A locked front end will get you in deep bandini on pavement in ice and snow, especially if the rear is also locked. Ask me how I know.
Front Locker for FJ60 axle
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A locked front end will get you in deep bandini on pavement in ice and snow, especially if the rear is also locked. Ask me how I know.
whats the deal on the TJM pro locker (is that a new model?) is it electric operated. Let us know how your expereince is with it. I've not heard of anyone using those...so my assumption is new product?
When I was contemplating my locker choices, this is an email I received from Bill Cole at Aussie Locker:
Here is our input on the issue of ice driving with a front locker installed. If you have manual locking hubs and keep one unlocked when driving on ice or hard packed snow then the differential operates much like an open in that there is still one anchor tire.
To understand this, let’s go back to traction basics. A spinning tire has no traction, period. With an open diff, one wheel is allowed to turn slower than the ring gear, with a locker, this cant happen. So, with a sheet of ice under the vehicle with open diffs, one tire per axle will spin, while the other turns very little or sits still acting like an anchor. The locked vehicle in the same position will spin both tires on the axle since neither can turn slower than the ring gear. Basically, since both tires spin, there is no anchor to keep the vehicle in position. Add to that a bit, both front tires turning at the same rate will resist going the direction you want because with reduced traction, the locker wont unlock and the inside tire will be forced to spin while following the shorter path through the turn.
Short answer, being locked front and rear on ice can easily leave you spinning like a merry-go-round quicker than you can blink. Driving cautiously and knowing the vehicles handling traits can help avoid this to a degree.
If you have manual locking hubs, many vehicle owners only lock one hub when in 4WD with a front locker for highway or clear ice driving.
To understand this, let’s go back to traction basics. A spinning tire has no traction, period. With an open diff, one wheel is allowed to turn slower than the ring gear, with a locker, this cant happen. So, with a sheet of ice under the vehicle with open diffs, one tire per axle will spin, while the other turns very little or sits still acting like an anchor. The locked vehicle in the same position will spin both tires on the axle since neither can turn slower than the ring gear. Basically, since both tires spin, there is no anchor to keep the vehicle in position. Add to that a bit, both front tires turning at the same rate will resist going the direction you want because with reduced traction, the locker wont unlock and the inside tire will be forced to spin while following the shorter path through the turn.
Short answer, being locked front and rear on ice can easily leave you spinning like a merry-go-round quicker than you can blink. Driving cautiously and knowing the vehicles handling traits can help avoid this to a degree.
If you have manual locking hubs, many vehicle owners only lock one hub when in 4WD with a front locker for highway or clear ice driving.
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Elbert said:
Air operated as ARB.
I'm about to get my front locked on the HJ61. Got the Lock-Right from Richmond. Was the best value for money for me, got it from Just Differentials for only EUR330,- including shipping & import duty. Specialist in Germany wanted EUR700,- for the same piece 
I'm doing some gravel/ mud occasionally and trips to Southern Europe/ Northern Africa every once in a while. Not much rock climbing, but more av/high speed desert stuff. Will probably use it off-road with front hubs locked in 2WD and engage 4WD if necessary.
Not much snow and ice here and if we have it, the cruiser stays inside
Have the original LSD in the rear, but that's not worth much after 25 years..
Will post my experience once it's in.
I'm doing some gravel/ mud occasionally and trips to Southern Europe/ Northern Africa every once in a while. Not much rock climbing, but more av/high speed desert stuff. Will probably use it off-road with front hubs locked in 2WD and engage 4WD if necessary.
Not much snow and ice here and if we have it, the cruiser stays inside
Have the original LSD in the rear, but that's not worth much after 25 years..
Will post my experience once it's in.
That is all true but the fact remains you are putting all the front axle torque on one birfield.
BTW I did the merry-go round trick the first time I drove with auto lockers F&R on icy roads. I find the best practice is to drive in 2WD high range and be VERY cautious.
Here I am in the morning getting gas. Its snowing and icy roads. I drove to the gas station in 4WD with automatic front and rear lockers. I left the gas station with the hubs locked but in 2WD. Driving down a snow packed road.
Down the road at a lower elevation the road turned to wet pavement. Still driving with the hubs locked and in 2WD. Then I stopped and unlocked the hubs.
When I pulled into the parking lot at work it was a sheet of ice. No problems with being able to drive on these conditions with automatic lockers in the front and rear. My 60 is big and heavy with longer wheel base so I think that helps vs. a short wheel base vehicle. My 60 does not drive the same manners on the road or off the road verses when it was a stock vehicle. I modify it to improve the off road capabilities while keeping it road legal and weather tight.
Everone should drive what they are comfortable with and drive within the driver and vehicle capabilities. I am way more worried about the people driving around me than I am how the lockers feel on the pavement.
While I did snap a couple of pictures while driving I did not text or send the pictures until I was out of the vehicle.
Everone should drive what they are comfortable with and drive within the driver and vehicle capabilities. I am way more worried about the people driving around me than I am how the lockers feel on the pavement.
While I did snap a couple of pictures while driving I did not text or send the pictures until I was out of the vehicle.
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PPFJ60;
It can be done but it takes a lot more care than driving with open diffs on ice and snow. Comparing ice driving my auto locked FJ60 to my selectable locked UZJ100 or FJ40 is a difference of night and day.
I already have enough stress on snow days watching out for the soccer moms and "bro's" in lifted Super Duties who think 4WD makes them exempt from the laws of physics. I don't need to add more stress. All I'm saying is I wouldn't choose auto lockers for a DD if I lived where ice and snow conditions were common.
Truth be told my front wheel drive Corolla was the best car to drive on icy snowy roads, but I didn't want to be a puck in an SUV version of a hockey game.
It can be done but it takes a lot more care than driving with open diffs on ice and snow. Comparing ice driving my auto locked FJ60 to my selectable locked UZJ100 or FJ40 is a difference of night and day.
I already have enough stress on snow days watching out for the soccer moms and "bro's" in lifted Super Duties who think 4WD makes them exempt from the laws of physics. I don't need to add more stress. All I'm saying is I wouldn't choose auto lockers for a DD if I lived where ice and snow conditions were common.
Truth be told my front wheel drive Corolla was the best car to drive on icy snowy roads, but I didn't want to be a puck in an SUV version of a hockey game.
My DD (daily driver) is a Honda Civic but it won't make it to work or home if we get more than a couple of inches of snow because of the gravel roads and steep hills I need to drive on around home. The only other vehicle I have to drive is the weekend warrior/adverse weather driver the FJ60. My point is that the weekend warrior/adverse weather driver works for both with automatic lockers which I think is how this thread started.
Sorry, the tread started by asking about front locker choices.
Exactly, and my opinion is I wouldn't put an auto locker in a DD rig in an area that got snow and ice. My opinion is based on my first hand experience driving both auto lockers and selectable lockers on icy snowy roads.
BTW you have one kick ass looking 60 there.
FWIW, here's the thread from when I was trying to decide about throwing the e-locker in my truck. Not much tech, but some decent discussion and links on how to make it work.
https://forum.ih8mud.com/60-series-...cker-worth-just-excuse-spend-break-stuff.html
https://forum.ih8mud.com/60-series-...cker-worth-just-excuse-spend-break-stuff.html
Should be some kind of rule that a picture must be added every few posts.
cruiserinsanity
SILVER Star
Resurrecting an old thread.
If an auto locker is installed in the front of a 60, and the hubs are locked but the transfer case is in 2WD, will the front still be hard to steer and do the auto locker popping stuff?
If an auto locker is installed in the front of a 60, and the hubs are locked but the transfer case is in 2WD, will the front still be hard to steer and do the auto locker popping stuff?
