Lockers, I need some,

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Better is subjective. They are different. From everything I have heard the ARB is the strongest unit available. It replaces the carrier and all the guts. They are tough. Detroits are bomb proof too. Different rolls played there though. Personally I like being able to turn them off. Others dont care about that. It's up to you. There are times when a locker is necessary and times when they are not. I like the flexibility of being able to turn them off when they are not needed.
 
That's kinda like asking which tire is "best", or which drivetrain setup is "best", or any of a zilion other questions that ask for determinations about "best". Outside of narrowly defined parameters "better" can be pretty subjective.

Generally the Aussie is the least expensive locker out there. The EZlocker is made by the company with the most experience making lockers. The Lockright was the original "caseless" autolocker (both the EZ and the Aussie are just copyright infringments which Powertrax could not afford to fight). Both of these are just a little more expensive than the Aussie. The Detroit replaces the entire diff assembly which is a real good thing in some axles, but not as important (if at all) in the Cruiser axles.

All of these are virtually foolproof and very simple. They have some minor drivability quirks that take a couple of days to get used to.

The ARB and the Toyota electric and cable lockers are part time units (not auto). Obviously the Toyota cable actuation is a bit more robust than the electric. The ARB has a very good reputation. The air actuation is probably the most sensitive to minor problems, but that doesn't mean that it's problematic. Just that the units to comapre it to are nearly darn perfect. The main advantage of these units is that when they are off, the diff is open and completely unlocked so there is no effect on how the vehicle drives/handles in this mode.


Mark...
 
I guess the good news about this argument (opps, discussion) is that no matter whether you choose to use an auto locker or not in a DD, you'll have some folks on your side, and some not...

Maybe it's kind of a red state/blue state kind of thing?

That was kind of chat, but here's a tech comment...auto lockers are easy to install, and even easier to remove. If you are thinking of using on in a DD, and end up not likeing it, you can easily yank it out.
 
No one will ever tell you an autolocker is better than an ARB. :)

Saying that I'm a cheap ass and put an autolocker in the front of my DD, it works well, as with every lockrite/aussie owner I know we all wish we had oodles of cash to put ARB gear in.

My housemate had one in the rear of his 75 series ute, we live in the city and his girlfriend drives it quite agressivly and would chirp the tyres a lot, it also decreased the turning circle a little meaning 3 point turns everywhere suburban. They decided to switch to an ARB.

We put the old autolocker in the rear of a mates 45 series troopy, he is very happy with it and it works well.

I prefer mine in the front, none of dramas of an all time locked rear around town, yes you have to adjust your driving style when in 4wd but I've never had grief from it. In soft stuff you also pull yourself up from the front rather than push yourself with it in the rear traction.

You can also do a 2wd low range mod to make rock work easier unlocking the front (they are really auto-unlockers that release when theres no drive), if you are that way inclined.

My best advice is if you really want to keep your truck for a while just buy 2 arb airlockers and you'll never regret it :) and buy 2 for me while yer there :)

If you need to rebuild your diff when you put the auto locker in you are probably 2/3rds into the cost of the ARB already.

oh and I'm glad I don't live near the snow.... :grinpimp:
 
I will tell you that a detroit is better than a ARB.

I hate ARB's for one reason. I have seen more fail to engage due to some piddly little thing more times than I can count.

ARB's are nice for front applications where you need to try to make the birfs survive. In a wheelin rig I want something that I know is going to work. Every time.
 
Mace said:
The off road capability of a rig benefits more by having a locker in the rear because the weight of the rig is on the rear tires when climbing.
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Mace - Does a locker in the rear combined w/ the 2-Lo mod make for some fun 2 wheeling? Meaning you can tackle quite a bit more then you thought before grabbing for 4?
 
It absolutely does.


You would be amazed.
 
i am REALLY ignorant when it comes to locker, because when i hear what they cost, i stop reading about them.
why bother?
whats the big deal, or difference from a stock truck? my 60 will go through 36" snow drifts w/o a slip.
is it because you dont have to get out a lock the hubs? is it really worth the money?
some one educate me!
hammer
 
Hammer, The difference in wheeling ability between locked and unlocked is phenomenal. There is no comparison.

Really.

It is not about "having to get out and lock the hubs".

Until you can compare where you used to go without lockers to where you can now go due to lockers will you understand.

The difference between stock and locked in both ends is HUGE!!!
 
but what is the difference? better traction?
 
Basically yes..
 
hammer1 said:
but what is the difference? better traction?
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Hammer, my undestanding is that a locker will not let one wheel stop and the other wheel on that housing (F or R) spin.

SO you cannot bury one tire and have the otherone spinning in mid-air

If you were locked in the rear running around, you would have TRUE 2WD.

Locked F and R = 4WD

Cool?
 
I have driven 3 vehicles with auto lockers: k10 4x4LB, FJ40, MINI LB. very diffrent for each vehicle. I loved it in the K10 , I never knew it was there unless I needed it. Hated it on road in the fj40 and loved it offroad, I had mixed feeling about it in the mini onroad. Overall its a great product with minor drawbacks, I for one can afford an auto locker for my DD (fj60) but will wait until I can afford an ARB and this is why, noticed a considerable amount of driveline play in the fj40 which got worse and worse as time went on. It rattled my teeth in the mini when it would unload on dry pavement but didnt seem to expose to much slack in the driveline and the k10 well thats all I would ever put into one of those. Automatics in my experience tend to handle the autolockers a little better as far as that bone jaring unloading you get on pavement. I wouldnt install an autolocker into a vehicle that will see lots of slick conditions on interstates or highways unless you have plenty of time to get where your going.
Good luck with your decision on the double edeged sword.
 
Hammer1, first you have to understand what a "open" differential does in the first place.

Diffs do 3 things:
Change direction of power from the driveshaft to the axles.
Act as the final gear reduction in the powertrain from the engine to the wheels.
Allow the axle stubs to rotate at different speeds. This is important since the the left and right wheels spin at different speeds when you go around a turn due to the two different arcs they travel due to vehicle width. (This is mainly what this thread is about.)

Lockers are a way of mechanically locking the two pinion gears in the differential so both wheels will spin at the same speed and transmit power equally to each wheel. With a selectable diff (cable, ARB) is you control when the diff is open or locked. Autolockers (Detroit, EZ) use a pawl and dog (ratchet) mechanism to sense when one wheel is slipping relative to the other. Limited slips (Toyota, "posi-traction") use clutch packs to achieve a similar function, but have "slip" in them.

Bottom line is with lockers you can make it places that were difficult to go before, since you have two wheels driving on each axle housing. However if you are locked and not on a "slippery" surface, there can be immense strain on your axles and powertrain. Broken birf, anyone? ;)
 
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Hammer1,

I just clicked on that Aussie Locker Banner ad at the top of the page and it has a pretty good "how it works" section.

Although they only attribute 2 functions for a diff, not 3 like me ;)
 
wingysataday said:
Here in Las Vegas I hit a patch of black ice yesterday. Luckily I can't afford lockers or I would be dead! Don't do any kind of locker! Locker+ICE=Death. That you can't argue!
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You ALWAYS have to watch for Black ice in Vegas. It is very treacherous..


:flipoff2:
 
wingysataday said:
Here in Las Vegas I hit a patch of black ice yesterday. Luckily I can't afford lockers or I would be dead! Don't do any kind of locker! Locker+ICE=Death. That you can't argue!
Click to expand...

What elevation were you at when you found black ice this time of year?
 
Don't make a corner while on the gas. Seriously, it is different but not hard to deal with. Instal the locker and go play in a prking lot for a while.


Black ice happens at all times of year. And at the lower elevations mostly. That is what makes it so treacherous..

;)
 
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