or other lunchbox lockers are far simpler and cheaper...

Daily driver, wheeler only, trailer queen or ??

--- Sent from my Droid w/ the new IH8MUD App!!

 

[wasilvers]

It's not quite the DD, I take her 1-2 days a week to work cause I like it, weekend tooling around rig cause I like it, a backup family car, the hunting rig, and boat launching machine. Mainly interested in a rear locker for some of the unpaved launches around here - there are lakes I want to fish, but am timid about launching without a second rescue vehicle around. I think 3wd would suffice for most of them.

I don't know if the lunchbox lockers (even thought they are cheaper) would be worth the hassles that members have mentioned. Any thoughts?

 

[Hank]

Front and Rear of my FJ62 both have lunch box lockers. No hassle really. They work, they are cheap and as Woody stated they are much easier to set up than a full gear set.






Disclaimer-at the moment the FJ62 is a 3 ton paper weight but I do have three years of good use out of the lockers.

 

[woody]

what hassles? They are not the best on the road, but NO automatic locker is. The ARB is transparent, but adds not just the locker cost, but also the compressor...and then the odds come in that the air line will be torn when you need it

I've run a lunchbox in the front of my FJ40 for many years...bent the front housing badly and finally junked one locker, put together a new housing and installed a new one, and it's been in for another 4-5 years now. 39" tires. Busted chromo front axles and that locker is still fine.

The labor to do an ARB or full Detroit is almost identical to the labor to do a re-gear. I know how to do gears decently, but still took my 80 in to a shop for that...not worth the hassle on a truck I drive daily.

 

[sno_man]

Awesome reading and photos at gearinstalls.com hours of reading and he mainly does yotas

 

[wasilvers]

The hassles of a autolocker are not for me driving it, but the wife when she takes it. I have read that if you gas her on the turn, the rear will lock and if it is wet out, you will be sliding. Maybe this is just an overblown issue?
I like the idea of selectibility, but like Woody said, it's a lot more parts to buy and risk breaking when you need them.

I'll take a look a the site recommended. I watched some youtube vids and am pretty sure I could do the autolocker.

Next time, I'm buying with lockers installed already

 

[Hank]

FYI you can retrofit your truck to factory selectable lockers. They are available here on 'mud regularly.
I would like an E'locked 80 diff for my FJ62 front some day. For now I have a spare open for both front and rear if I need it.

 

[wasilvers]

FYI you can retrofit your truck to factory selectable lockers. They are available here on 'mud regularly.
I would like an E'locked 80 diff for my FJ62 front some day. For now I have a spare open for both front and rear if I need it.

Yes, I've thought about that. I saw the complete axles and electronics listed in the classifieds the other day. Great deal and I'd have my old ones as backups just in case. I think next year I might pull the trigger on something like that - a few more things to fix with my other car this year that take priority ($) now.