Locker in the front diff or in the back?

[RevISK]

Since I dug up this old thread, may as well ask my question here:
Spartan Locker? Rear only…
Thoughts?

Looks like I could get it to my door for around $350.

 

[RevISK]

Spartan Lockers

Shop Spartan Lockers at Yotamasters for durable, secure storage. Find the perfect locker today! Order now and keep your items safe with Spartan Lockers.

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[Spook50]

@Spook50 what did you end up doing?

I had to take the axle/locker money from that and use it for chemo for my dog at the time. But since the 62 got wrecked last May, an FZJ80 rear and what locker it gets will depend on what's available at that point versus what I can plop the money down on. I still say the ideal solution would be a cable actuated locker (whether as an entire unit or a cable converted Toyota electric).

For now though, the shop needs to be cleared out and the 62 put in there so I can start the recovery work on it.

 

[toy_tek]

I just put in an order today w Cruiser Outfitters for everything to rebuild my rear axle and install an ARB. I had F/R ARB's on my 3rd Gen 4R and never had an issue over 15 years and thousands of off-road miles. No plans for a front locker on the 62 (for now).

 

[lcwizard]

Still have one working Roberts locker ( ARB circa 1990 ) , 4 ARBs from the late 90s and two from the early 2000s. All still working.
Broke a dozen Birfields and a half dozen stock axle shafts but never a locker

 

[RevISK]

Cable actuated seems the way to go but is very cost prohibitive at this point which is why the above lunchbox spartan is attractive. While I may have benefited from a locker many times I only really noticed needing one last year where is had to take a second run at small wall.

@Spook50 I never love hearing about an animal suffering, hopefully your dog went well.

I’ll keep poking around and maybe I’ll get lucky on a factory cable locker from a 60…

 

[lcwizard]

Cable actuated seems the way to go but is very cost prohibitive at this point which is why the above lunchbox spartan is attractive. While I may have benefited from a locker many times I only really noticed needing one last year where is had to take a second run at small wall.

@Spook50 I never love hearing about an animal suffering, hopefully your dog went well.

I’ll keep poking around and maybe I’ll get lucky on a factory cable locker from a 60…

I ran for years with a Detroit locker in the rear and a Lock Right up front in a 40. They will definitely get you where you're going but do have certain
characteristics that you need to be careful with. In snow or mud , on a side hill they will push you down the hill. On icy pavement you should run lower speeds
than you would with open diffs otherwise you might find yourself swapping ends unexpectedly. It wasn't so much an issue for me since I did 95% of my driving in the AZ deserts where the benefits outweighed the bad

 

[RevISK]

I ran for years with a Detroit locker in the rear and a Lock Right up front in a 40. They will definitely get you where you're going but do have certain
characteristics that you need to be careful with. In snow or mud , on a side hill they will push you down the hill. On icy pavement you should run lower speeds
than you would with open diffs otherwise you might find yourself swapping ends unexpectedly. It wasn't so much an issue for me since I did 95% of my driving in the AZ deserts where the benefits outweighed the bad

Appreciate the reply, especially from you sir.

I’m in the “do I NEED it” camp. I’ve wheeled/explored/whatever for 35 years and haven’t been in a situation that they would’ve made a difference. At least I don’t think I have.
I have fielded the “you don’t have lockers in there”? Question after a section of something or another.
“My hubs were locked” is a typical response from me. Mostly because I simply didn’t know…

 

[lcwizard]

Appreciate the reply, especially from you sir.

I’m in the “do I NEED it” camp. I’ve wheeled/explored/whatever for 35 years and haven’t been in a situation that they would’ve made a difference. At least I don’t think I have.
I have fielded the “you don’t have lockers in there”? Question after a section of something or another.
“My hubs were locked” is a typical response from me. Mostly because I simply didn’t know…

One big advantage of a locker or lockers is when you get to that spot where only speed and momentum get you past, a locker might let you get through
at a safer, more reasonable speed. On the other hand, when you get stuck with two lockers, you're really stuck. Now you need a winch

 

[RevISK]

One big advantage of a locker or lockers is when you get to that spot where only speed and momentum get you past, a locker might let you get through
at a safer, more reasonable speed. On the other hand, when you get stuck with two lockers, you're really stuck. Now you need a winch

My grandfather was my 4x4 coach.

“Slow and low is the key, if you get stuck, you probably did something stupid”

He got my dumbass 17yo self and my 40 out of some dumb situations with his stock, grandpa mode S10. Got into places that would make your head spin.

 

[77mustard40]

Another option is a Powertrax No Slip for the rear. Think of it as a quiet lunchbox locker. I've had this in the rear of the 40 for several years now and its quiet as a mouse with the exception of a bang every few months. Its solid off-road and will have the same pluses and minuses that Dave points out with any non-selectable locker. Mine has been fine and I would do this again over another lunchbox style locker just to avoid the clicking and banging.

Food for thought

No-Slip Traction System - PowerTrax

www.powertrax.com

 

[RevISK]

Another option is a Powertrax No Slip for the rear. Think of it as a quiet lunchbox locker. I've had this in the rear of the 40 for several years now and its quiet as a mouse with the exception of a bang every few months. Its solid off-road and will have the same pluses and minuses that Dave points out with any non-selectable locker. Mine has been fine and I would do this again over another lunchbox style locker just to avoid the clicking and banging.

Food for thought

No-Slip Traction System - PowerTrax

www.powertrax.com

Appreciate the insight sir

 

[RevISK]

Another option is a Powertrax No Slip for the rear. Think of it as a quiet lunchbox locker. I've had this in the rear of the 40 for several years now and its quiet as a mouse with the exception of a bang every few months. Its solid off-road and will have the same pluses and minuses that Dave points out with any non-selectable locker. Mine has been fine and I would do this again over another lunchbox style locker just to avoid the clicking and banging.

Food for thought

No-Slip Traction System - PowerTrax

www.powertrax.com

Getting an "unavailable, no idea when in stock" type notification, but it definitely is in line, price wise, with the Spartan.

 

[CruiserTrash]

@RevISK Factory cable lockers are cool but hard to find and expensive. I wish Ox Locker would make aftermarket cable lockers for the 60 ... but nothing so far.

 

[RevISK]

@RevISK Factory cable lockers are cool but hard to find and expensive. I wish Ox Locker would make aftermarket cable lockers for the 60 ... but nothing so far.

Yeah, blame Jimmy @CenTXFJ60 for sending me down that path.

 

[CruiserTrash]

Yeah, blame Jimmy @CenTXFJ60 for sending me down that path.

A barn full of unicorns...

 

[RevISK]

A barn full of unicorns...

A unicorn of a man.

 

[Lead Head]

I was only going to do the rear, but I knew I would regret it, so I ended up doing the ARB front and rear.

I really dislike the lunchbox/spartan/powertrax/whatever auto-lockers. I find them just miserable on the street, and there's just so many situations where you want proper unlocked differential behavior that a true locking differential offers. Some people don't care about pops, bangs or iffy behavior in the snow/wet, but I do.

 

[RevISK]

I was only going to do the rear, but I knew I would regret it, so I ended up doing the ARB front and rear.

I really dislike the lunchbox/spartan/powertrax/whatever auto-lockers. I find them just miserable on the street, and there's just so many situations where you want proper unlocked differential behavior that a true locking differential offers. Some people don't care about pops, bangs or iffy behavior in the snow/wet, but I do.

Solid points, thank you.

 

[Spook50]

I understand Downey Off Road made cable conversion kits for the 80 series rear locker way back in the day (maybe the front too? No clue there). Not sure if the design died with them or if someone else bought it up and it's still out there somewhere, but I know SOMETHING exists out there in the ether.