Can We Get Real About Aussie Locker for a Minute? (1 Viewer)

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Let's get real about Aussie Locker :)
The Aussie Locker and Lokka are two very different products made by 2 different companies with different standards of quality, steel alloy, customer service and warranty. Aussie Locker and the new TORQ Locker are manufactured in Rochester NY by Torq-Masters Industries. Lokka is infringing on our tradmarks and makes misleading statements on their website to con people into thinking the Aussie Locker and Lokka are the same thing, they are not. There are other Aussie Locker knock offs out there too on Amazon and eBay, but I wouldn't trust them, we've tested their products in the lab and the steel quality and heat treat is atrocious. Saving $30 won't seem worth it when a cheapo locker blows up and takes out your $500 ring and pinion. Feel free to hit me up with questions, you can call us 585-723 -1489, or shoot me an email, I'm the president of Torq-Masters, Cora @ Torqmasters. com

Snow and Ice - great advice from other posters on this thread. I usually give the 'go do some doughnuts in a snowy parking lot' advice to learn how the locker will handle. Who doesn't love an excuse to rip some doughnuts? A manual transmission and a rear locker, will void the Lokka warranty for one, will be a bit more touchy in the snow and ice because you have more control over applying torque. So for example, if you depress the clutch in a tight turn on snowy roads, then shift and mat the throttle, the rear end could walk out on you, but it would do likely this in an open diff too - although with the open diff you don't know which tire is going to spin, rear locker you do.
 
Aussie_Locker said:
Let's get real about Aussie Locker :)
The Aussie Locker and Lokka are two very different products made by 2 different companies with different standards of quality, steel alloy, customer service and warranty. Aussie Locker and the new TORQ Locker are manufactured in Rochester NY by Torq-Masters Industries. Lokka is infringing on our tradmarks and makes misleading statements on their website to con people into thinking the Aussie Locker and Lokka are the same thing, they are not. There are other Aussie Locker knock offs out there too on Amazon and eBay, but I wouldn't trust them, we've tested their products in the lab and the steel quality and heat treat is atrocious. Saving $30 won't seem worth it when a cheapo locker blows up and takes out your $500 ring and pinion. Feel free to hit me up with questions, you can call us 585-723 -1489, or shoot me an email, I'm the president of Torq-Masters, Cora @ Torqmasters. com

Snow and Ice - great advice from other posters on this thread. I usually give the 'go do some doughnuts in a snowy parking lot' advice to learn how the locker will handle. Who doesn't love an excuse to rip some doughnuts? A manual transmission and a rear locker, will void the Lokka warranty for one, will be a bit more touchy in the snow and ice because you have more control over applying torque. So for example, if you depress the clutch in a tight turn on snowy roads, then shift and mat the throttle, the rear end could walk out on you, but it would do likely this in an open diff too - although with the open diff you don't know which tire is going to spin, rear locker you do.
Click to expand...
In all fairness, at one time Aussie and Lokka were one in the same, correct?
 
IIRC, some of the Aussie folks came from Richmond gear, home of the orliginal LockRight. Don't know of any relationship between Lokka and either of these two companies.
 
Great questions, let me see if I can help clear things up.

A long time ago Aussie, Lock Right, and Lokka manufacturing was outsourced to the same machine shop - but all 3 products are owned by different companies and have different specifications.

Said machine shop could no longer meet our manufacturing quality controls, so we moved Aussie Locker manufacturing to the USA 5 years ago in 2012.

The inventor of the Lock Right is our lead Engineer, he hasn't been affiliated with Richmond gear since the late 1990's.

~Cora
 
Aussie_Locker said:
Great questions, let me see if I can help clear things up.

A long time ago Aussie, Lock Right, and Lokka manufacturing was outsourced to the same machine shop - but all 3 products are owned by different companies and have different specifications.

Said machine shop could no longer meet our manufacturing quality controls, so we moved Aussie Locker manufacturing to the USA 5 years ago in 2012.

The inventor of the Lock Right is our lead Engineer, he hasn't been affiliated with Richmond gear since the late 1990's.

~Cora
Click to expand...

Thanks, that actually clears up a few things.
 
I had an Aussie in my 83 fj60 and a Lockright in my 94 fzj80. The Lockright was almost invisible in my 80. The auto tranny of the 80 makes it almost impossible to generate the circumstances that generate the "Big Bang" associated with shifting in a turn on dry pavement. As to pack snow and icy conditions, the caution one should be exhibiting in those situations already makes it hard to mess up due to the locker...but yeah, if you're in a gradually turning sweeper or something and stomp the skinny, it'll break loose but very controllable and very predictable.
 
Aussie_Locker said:
Let's get real about Aussie Locker :)
The Aussie Locker and Lokka are two very different products made by 2 different companies with different standards of quality, steel alloy, customer service and warranty. Aussie Locker and the new TORQ Locker are manufactured in Rochester NY by Torq-Masters Industries. Lokka is infringing on our tradmarks and makes misleading statements on their website to con people into thinking the Aussie Locker and Lokka are the same thing, they are not. There are other Aussie Locker knock offs out there too on Amazon and eBay, but I wouldn't trust them, we've tested their products in the lab and the steel quality and heat treat is atrocious. Saving $30 won't seem worth it when a cheapo locker blows up and takes out your $500 ring and pinion. Feel free to hit me up with questions, you can call us 585-723 -1489, or shoot me an email, I'm the president of Torq-Masters, Cora @ Torqmasters. com

Snow and Ice - great advice from other posters on this thread. I usually give the 'go do some doughnuts in a snowy parking lot' advice to learn how the locker will handle. Who doesn't love an excuse to rip some doughnuts? A manual transmission and a rear locker, will void the Lokka warranty for one, will be a bit more touchy in the snow and ice because you have more control over applying torque. So for example, if you depress the clutch in a tight turn on snowy roads, then shift and mat the throttle, the rear end could walk out on you, but it would do likely this in an open diff too - although with the open diff you don't know which tire is going to spin, rear locker you do.
Click to expand...

I'm very interested in purchasing one of your products... now off to hustle for cash.
 
Trapper50cal said:
I had an Aussie in my 83 fj60 and a Lockright in my 94 fzj80. The Lockright was almost invisible in my 80. The auto tranny of the 80 makes it almost impossible to generate the circumstances that generate the "Big Bang" associated with shifting in a turn on dry pavement. As to pack snow and icy conditions, the caution one should be exhibiting in those situations already makes it hard to mess up due to the locker...but yeah, if you're in a gradually turning sweeper or something and stomp the skinny, it'll break loose but very controllable and very predictable.
Click to expand...


Having not driven with a auto locker in the rear this is how I assumed it would be in the snow/ice. In those situations you are already driving more gently so if the locker does engage you won't be sliding around very much. If you do slide a bit the front wheels will help pull you in the direction you steer.

My take is that tires make the most difference in snow/ice (we have a lot of it here). There's an off camber set of corners on the road to my house and with highway tires the unlocked 80 was a sloppy mess, to the point where I didn't enjoy it (back would slide and front would plow). Replaced those with BFG KO2 AT tires and its night and day, I can make it step out if I want but its smooth and controlled.
 
I have had heated discussion with a number of folks about how them having a locker put them in MORE danger and was harder to control.

I would rather have a locked differential in the REAR of everything RWD or 4WD or AWD that I own, to prevent me from having issues and to help me move forward no matter what.

The ONLY time I can see a possible help for having open differentials (in the rear) is when rock crawling and not wanting to slide sideways off a particular rock.

I used to mud wheel with front and rear LS diff's and the issue I had was because the FRONT was an LS, I couldn't steer in really slick conditions.

So, open in front (or selectable) and locker in the rear (or selectable). If I have the cash, I would do selectable in front and rear on everything I own and make it so they can all be locked independently of one another.
 
ZackR said:
Having not driven with a auto locker in the rear this is how I assumed it would be in the snow/ice. In those situations you are already driving more gently so if the locker does engage you won't be sliding around very much. If you do slide a bit the front wheels will help pull you in the direction you steer.
Click to expand...


Sort of incorrect here.....autolockers are always engaged except when needing to ratchet on sharp turns due to differing distances traveled by the inside rear tire vs. the outside rear tire (as it relates to the turn radius)

Unless you're referring to the transition from ratcheting during the turn to locking back up once straightening out.

I think the snowpack issues are more related to differing amounts of available traction between the two rear tires, as each is on a potentially different surface due to the variable nature of winter road conditions.
 
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Aussie_Locker said:
Great questions, let me see if I can help clear things up.

A long time ago Aussie, Lock Right, and Lokka manufacturing was outsourced to the same machine shop - but all 3 products are owned by different companies and have different specifications.

Said machine shop could no longer meet our manufacturing quality controls, so we moved Aussie Locker manufacturing to the USA 5 years ago in 2012.

The inventor of the Lock Right is our lead Engineer, he hasn't been affiliated with Richmond gear since the late 1990's.

~Cora
Click to expand...


Thanks hats awesome! My Aussie is made in the USA and at heck of a price too.

Definitely cleared things up, like many I also wondered about the difference and now I am really happy that I went Aussie(USA)!
 
I have had a Lokka rear locker in my 80 for a couple of years now. I think it is great. With AWD, like others have stated, you would have no idea it is there until you hear the clicks. With the center diff locked, it will definitely get you out of some really crappy situations. I have never had any issues driving on snow, nor ice. I have never needed to drive with the center diff locked on ice, so that might make a difference. I grew up driving on snow and ice, so I think the key is if you know how to properly drive, you're not going to notice anything. If you are someone who makes foolish decisions or you have a hammer foot, a rear locker is going to probably show itself. For the money, it is 100% worth it, and the drawbacks, if any, are very small.

Installation note, have an assortment of thrush washers when you install. Setting it up correctly with the correct clearances are key to a good functioning locker. You unfortunately won't know what you need until you get into it.
 
@Aussie_Locker
Where do I source these lockers you speak of in the USA?

Since I am NOT flush with cash and I desire a locking rear differential, where do I get an Aussie Locker for my 1996 80?
What else (Thrust washers) do I need to do an install in my driveway?
 
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Aussie all the way. Have had one in 2 different 80 series, and I don't even know it's back there and I daily drive my truck. Don't have a lot of snow/ice in TN so not much experience with squirrelly driving in those conditions. As others have said, since it's AWD, it's an ideal rig to have an auto locker in, because when I drive my 40 (which also has one) you really can tell it's back there on the road....

good luck!
 
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