If Eaton makes an E-Locker for the 80....

[flintknapper]

If Eaton ever makes their "E-Locker" for our 80's it looks like it might make a decent alternative to the factory lockers for those of us without.
I know the factory stuff is preferred here....but what they (Eaton) have out now for GM, Ford, and Dana axles looks pretty good.
You would not need a wiring harness because the unit comes with wiring, fuse, relay, switch, etc. It seems that it would wire up to a factory diff. lock switch just fine.

It works via an electromagnet so no actuator is involved and if a person was capable of setting up their own gears then the cost of selectable front and rear diff. locks looks pretty attractive. Yes, it wouldn't be Toyota, and it isn't offered yet but I might write them and inquire about any future plans for it. Pro's and Con's?

 

[cruiseroutfit]

The Dana versions of the E-locker arn't much cheaper than a good deal on a NEW OEM locker... Sure wiring and such still needs to be addressed, but that is small change compared to the locker itself...

Get freindly with the local Toyota dealership... I see them come out of there used for ~ $300-450 all the time (8" Front's) and I know a new rear unit (9.5") will set you back ~ $800 from the dealer...

Plus, I hardly doubt Eaton will ever get around to the Toyota unit, not enough market as it will most likely not work in an early Cruiser SF rear axle (c-clips). They took quite a while to get the D60 unit out on the market...

 

[flintknapper]

The Dana versions of the E-locker arn't much cheaper than a good deal on a NEW OEM locker... Sure wiring and such still needs to be addressed, but that is small change compared to the locker itself...

Get freindly with the local Toyota dealership... I see them come out of there used for ~ $300-450 all the time (8" Front's) and I know a new rear unit (9.5") will set you back ~ $800 from the dealer...

Plus, I hardly doubt Eaton will ever get around to the Toyota unit, not enough market as it will most likely not work in an early Cruiser SF rear axle (c-clips). They took quite a while to get the D60 unit out on the market...

They may never make them for the marketing reason you cite.
If they did, it would keep you from having to modify the axle housings (especially the front), add the ECU, part of the harness, and its bound to be less expensive. I know an axle swap from a donor vehicle would be pretty easy... but you wouldn't know exactly what condition they were in and "going through them" would add greatly to the cost.
Maybe I am overlooking something but it sure looks like it would make a good unit for the Cruiser if they ever offer them.

 

[mabrodis]

Maybe I am overlooking something but it sure looks like it would make a good unit for the Cruiser if they ever offer them.

I think what you're overlooking is that you just said going through a used setup to see what condition it is in would be expensive, but you said that if you could setup your own gears then the Eaton would be a good choice. Well if you can setup your own gears then going through a used setup (if for some reason you felt the need to) would not be expensive or a problem. Even if using the factory Toyota e-lockers you don't necessarily have to use all the ECU and all that. There are people who make kits to put that same locker into a old Toy truck or FJ40, etc, you could fit one of those kits to the factory switch and have the same action (and more simple) without ever messing with factory wiring or ECU stuff (still some wiring to do ofcourse, but not worry about tieing into the factory harness).

If you can handle the other issues related to dropping in a preset 3rd member with a locking diff (longer axle splines, modified housing, etc), then buying a brand new 3rd member from Toyota for ~$800 is a great deal. You not only get a locker, but a fully setup, BRAND NEW 3rd member where everything is new, you can't touch that with ARB or anyone else...the ARB carrier alone is $650-ish, then new gears, new bearings, then having all the work done, not even close to the price for a replacement 3rd member from Toyota. And with ARB or Eaton you still have to have something to control the on/off operation of the locker, no simpler than riggin up something to control a Toy e-locker setup IMO...Oh and if you just buy a replacement you have one for a spare if you blow the gears in your new one.

So, Eaton will never make one, which is good because no one would buy it...

 

[Rookie2]

I'm really thinking about keeping my eye open for a good deal on a donor rear axle with a locking diff. What would you all consider a good deal on a used axle w/locking diff.? What other components would I want or need to get with it to make the switch as clean and easy as possible?

Third member = differential...right?

Thanks,
Rookie2

 

[Tooth Fairy]

Not to sure I would trust domestic electronics.

Would they be made in Japan?

 

[flintknapper]

I think what you're overlooking is that you just said going through a used setup to see what condition it is in would be expensive, but you said that if you could setup your own gears then the Eaton would be a good choice. Well if you can setup your own gears then going through a used setup (if for some reason you felt the need to) would not be expensive or a problem. Even if using the factory Toyota e-lockers you don't necessarily have to use all the ECU and all that. There are people who make kits to put that same locker into a old Toy truck or FJ40, etc, you could fit one of those kits to the factory switch and have the same action (and more simple) without ever messing with factory wiring or ECU stuff (still some wiring to do ofcourse, but not worry about tieing into the factory harness).

If you can handle the other issues related to dropping in a preset 3rd member with a locking diff (longer axle splines, modified housing, etc), then buying a brand new 3rd member from Toyota for ~$800 is a great deal. You not only get a locker, but a fully setup, BRAND NEW 3rd member where everything is new, you can't touch that with ARB or anyone else...the ARB carrier alone is $650-ish, then new gears, new bearings, then having all the work done, not even close to the price for a replacement 3rd member from Toyota. And with ARB or Eaton you still have to have something to control the on/off operation of the locker, no simpler than riggin up something to control a Toy e-locker setup IMO...Oh and if you just buy a replacement you have one for a spare if you blow the gears in your new one.

So, Eaton will never make one, which is good because no one would buy it...

Perhaps I was unclear somehow. If I installed complete donor axles it is possible that I might have to do other repairs (seals, birfs, bearings, etc.) VS. installing E-Lockers into my "known to be good" axles. This way I would be doing just a basic gear setup and running the wiring to a factory diff. lock switch. My '97 is definitely going to get lockers of some sort in the future but not ARB's. A full Toyota set up would be my first choice. I don't know if Eaton will ever make a unit for it but I disagree that no one would buy it because, it looks to be a very simple installation and would function the same as the factory unit. I don't disagree that a new locking unit from Toyota (for 800.00) is a great deal. It then becomes fairly labor intensive to do the housing mods. etc...but you would be spared the gear setup and have extra third members. Thanks for the input.

 

[IdahoDoug]

More cost effective by far would be to sell your 80, and buy another one for about the same money with lockers. The locker feature doesn't change the resale value a bit, so presumably you'd pull this off for peanuts.

DougM

 

[flintknapper]

Not to sure I would trust domestic electronics.

Would they be made in Japan?

Who knows? Probably have "Well's" make them...God forbid!
The current set up is a simple push button switch with a relay and a fuse that applys 12 v. to an electromagnet that moves a ramp on the locking unit. It is the same principle as the electric clutch on your AC compressor. As long as it has a current it is locked, when it doesn't.... it isn't. Would be a simple thing to fix on the trail as long as the magnet didn't have an issue. But it wouldn't be Toyota...I know.

 

[Rainy Day FZJ]

May be Lucas electronics will make them side by side with refridgerators for warm english beer...

 

[flintknapper]

More cost effective by far would be to sell your 80, and buy another one for about the same money with lockers. The locker feature doesn't change the resale value a bit, so presumably you'd pull this off for peanuts.

DougM

Doug, I just spent 4 months looking for a clean one. I know....I should have held out for lockers! Anyway, this one is immaculate...has just over 100,000 on it and I paid 12,975 for it "drive out". It also is my wifes DD for now. But it will be mine as soon as I get my daughter out of college. Any modifications I do to it right now can't take more than a long weekend to perform.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

...but I disagree that no one would buy it because, it looks to be a very simple installation and would function the same as the factory unit. I don't disagree that a new locking unit from Toyota (for 800.00) is a great deal. It then becomes fairly labor intensive to do the housing mods. etc...but you would be spared the gear setup and have extra third members. Thanks for the input.

It is equally as labor intensive to set-up a R&P versus modifying the Toyota housing... And far cheaper (assuming new gears & bearings used in both cases)...

The ARB is a GREAT locker... sold hundreds... returned ZERO...

The OEM locker is also sweet... started playing with OEM cable operated ones before the E-lock ones were even a popular swap... They are bulletproof (so to speak) and easily modified for the 40/55/60/80/Mini applications...

BTW, OEM Cable lockers require ZERO housing mods, just a FF rear and lon-spline inners front and rear...