Aussie locker, yes or no?

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AZ '83 fj-40

AZ '83 fj-40

Joined
Jan 2, 2007
Threads
48
Messages
132
Location
Tucson, AZ
Hey everyone,

I wanted to buy one of the aussie lockers for the rear. On their website and it shows one rear locker for the landcruiser series, will it work for the 40? and is this a reasonable decision for a daily driven truck?

thanks,
Brendan
 
For a daily driver, I would get a selectable locker like an ARB. Others will disagree, but I think the lunchbox lockers are to querky for everyday use. I have the Aussie's in the front and back, but they are loud. They ratchet and clunk as you are driving. Plus on hard acceleration the rear end acts funny. I love'em, but not a daily rig.

Jeremy
 
BELMONT148 said:
For a daily driver, I would get a selectable locker like an ARB. Others will disagree, but I think the lunchbox lockers are to querky for everyday use. I have the Aussie's in the front and back, but they are loud. They ratchet and clunk as you are driving. Plus on hard acceleration the rear end acts funny. I love'em, but not a daily rig.

Jeremy
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X2...I have a Lock-Right in the rear..noisy and clunky on pavement....Not sure it's the best choice for a DD.
 
Heres my two cents, I just went through a lot of posts about this exact thing. It has been debated a lot and my decision was to go with the Aussie for $250.00 instead of the ARB and compressor for around a $1000.00 or more. The $750.00 that I am saving is going towards a winch. So for me I am willing to compromise in order to fund other areas of the build. By all means if money is no object than the ARB's seem to be the way to go. As you probably know very well these things will just keep sucking money out of your wallet.
 
I used to daily drive my 40 with an aussie in the rear (avg 250 mi/wk for 2 years). I've never noticed any of the above symptoms. I'd hear the occasional pop as it unlocked during a tight turn on pavement, but it would have to be a really tight, like a u-turn. Even that wasn't very noticable.

I didn't go with the ARB locker primarily due to price. I don't have any regrets with the Aussie locker, and wouldn't hesitate to put it in another daily driver.
 
have aussies in my dds and only time i noticed a noise was on tight turns,on long trips i use wifes 40 with no lockers .if your spring bushings are bad you will notice a twist with the ausie ,mine went away with new bushings good luck
 
I have the Aussie in the '60 and it's not bad. Even tire pressure is important to avoid some of the strange feelings, also tight turns will make the truck jerk and you can hear the Aussie ratcheting. Tight turns on pavement going uphill will squeal the tires since the locker will be locked.
 
love it great product only problem i have with it is that my co-workers thing its f-ed up since it clicks when im pulling around the corner into work, i tell them what it is and what it does but they just stare at me like a deer in headlights
 
It's not a matter of "money is no object" it is a matter of what is safe for you and others on the road. A locked rearend in a heavy short wheel based rig will get scary in wet, icy, or snowy conditions. Pay attention to your rig and your terrain, and the savings will be worth it. Hurt yourself or others and $750 doesn't sound so expensive.

Jeremy
 
I ran a rear aussie for 2years in my dd.

If your on a budget and you don't encounter icy/snowy conditions in your area I would recommend an aussie.
Just remember how well they work off-road, when you notice people looking at your rig when you make tight/u turns ;p

I would also like to say that they don't last forever, and appear to get more temperamental after 5yrs.

That being said, I upgraded to a Detroit this year and welcome uturns...it's like an aussie, but better :) (more expensive :frown:).

still have an aussie in the front, and expect it to last a long time.

hth,
manny
 
if anything I have alot more control on snow and ice with the aussie in the rear. At first i was sceptical but i was amazed at the control i had just point the front tires where i wanted to go and hit the gas ... it is does performe alot different than a open diff so you might want to find an open parking lot that is snow or ice covered and mess around in it for a while untill you get comfortable with the way the truck handles with the locker
 
I had mine for the full winter season in the Rockies in Canada and I did not have an issue with it. In that time we crossed the Rockies several times on the highway as well as just around town driving.

If you drive sensibly you should not have a problem, drive like and idiot in the snow and all bets are off!!
 
It depends on whether you are willing to adjust your driving style and if not, how tolerant you are of noise and rear end twitching.

Most people are used to decelerating into a turn and accelerating out of a turn and they tend to pop and bang when you change from acceleration to deceleration and visa versa in turns. If you keep steady light acceleration (or deceleration) pressure throughout the turn, no problems.
 
I got two aussie lockers sitting a box and have not convince myself I should install them in a DD. I still want the option on turning them on or off. I like the arb but don't like the idea of having a compressor. Anyhow, sorry for the rant. 250 is not a bad deal if you really need something for the rocks.
 
i've been running lock rights in what used to be my daily driver ,for the past 10 years ,front and rear .like PIN_HEAD said
" It depends on whether you are willing to adjust your driving style or not"
i have adjusted my style ,and have had no issues with them in all types of weather . mine used to bang and clunk in parking lots and such ,but since i opened up the diff 2 year's ago, i replaced the side gear shims to tighten up the tolerences to the tighter side of the spec .and all the loud bangs have gone .can still here it ratcheting on a tight corner .tho:grinpimp: i almost have forgotten that they are even in there .set them up properly and they will be fine in a daily driver .
 
i have an aussie in the rear of my '78 40. its not a dd, but i take her out once or twice a week. slow, tight turns on pavement it tends to click and lurch a little. i have learned to adjust my driving. i love it:)

by the way, if you have to replace your rear axle seals/bearings, do it at the same time as the locker install, i just had to pull my aussie out to fix that stuff.:frown:
 
I have been in some rigs that have aussies and have really good road manners, and I've had a lockright (same thing basically) in my 55 and hated it...it was however older and could have been worn out.

Generally the longer the wheelbase, the better it should act. All depends on the install and clearances. I had the option of putting one in my Fj40, and passed. mild 350 with an SM420. NO THANKS :D :lol: I opted for ARB rear/toyota e-locker front. I LOVE selectable.

if money is an issue, then run the Aussie in the rear and save for an ARB or Toyota e-locker front.
 
i run the aussie in both my 40 and my 60. wheelbase definitely makes a difference as i don't notice it in the 60. the 40, i only really notice it in u turns, but i've also driven for years with a locker. biggest thing to remember is to slow down before curves and accelerate through them, or put it in neutral and coast through. for u turns, you're probably screwed, so avoid them, or deal with the bucking.

in the 60, it's a non issue.
 
Hi All:

X2 what "Pinhead" says.

I'm running Lockrites/Aussie Lockers (they are really about the same thing) F&R in my FJ40. I've had the Lockrite in the rearend for about five years now and as long as one adjusts their driving style a wee bit it is not an issue. The Aussie in the front axle is great on the trail, except for tight turns in 4wd! The "2 Low" shifter plate conversion comes into play here! :D

Regards,

Alan

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Pin_Head said:
It depends on whether you are willing to adjust your driving style and if not, how tolerant you are of noise and rear end twitching.

Most people are used to decelerating into a turn and accelerating out of a turn and they tend to pop and bang when you change from acceleration to deceleration and visa versa in turns. If you keep steady light acceleration (or deceleration) pressure throughout the turn, no problems.
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