Automatic Locker Options (and install help maybe?)

[NewbieMcNewster]

Thanks for all the help! Sounds like Aussie and Lokka (which might be the same) are the top picks. I'll probably attempt the installation myself, with the help of a friend, and with any luck we won't mess up anything too badly.

Really glad to hear that the ratcheting isn't that bad.

 

[sbman]

How noticeable is the driving manner change? Clicking is something you can ignore. Understeer would be a lot more annoying to deal with if it is pronounced. What are you supposed to do to avoid it? How does your driving style have to change? I've read a lot about it on part time 4WD vehicles, but very little information on it specfic to the 80's full time system.

 

[NewbieMcNewster]

How noticeable is the driving manner change? Clicking is something you can ignore. Understeer would be a lot more annoying to deal with if it is pronounced. What are you supposed to do to avoid it? How does your driving style have to change? I've read a lot about it on part time 4WD vehicles, but very little information on it specfic to the 80's full time system.

I'd also be interested if anyone wants to elaborate. My understanding is that you have to avoid giving the car much throttle through turns, to avoid locking up the rear (or to allow the rear to unlock, I guess)?

 

[sbman]

I would not want to install something in my vehicle that would make it unsafe or annoying for my wife to drive. She doesn't drive it often, but when she does, it's just another car to her and she isn't going to be aware of the 'locker' in the slightest.

 

[KliersLC]

In daily driving the aussie locker is transparent. I almost always forget it is there. I have driven it in the current configuration through northern VA winters, northern Idaho winters, 3 years in sunny socal, and the last 8 months in southern VA monsoons. There is zero accommodation that needs to be made by the driver. For a teenager who wants to hammer the throttle all of the time, there is a small chance that I would give it a bit of extra thought, but not much. I have purposely tried to get the rear end loose on rain and snow--while possible, it is not any easier than with an open diff 80. HTH,

Dan

 

[KliersLC]

FWIW, my two previous 80s had factory e-lockers. I prefer the aussie in every situation except when I want to see if I can get over something unlocked--can't turn it off.

 

[Izeloz]

I didn't change my driving habits at all, and it is virtually invisible until you need it. It will click when you turn, but you can't feel it and it's not very noisy at all. I like the sound. It reminds me I'm more capable than the mall crawler next to me at the grocery store...lol.

 

[NewbieMcNewster]

As an update, if anyone's interested, I went and ordered the Lokka. As far as I could tell, it's an Aussie locker at 10 years' ago prices. It arrived this week, and I'm waiting to have it installed until I can enlist the help of a friend who just moved into a place with a huge, sick workshop area, and who has much more legit skills than I do. Also, his friend is a professional mechanic and can help out, which is gonna be nice.

One thing my buddy's friend said was that if we pulled the third member apart and realized we needed new shims, it might take some time to get them, so we shouldn't plan on necessarily doing this in one day. I think he's not familiar with Toyotas (no hate there, the guy actually works on Ferraris for a living), and was reading the Aussie generic installation instructions I sent him before the Lokka arrived, which mention shims for some differentials. Honestly, it's a bit over my head, as this is some of my first venturing into wrenching, especially with something like axles and diffs.

Are shims an issue when installing a Lokka? Is there anything in particular I should order in preparation of this process? What are shims? (Ignore that last one, I'll google it, I just wanted to demonstrate the depth of my knowledge on this topic - kiddie-pool shallow)

bloc, you suggested a bunch of other stuff to handle at the same time. Any chance you could PM me and educate me a little bit more about those?

 

[Kernal]

Here's a link to a discussion about the Kaiser locker:

Kaiser Locker

 

[VuickB6]

I put a Detroit in the rear of my 4Runner and a Spartan in the front. Converted to manual hubs so it wouldn't bother me on the streets. Had a shop put in both and I neither had to be setup. I've driven vehicles (not something as heavy as an 80 though) with lunchbox lockers in the rear like the Lokka and Spartan and I didn't like how it drove so that's why I went with a Detroit. You would never be able to tell there was a locker in there.

If you get in a bind then take it to Baertrax. I used them for a PPI on a Land Cruiser and they were great to deal with and know their s***.

 

[ewillis]

As an update, if anyone's interested, I went and ordered the Lokka. As far as I could tell, it's an Aussie locker at 10 years' ago prices. It arrived this week, and I'm waiting to have it installed until I can enlist the help of a friend who just moved into a place with a huge, sick workshop area, and who has much more legit skills than I do. Also, his friend is a professional mechanic and can help out, which is gonna be nice.

One thing my buddy's friend said was that if we pulled the third member apart and realized we needed new shims, it might take some time to get them, so we shouldn't plan on necessarily doing this in one day. I think he's not familiar with Toyotas (no hate there, the guy actually works on Ferraris for a living), and was reading the Aussie generic installation instructions I sent him before the Lokka arrived, which mention shims for some differentials. Honestly, it's a bit over my head, as this is some of my first venturing into wrenching, especially with something like axles and diffs.

Are shims an issue when installing a Lokka? Is there anything in particular I should order in preparation of this process? What are shims? (Ignore that last one, I'll google it, I just wanted to demonstrate the depth of my knowledge on this topic - kiddie-pool shallow)

bloc, you suggested a bunch of other stuff to handle at the same time. Any chance you could PM me and educate me a little bit more about those?

I have a Lokka that's getting ready to be installed...good choice! As far as driving characteristics, I drove @Qball truck who has an Aussie...I couldn't tell it was there. Literally nothing. You want to get different sizes of shims in case you're not in Aussie spec and two gaskets (or FIPG) in case you rip one on installation.