Aussie Locker impressions

[Hayes]

I've had an Aussie Locker in my rear axle for a couple weeks now, and I thought I'd share my initial impressions.

The Aussie Locker is totally transparent on the highway--don't even know it's there. So far in-town driving has been about the same. I've always been easy on the skinny pedal in my 80, but even under mild acceleration I haven't chirped a single tire yet.

When making slow, tight turns (parking lot, neighborhood streets), I can hear a polite click-click-click-click when I've got the window down.
I have not experienced any bangs or loud noises on the road, or even in the driveway/parking lot.

I was able to get some proper use out of the Aussie Locker during the Wasatch Cruisers Fall Moab Run last weekend (photos here). Granted, this is the first time I have EVER wheeled with any kind of locked axle--but let me tell you, one Aussie Locker in the rear changes everything. No jockeying for a better position on small obstacles--I can just point my 80 where I want it to go, and it goes there. More difficult obstacles are a much more calm, controlled experience. I drove Gold Bar Rim, a wee bit of Golden Spike, and all of Cliffhanger. Short of the "Body Snatcher," I didn't really have any great difficulty with any of the obstacles. Folks in totally open-diffed 80's were certainly able to drive all the same obstacles I did, but where their moves often included spinning tires and a little more bump and jump, I was able to calmly walk through. Very cool.

Tight turns on slickrock did generate some extra chirps and jerks from the tires and the occasional bang, but that is apparently typical.

So far, two big thumbs up for the Aussie Locker. I can't believe the preformance increase that can be had for under $300, with a low install.

I'm a little uncertain how my 80 will behave in the snow and ice. I'll learn the answer to that question soon.

Hayes

 

[MoGas]

Have you done a CDL/Pin 7 mod? I wonder if you were to have the CDL disengaged if you would still have had the noise while off road.

Dave

 

[EricG]

I was looking through some aussie locker threads the other day as well. Seems like a great low $ low mod.

I did have one question though - I seen warnings to make sure your tires have equal diameter, and make sure they are inflated equally etc. What happens if you blow a tire on the rear axle at highway speeds? Seems like it might increase the pucker factor considerably on what would already be quite an exciting ride.

 

[Aussie_Locker]

Aussie Locker

I was looking through some aussie locker threads the other day as well. Seems like a great low $ low mod.

I did have one question though - I seen warnings to make sure your tires have equal diameter, and make sure they are inflated equally etc. What happens if you blow a tire on the rear axle at highway speeds? Seems like it might increase the pucker factor considerably on what would already be quite an exciting ride.

The reason for the tires being the same circumference (or within the allowable difference of 3/8") and the same air pressure is to prevent handling issues and excessive wear. The locker would see a smaller tire, or an underinflated tire as traveling faster than the drive line and disconnect the locker for that wheel. If this happens the gears on the side of the disconnected side are constantly rotating over each other and the wear on the locker on that side is dramatically increased (virtually 100% rotation instead of the normal rotation in a turn). Also the other tire becomes your power tire, so instead of the torque being split 50/50 when going straight all would be going to the larger tire and this could affect handling. If a tire blows, the side where the tire is deflated does unlock and the torque transfers but this should not cause it to get any more exciting than without a locker.

 

[Hayes]

Have you done a CDL/Pin 7 mod? I wonder if you were to have the CDL disengaged if you would still have had the noise while off road.

Dave

Yeah, I've done the CDL switch (and pin-7 mod).

I assume you're referring to the occasional bang noise? Not sure if a locked center diff would affect the operation of the rear locker. Doesn't seem like it should.
I think the bang noise occurred maybe twice in 3 full days of wheeling on slickrock. I assume it is the locker storing energy in a locked, torqued axle (sharp turn under power on a high traction surface), and then releasing it by unlocking (circumstances of throttle and traction?).
Again, it only happened a couple times, and Aussie Locker says it's normal, and nothing to be concerned about.

As far as squealing tires go, that obviously comes along with a locked axle (and just a locked driveline for that matter) on a high traction surface. Remember though, the Aussie automatically unlocks when there is a torque differential on the axles--unless your driving the diff with the throttle, via the driveshaft. And this is my experience so far.
I assume that I could get the same effects making a sharp turn on an inclined roadway. I'll try tomorrow and report back.


Has anyone had any experience with an Aussie Locked 80 in the snow?

Hayes