Aussie locker in 62 front end?

[offroadin4fun]

My ten year old rear Aussie has worked flawless with 35's & 4:88s so I am tempted in one for the front. Sounds ok since I have manual hubs but not looking to go borrowing any trouble. I'm not hard core KrAzY out there but don't like losing traction in my mountainous tree abundant terrain as it is extremely costly if not deadly. Any comments would be helpful. Thanks, Darren

 

[The Phoenician]

I imagine it would be hard to steer while off-road.

I know my front ARB locker fights me if I'm not going in a straight line so I shut it off when I need to turn.

 

[Cruzerman]

I've been with folks that had them up front. Made turning hard. They often had to get out and unlock a hub. They do work though.

 

[brownbear]

Ah I am contemplating the same kind of thing. It's the cost of the ARB locker that really drives it up, not to mention the extra work setting it up and air..

 

[offroadin4fun]

No ARB for me $$$. Lunchbox locker designed for an open diff. installation that only speaks when the front hubs are locked. I am assuming it would be less noticeable when turning than the rear because the front wheels cavitate. I think? I just don't want to start breaking stuff. I want to get into the front end for a disc upgrade because I'm way under braked with the 4:88s & 35's so might as well dig a little deeper while I'm there.

 

[cruisermatt]

I run one, you're going to break stock birfs for sure unless you're upgraded. Like others said no way you can run 4wd on the street, I've tried it and you just can't steer. Now on loose surfaces like dirt, gravel, mud, it's awesome. In the rocks it's harder to steer but a pump upgrade or ram-assist fixes that, and you'd have the same issues breaking birfs or trouble steering with a selectable when it's engaged.

 

[Cruzerman]

...and you'd have the same issues breaking birfs or trouble steering with a selectable when it's engaged.

But the big difference is that you can disengage the selectable. On my 80 with elockers and my 40 with an ARB, I only use the front locker when necessary, which isn't all that often in the front. So steering is not an issue since it is only on when that little bit of extra traction is needed. Never broken a birf either. I personally would not do a non-selectable in the front. JMHO.

 

[Nostromo]

Bought my 89 FJ62 9 years ago which came with Richmond auto lockers front and back (even though I'm in Aus). It's great but I only use it mostly on sand beaches so steering not a problem (though stiffer for sure). Did knuckle rebuild a couple of years ago and found no problems. Got a Misubishi Challenger 2001 (Montero Sport I think in US) which I got front Aussie locker installed in, then put in manual hubs and it is great on our beaches (LSD in rear coz no Aussie locker available). We have a rocky trail section which doesnt cause any problems. Not broken anything in the front ends (yet).

 

[cruisermatt]

But the big difference is that you can disengage the selectable. On my 80 with elockers and my 40 with an ARB, I only use the front locker when necessary, which isn't all that often in the front. So steering is not an issue since it is only on when that little bit of extra traction is needed. Never broken a birf either. I personally would not do a non-selectable in the front. JMHO.

Thank you for explaining that to me, I had no idea
Sounds like we don’t do the same wheeling. I would hate to be messing with a switch, waiting for engagement, just more potential issues. Sounds way too distracting.
Now a selectable rear I would like, just because the lunchbox lockers bother me on the street.
tons of wheelers have been running auto-lockers front and rear for years in a variety of rigs.

 

[Cruzerman]

Thank you for explaining that to me, I had no idea
Sounds like we don’t do the same wheeling. I would hate to be messing with a switch, waiting for engagement, just more potential issues. Sounds way too distracting.
Now a selectable rear I would like, just because the lunchbox lockers bother me on the street.
tons of wheelers have been running auto-lockers front and rear for years in a variety of rigs.

Sounds like we do different kinds of wheeling. I can say here in the PNW, having a rig that can't make a sharp turn is a royal PIA on the trails we run. Pushing a button beats the hell out of hopping out and unlocking a hub.

 

[offroadin4fun]

Thanks for the input guys- I just bit the bullet & went air front & back. $$$ Ugh! lol

 

[JamesR]

I have had an Aussie in the front of my 60 for 4 or 5 yrs. Only had 1 occurrence of steering issues. I was going up a relatively steep hill (loose rock/dirt) and when I "hit" the gas pedal a little harder than I needed the steering "locked up" and made it difficult to turn. When I attempted the same hill with less throttle I had no problems. I have manual hubs that do help if I'm concerned about steering issues.

 

[Elbert]

I've had mechanical lockers front and back in my 60. I'm in process of going ARB front and back. My idea (buy dual transfer case shifters) from Valley Hybrids (install). Get someone to fab up some longer shifters, to give easy leverage on use and engagement. Now the reality of 4wd. When hubs locked and 4 wd on....front tires are hard to turn at low speed...really low speed. So you turn off 4wd at the gear shifter in the cab when you have to make a low speed hard turn off road (hard surface like rocks), get past the turn...turn 4wd back on from in the cab if needed. For many things off-road and on road you can run in 2wd for a lot of it, thus selecting 4wd when needed, keeping the hubs locked the entire time. For street....and for street I'm talking about snow or ice. I've run all over with 4wd on in snow....without an issue, now thats a given that you are driving with the understanding of how the truck operates...slower than normal in the snow. But back to process....when its apparent you need 4wd....lock the hubs, keep them locked, select 4wd at the transfercase shifter as needed, turn off 4wd when not needed. Mechanical lockers do have (ratcheting issues) and do cause issues at very low speed in hard turns....so would any other locker thats engaged. I went with ARB just becuase it gives better controls in my view and when not engaged it does not impact the drivetrain (you don't get that torque steer) that seems to want to push you to the right and you don't get that direct likage feel between gear shfits (manual trans). I formerly had aussie locker in front and powertrax no-slip locker in rear. Control 4wd as need from the cab.

When 4wd not on, and front hubs not locked, no impact from the front aussie locker. When hubs engaged and 4wd not on, no impact from my experience. When hubs engaged and 4wd on, then locker is "on" and you have the same manners on the front as you have on the rear with mechanical locker since on the rear you have no way to turn off the mechanical locker. FYI my experience.