Locker operation

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ClemsonCruiser

ClemsonCruiser

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North Augusta, South Carolina
THis is for you guys out there running lockers, specifically aussie or lock right.


I just installed my aussie locker. Everything went smooth and followed all the directions. Drove it around the block a few times trying it out. I soon noticed the infamous locker kick everyone talks about. However I think mine might be more than a normal amount of kick. If I make a left-hand turn I get several nasty kicks, but if I turn right I get practically no kick at all if any. So does anyone one have a clue what would make the lovker kick more in one direction than the other? Also just in general how much kick should I get from the locker and how loud is normal.? Mine is extremly loud when I turn left and it kicks. When I drove the cruiser through the neighborhood I got all kinds of attention from the noise I was making on those left turns.........

Thanks for any info
JP
 
A bunch of random thoughts in no particular order:

The first thing I'd check is the air pressure in your tires. Being off just a bit side-to-side will cause you grief on the road.

Beyond that, I'd say just drive it for a while as long as it's not a safety concern. When I first put in my locker, it made almost no noise at all for the first couple days. I knew it was ratcheting and could feel it, but it didn't pop at all. I now attribute this to the amount of grease I used to stick all the parts together during assembly. I think that once that grease wore off, it started making noise but still works the same.

So maybe one of your driver gears got more grease than the other? I'd also suggest putting the rear end up on jackstands and turning the tires back and forth to force it to ratchet. If it's worse on left turns, it sounds like your right coupler is making the noise. Was everything within spec as far as clearances go?

Good luck,
Eric
 
Eric thanks for the help, yeah I set eveything to spec, though I might go back and check that again.... When I had it up on jack stands before I sealed everything back up it ratched fine seemed smooth, so who knows, I will check the tire pressure also and drive it around some more and hope it gets better. Thanks again

JP
 
I agree with Eric. Tire pressure differences can make a HUGE difference.
Even a couple of pounds or so.
My Lock Right is quiet except for the chirp when turning from a stop
under heavy right foot. :-)
It also clicks when backing up. Clicks are normal. Loud load bangs means
shims or something aren't within specs in most cases.
 
Last edited:
Thanks for the input Gundy, If it doesn't get better I will take off the diff. cover and check the spacing agian. Also aren't you a member of Upstate Cruisers Gundy??? If you are when is the next meeting?

Thanks
JP
 
I notice my Aussie kicks (make the 40 almost lurch) when I am turning left very slowley. I figured noticed that going into nuetral makes it go away or turning faster. Don't know why, but now i understand the comments about have to learn to drive with a rear locker. Not a big deal and still glad I put it in.

ken
 
I received my Aussie Locker with the incorrect "cups" This left me with a lot of thrust in the axles. IIRC roughly 1/2". It also would only ratchet on one tire (That is, on the jackstands; I never drove it in that condition).

The moral of the story: Make sure you got the Aussie Locker for a Land Cruiser. If you have WAY more thrust in the axles, call or email Torqmaster.
 
Romer and Trevor thanks for the info, I think what I am going to do is just put it back up on stands and check everything out again.

Trevor what you mentioned sounds like what I am dealing, cause I believe only one of my tires was ractheting on one side to, hopefully they didn't send me the wrong parts, more than likely just an error some where on my part.

Thanks agian for the help guys
JP
 
There also could be nothing wrong. Course thats what I am hoping because I do not wish to take mine apart again. Also, I heard that is one of the features of these lockers (lockrite and others too)
 
Greetings all. I forwarded this thread to Bill Cole, Pres of Torque Masters, with the hope he might have some input. If I hear back from him will let you know what I learn.

Rice
 
Aussie Locker Question

Thanks for the forwarding of the questions on the operation of the Aussie Locker. The suggestions made by others in this forum were excellent. A couple of issues come to mind and they have to do with the thrust washers. Did you put them back on the same side of the case as you removed them? These washer have a wear patter then establish in the case and swapping them can change the symmetry. We will also send the link to our USA Technical Consultant and ask him to review the comment and respond back to us.

For fastest service on any Aussie Locker question please send an email to engineering@offroadlockers.com

Bill
 
If it worked fine up on jack stands, chances are that there is nothing serious wrong with the install and the noise problems are related to driving style.

Disclaimer: I don't know what you mean by "kick", but I presume that it is a loud pop or bang.

All autolockers (Aussie, lockrite, EZ, Detroit, etc) ratchet quitely and smoothly if you keep some pressure on the ring gear (either acceleration or deceleration) around turns. If you are idling around a turn (or worse, bucking back and forth between accelerate and decelerate) it plays havoc with them and they make a lot of noise. Even though they make a lot of noise, it doesn't seem to hurt them.
 
Upstate Cruisers(shameless plug)

ClemsonCruiser said:
Thanks for the input Gundy, If it doesn't get better I will take off the diff. cover and check the spacing agian. Also aren't you a member of Upstate Cruisers Gundy??? If you are when is the next meeting?

Thanks
JP
Click to expand...

Right you are Sir! I'm sometimes known as David of Pumpkintown.
We are going camping/wheelin' Sept 10 and 11 at Oconee State Park
in your neck of the woods. Join us there for some good fun. I think
we'll be easy to spot. I'll be in Gundy and pulling Yodel (1953 Swiss Army trailer)
We should be camped by the lake.
Camp sites have water and electric so even the old ladies can't complain. ;-)
Nice shower/restrooms too.
Hit me off list and I'll add you to our mailing list for future events.
Also the next Tow Hook (our newsletter) is due out soon.
Oct 2nd is the annual meet at Aunt Sue's on highway 11.
This usually draws 50+ people. Meeting starts at 11:00 a.m.
Come bring your beast......let it mingle in a herd. ;-)
 
Alright guys I believe my problems is I need new thrust washers. Do guys have any idea of what thickness of washer I need, because I was looking to order some From Spector Offroad and they have several thicknesses to choose from. Thanks for the help

JP
 
Just curious as to what brought you to that conclusion. I get several kicks like you say, but I thought that was normal.
 
The thrust washer size is determined by the clearance of the locker parts, which you said you measured and found to be within specs.

If you remeasured it and found that it was outside of the range, then you would measure the existing wahsers and pick ones that will move it back within the specified range. We would need the actual numbers to be more specific.

I am still not convinced that you are experiencing any problems that cannot be cured by adjusting your driving style.
 
I found this picture on my hard drive. I believe it is the original Aussie Locker that I recieved. Note the center sections are hollow. This is what caused my problems. The replacements that Torqmaster sent were solid.

Edit: After the install, I found that I needed to replace my thrust washers. I do not remember what size I needed. They were just a few dollars at the Toyota dealership.
 
Yeah my caps were solid, and I am a little embarrassed to say I have found the problem. Took the cover off and remeasured everything and guess what some where along the line I didn't learn how to read a ruler............ So I did not have it at the right specs, so I did what pinhead said and measured the gap and then the thrust washers, so I have a new set on the way and should be good to go soon. Thanks for all the help guys and next time I will measure twice to save myself all this trouble.
 
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