Aussie Locker Affirmation

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I drove 4 winters in N. Idaho with two e-locker 80s. My current rig has an aussie in the rear and I honestly couldn't tell the difference in normal driving. As far as how the aussie locker works exactly, I'd refer to their website or PM aussie locker on the board.
 
I dont notice mine unless Im turning really sharp and give it gas (parking lot or pulling into traffic from a stop).

In the snow I cant tell its there. If I gas it around a corner it seems like the front just pulls me around the corner and the rear follows without any drama.

D
 
I had the Aussie in the rear of the 80, before I e-locker, and never had any problems or even noticed it in the winter snow in New England.

The wife would use the truck and she had not problems either.

Do it and don't look back, you will not regret putting it in.
 
LOL, sad truth is between having a new born and new home since I started this thread I havent installed it yet :(

BUT I have a garage now that will fit my cruiser, and have the locker sitting right in front on the work bench to remind to just do it. . . one of these days lol.
 
It only takes about two hours......

Well, maybe three, but still......
 
I had never been inside a diff until I installed the locker. Took me three hours.
 
Pin_Head said:
Open differentials can't tell the difference but automatic lockers can tell when a wheel is slipping and then they lock. That is why they are called traction assisting devices. They don't lock when power is applied as long as the wheels do not slip.

Here is a description of how they work.

http://members.cox.net/golddebra/Photos/LockerOperation.pdf
Click to expand...
Pinhead, very good and infomational article. Helps one to more clearly understand the autolockers personality and noises. I can see where you're coming from in past posts.

However, if you'll notice in the summary at the end:
"Drive side switching is the cause of some of the undesirable driving characteristics, such as making popping and banging noises in turns and causing the rear end to twitch when shifting gears. The problems in turns can be minimized by avoiding switching from coast to drive within a turn. Slow down before the turn and the steadily accelerate around the turn."

While, what I've highlighted in red is good technique when ample traction is available, it could get you in trouble on an icy or slick highway.

From what I read here on MUD, I'm impressed with the value and performance for the money of the Aussie. If and when my 80 gets delegated to primarily off road and trail duty, I'll stuff one in my rear diff. But, I don't see an advantage for winter highway use, which for now, I'm pretty much satisfied with the stock drivetrain setup of my '94. Tire choice is much more important for winter performance.

I truely believe that the only advantages the Aussie will give you is on the trail, or other low speed, low traction situations - to get or keep you moving when 1 wheel on your rear axle isn't enough traction. For example, in deep snow, you would have an advantage with the Aussie.

Retro, since you've already got and paid for your Aussie, put it in. You can always take it back out if you're not satisfied with the performance. Just be careful until you're familiar with the highway handling differences.
 
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80t0ylc said:
While, what I've highlighted in red is good technique when ample traction is available, it could get you in trouble on an icy or slick highway.
Click to expand...

Sure, it is possible to over do it. I think what is means is don't go back and forth from coast to drive in a turn to avoid the twitching and popping. You don't have to accelerate hard; just keep an even pressure on the drive side of the center pin.
 
meh, I don't get any twitching or popping, and there is zero driving/handling difference on the highway (normal driving).

In an emergency maneuver, there may be some difference though......

Per aussie locker's website, the thing will not lock when torque is applied to the diff via the wheel--so, even in a long slide, you would have to be heavy on the throttle and it would have to be slick to get the rear to lock up. Only when the torque provided by the drivetrain exceeds the torque applied by the wheel will the aussie lock. I think that may be difficult on the freeway......
 
KliersLC said:
Per aussie locker's website, the thing will not lock when torque is applied to the diff via the wheel--so, even in a long slide, you would have to be heavy on the throttle and it would have to be slick to get the rear to lock up. Only when the torque provided by the drivetrain exceeds the torque applied by the wheel will the aussie lock. I think that may be difficult on the freeway......
Click to expand...

I don't want to sound disagreeable, but torque does not control when it locks or not (unless the torque is sufficient to cause a wheel to slip) and that is not what the Aussie locker web site says. It is the relative wheel speed between the two sides that controls locking and unlocking. The faster rotating wheel is unlocked and the slower side is locked and driving when driving forward. When a tire loses traction, both sides are locked.

The Aussie web site says:

"The "Aussie Locker" mechanism allows a wheel to turn faster than the speed of the differential that is driving it (differentiation), but never allows a wheel to turn slower than the speed the differential and engine is turning it (traction). Therefore, a wheel cannot ever stop turning if the engine is driving it, but in a corner it can be forced to actually turn faster. Unlike a standard differential, the engine can never drive one wheel faster than the other."

The link I posted above describing the details of how lockers work and the Aussie locker web site describe how lockers work.
 
I had a lockright in my 62 and it drove me nuts. Ill only be going with ARB or electric from now on. The lockright was awesome offroad, but onroad it was aggravating.
 
I've got an Aussie sitting here in a box ready to install, its just too freakin cold! I would have gone on a big trail ride on New Years Day if I'd had a chance to do it.:frown: Looking forward to trying it out. Got an OME life waiting for warmer weather, too..:frown:
 
Just installed mine on my 80 like 2 weeks ago...super quiet compared to the lock right I had on a 55 years back. So far, super happy with the locker. I need to get off in the dirt and see how things go. On road, not much different from what I can tell handleing wise. Not much snow and ice in Houston but the whole process went well. Removal and locker install and put the thing back together took 2 hours....the longest part was putting gear lube back in which took 40 minutes cause the s*** was cold. Make sure you measure the gap when you get the locker put in the 3rd member, aussie says .145 to .176. I've got over 200k on the truck and had a .151 on the gap. Good to go. break in period in the instructions is vague...spoke to tech and the "break in" period in just basically to remove the machining grooves during the manfacturing process. Install, wheel, and enjoy
:beer:
 
I put a Lockright in, basically the same thing...I would have put in an Aussie like I had in my 60 but a friend had the lockright just sitting around...

So far it has been nearly transparent. A little more slop in the driveshaft and a bind clunk maybe twice a month.

The fact that the 80 is all time 4WD helps in the snow. I found that the 60 didn't get as squirrely when 4WD was engaged. I imagine that the front "pulling" helps with the "locked" rear diff "pushing" and all the torque isn't being applied at the back two tires. I have been very impressed so far with how invisible the locker has been.
 
Simular

In my last rig I have had a lock right, which is simular for the last 3 years, live in montana, drive 80 miles a day, year round, If I pour the coals to her while turning she will slide but normal driving is seems to handle well, although I run studded sipped tires in the wintir, good luck
 
SHERMAN FJ62 said:
Anyone have any driveline wear and tear issues?
Click to expand...


I pulled my diffs for new gears after a couple years running with an Aussie Locker. No sign of any wear on the cross shaft whatsoever. Gears looked good. Been running an Aussie Locker in a daily driven vehicle for 3 years now. Can't find a reason to not install an Aussie Locker in an open-diffed 80.
 
I have a lock right in the rear and had to pull it to re-do my rear axle seals and bearings, SF rearend
It has about 30k on it and some hard wheeln and DD all over the place.
No real signs of wear, looks like when I first put it in.
 
Brief update, have had my aussie in for several months now and I love it. Works great. Hardly notice any different behavior around town and has performed flawless on the trails :D

One of the best low cost mods for an open 80 IMO
 
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