Lockright in rear, wet weather impressions

[stinkyfj60]

Ok, I have posted two other times about my experience with my Lockright in the rear of my 60 in snowpack/ice conditions. I keep doing this so that anybody considering it will at least have someones reference. I find it makes the truck feel more predictible in those conditions.
So tonight we are getting a heavy wet snow. But it just started so the snow is melting as it hits the road, making the streets very wet like a cold rain storm. We took the 60 out and it comes off the line straight and predictible. Turning corners it is smooth too. I had one place that I purposely goosed it while turning right from a stop light and I could feel it there as both tires were spinning. But not fishtail or anything I felt was dangerous.
On sweeping curves the understeer is more pronounced, but nothing you cant deal with by driving slightly more conservative.
As a review my 60 has 2F, 4.56s gears and some BFG Mud Terrains that are showing wear sized 33X12.50 on 15X8in rims.

I hope this info helps those who are considering an auto locker and have heard all the scary stuff. I really think it makes the rig more predictible and easier to handle in all conditions I have been in on road. The length and weight of the 60 may make my experienced different than those that have the same locker in the rear of a 40.

 

[krzyabncanuck]

The only time i do not like them is on ice. With both back tires spinning the same it will throw it out of wack.

Other than that i love my detroit.

 

[stinkyfj60]

I liked mine on snowpack/icey streets. Felt like the truck was more stable, the only place I fought mine was off road, nose pointed up, with the truck leaning over in slick snow/ice. I am shopping for a tire that would give me a better side hill traction, but thats a whole different thread.

 

[lovetoski]

Thanks for posting up your experiences.

 

[FJ60Cam]

How is the noise in the lockright? How is the Detroit? That's my main concern about getting an autolocker over the ARB. Mine's 90% DD, and I don't want all the passengers thinking my truck is falling apart from all the banging and clunking (especially the wife!).

Thanks.

 

[stinkyfj60]

I installed the Lockright myself, on my back in my garage with no special tools. It is very quiet. The only time you here it is when I am in a parking lot and just kind of idling around while turning. Sometimes you get some interesting bangs during driving, but it is usually driver error (hitting the gas at the wrong time).

 

[chicago]

STINKY,
How much did you pick the lockrite up for? Who did you purchase it from? Some one here on Mudd? Im looking at either those or the Aussie's. Actually, since there is minimal difference between the two, which ever is cheaper.

Chicago

 

[stinkyfj60]

STINKY,
How much did you pick the lockrite up for? Who did you purchase it from? Some one here on Mudd? Im looking at either those or the Aussie's. Actually, since there is minimal difference between the two, which ever is cheaper.

Chicago

I bought mine a few years ago from Randy's Ring and Pinion. I didnt install it for a LONG time as I collected other parts and waited till I had time to install it. I paid like $276 but I think the price is considerably more now

 

[krzyabncanuck]

I've had my detroit in my 40 for about 12 years now and love it, just have to get used to it but it is great offroad.

 

[hodag]

How is the noise in the lockright? How is the Detroit? That's my main concern about getting an autolocker over the ARB. Mine's 90% DD, and I don't want all the passengers thinking my truck is falling apart from all the banging and clunking (especially the wife!).

Thanks.

I dont know in the 60, but in my 40 I dont think the LockRite is noisy at all. Like the others say, once in a while it will clunk, but its usually when turning tightly while on the gas. I have no unpredictability issues at all with it, and it would probably be better in a longer wheelbase vehicle like the 60.

Hodag

 

[89s rule]

I bought mine a few years ago from Randy's Ring and Pinion. I didnt install it for a LONG time as I collected other parts and waited till I had time to install it. I paid like $276 but I think the price is considerably more now

Price is lower than that on the aussie's.

 

[stinkyfj60]

Price is lower than that on the aussie's.

It is, of course at the time I am not sure Aussies were available here. I have a Lockright that I bought used but in need of repair for the front.

 

[chicago]

Thanks stinky fj. I do believe that the aussie is a bit cheaper. I never realized where a locker would make a difference till I took my rig out for the first time to run her through her paces. I came to a STEEP lil incline that was rutted up some, stuck her in 4 low etc, made my run up, got about 1/2 way to the first set of ruts and she started spinning right front and left rear. I never could make it up that thing, and I believe that if I had at least a locker...shed have gone right up with no problems.

Chicago

 

[Grey Goose]

I've run an Aussie for about 8 months now. The same trails run before and after the install were night and day differences. Spun out and couldn't make it up steep inclines, had to use too much speed through twisties and off cambers before the Aussie. Walk right thru, up and over now.

I get some low speed ratcheting while tight turning, but don't even notice it on the highway. Eventually I'll throw an ARB in the front, but the Assie has been the single best bang(no pun intended) for the buck mod I've done so far.

 

[FJKai]

Having a Detriot in the rear and a lockrite up front, for off road there is no comparision. If I could do it over again without money being an issue, my personal experience would be to go with ARBs. Having this as my second, fully locked vehicle, based upon driving in snowy highway (not off road highway conditions mind you) conditions, I would much rather be "un-locked" for steering and better handling. Sure the lockers are great in off roading conditions hands down, but driving slick , mountainous, winding, two lane, with huge drop offs, etc. type roads, not to mention having the "family" in the vehicle, I would much rather have no lockers, period! Sure they take some getting used to, but in terms of safety and handling, hands down, no lockers for me if I'm on a snowy/ icy highway. Plain and simple, the back end want to break out, and if it's slick, you have to be very, very careful to keep it from doing it. The front end, wow, there are times when you can have the wheel cranked all the way left or right and still be going straight. Don't get me wrong, they are great and have their place, I personally don't think a fully locked rig is in the right place on snow and icy "public highways, freeways, etc." Yeah it can be done with the right driving, attention, technique, etc., but having a family in the vehicle, and having to worry about the rear end breaking out around a turn while semi trucks are coming the other way is not fun in serious snowed out conditions. Not to mention the situations where the road is slick and not level. Ouch! When ever it gets slick, I put it into 4H just to help counter the back end from wanting to break out. My choice is ARB's for when I really need to be fully locked.

 

[stinkyfj60]

I have to TRY to get the rear end of my 60 to break out with the Lockright back there. It has yet to do it under normal driving technique on slick roads.

 

[FJKai]

That may well be the case. A lockrite will "give" and "rachet (sp?)" bit more than a Detroit locker. A Detriot locker is solid and burly and won't give much at all. It is a bit loud and can scare the hell out of you if your're not used to it "re-setting" itself, but it's pretty much bulletproof. I never notice much of my lockrite in the front other than I can climb like a tank with the two of them together. My wife thought she was rear-ended once when it (the Detroit) banged and re-set upon take off. This doesn't happen too often so I don't want people to think this is an issue upon consideration. This is a minor occurance and is normal. I have never drove a vehicle with a lockrite in the rear, only a Detroit, so I can't comment on a lockrite in the rear, but I can speak well for a Detroit in the back. Like I said, my personal preference would be to be able to un-lock for "street driving" for handling advantages. But off road without the worry of oncoming traffic, hands down, fully locked like I am now. Like I said earlier, this is my second, fully locked vehicle, I have experience with them and believe me, I would NEVER let my wife or someone un-experienced with locked diffs drive it on slippery roads, period. Only if I was right next to them coaching them. Otherwise it could be :whoops:

 

[jgordon]

dumb question, but what are auto lockers? is that just a limited slip diff?

 

[chicago]

Auto lockers mean automatic. They lock in automatically where there is a loss of traction to one wheel or the other. The differentials lock up causing both wheels to turn at the same rate. Auto lockers are detroit, aussies, lock rite.
Selectable lockers lock on command by the driver.

Chicago

 

[TOY350]

From my experiences I would never put a Lockrite or Aussie in the rear of one of my vehicles. I put one in my 40 and completely ate it up in less than 2K miles. They sent me a brand new one which I sold. I put a Detroit in the rear after that and found it much more predictable and sturdy. My 40 had a 350 SBC in it so I did have more power going to it. Upon building my 60 I went with a Detroit in the rear and again it just feels much more solid.

Now as for the slippery conditions: In my 40 I never had problems in snow with the rear breaking loose. My first snow season in my 60 was the same, no probelms but then last year I finally experienced what people have been saying for years about lockers in the snow. Upon coming down the mountain in snowing conditions with about 6-8 inches on the ground I felt my rear end try to swap with the front in turns. This really suprised me because both my 40 and 60 had performed unbelievably well in the snow up to this point. All I had to do to counter this problem was let off the throttle and it would right itself immediately, but if I was throttling in the turn just a bit I could feel the ass end trying to swap. I don't consider this too much of a problem now that I know how to respond to it but I would NEVER want someone else driving my rig in the snow that wasn't experienced with lockers. I also am not too comfortable in the snowy mountain rounds with my family in the 60 either...I now take the 80.

Hope this helps shed some more light on the subject.