Long-term Aussie locker experience (1 Viewer)

[BiggSean]

Hey guys, I am considering getting an Aussie locker for the rear of my unlocked 80. It's bone stock at the moment, with the exception of 285/75/16 Wrangler Duratracs.

I would ultimately like to go with a full e-locker conversion, or ARB front & rears, but that is simply not in the budget and high on my priority list at the moment. Gotta save up for a lift and full set of armor.

Just curious to hear about others long-term experience with this setup. This rig is not my daily driver. It is pretty much a weekend warrior and inclement weather rig.

How does the rear behave on the street? I plan on installing a CDL switch and doing the pin 7 mod at the same time.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Pin_Head]

I had a Lockrite (same type of product before Aussies were made) in my FJ40 for over 10 years with no issues.

How they behave on the street depends on how you drive. If you don't change the way you go around corners, they will pop and bang a bit. If you slow down first and then accelerate slowly all the way around the turn, you won't notice them.

 

[mr jits]

I run one in the rear and am working on collecting parts (hubs and transfer case) so I can run one in the front. I've had no issues and wouldn't hesitate to do it again.
There's someone here on mud that said he's got close to 100k on his with no issues, and Pin_Head there has had one running for ten years. Pretty good longevity. I also haven't heard any real negatives concerning the Aussie. That's why I bought one.

 

[BiggSean]

Thanks for the feedback guys. This one of those rare products where no matter how hard I look, it seems like it garners nothing but universal praise.

Any suggestions on a vendor to get it from? Aussie Locker is out of stock at the moment.

 

[41magsnub]

Mine has `20K miles on it with no issues.

 

[mr jits]

Aussie is the only vendor I believe. You could look at the Spartan Locker. Same basic design, but you don't reuse the thrust washers.

 

[BiggSean]

I think I will definitely go with the Aussie locker, as the positive feedback regarding these units is overwhelming.

Unfortunately, they are out of stock until the end of June at this point.

 

[Trapper50cal]

Had a Lockright...pretty much same deal as an Aussie. In an 80 with an automatic, they are almost transparent.

 

[AuburnFJsexy]

I have an Aussie in the rear of my 80 and it was the first mod I did and it is one of the best mods you can do to your truck. If Aussie is out of stock, look into getting a Spartan locker, it is easier to install and it has larger pins, so theoretically it should be stronger. The only downside I have seen with the Aussie is that over time the pins can break. The only times I have seen this happen are in rigs that are wheeled hard.


I am installing a Spartan locker in the front end of my truck this week (truck is just off-road use)

 

[js93cruiser]

I've used spartain, lockrite, and Aussie and I personally like the spartain, but no complaints with the aussie

 

[joker2040]

I have an Aussie in the front and rear. Love them and wouldn't replace it with anything else.

 

[86tuning]

I have an Aussie in the front and rear. Love them and wouldn't replace it with anything else.

Is your rig full time 4wd? how does the steering feel compared to stock?

 

[BiggSean]

Question for you guys with auto-lockers in the rear:

How does your rig handle when descending down steep hills?

 

[joker2040]

Is your rig full time 4wd? how does the steering feel compared to stock?

I have hubs in the front. I unlock them when driving on the street. I've driven it locked in the front on the road and I didn't like the way it felt at all. Even at low speeds (20mph) it felt strange. I didn't do a part time kit so everything else still turns like the front shaft and axles regardless.

Question for you guys with auto-lockers in the rear:

How does your rig handle when descending down steep hills?

I've been down some steep muddy stuff and never had any issues. Running 5.29 gears though causes me to actually give it gas from time to time going downhill just to keep up with the others and not be at an absolute snails pace. I ran just the rear locker for maybe a year or so before putting one in the front.


Quote from Aussie Locker website that sold me on their product: "The No-Nonsense Two Year Limited Warranty has no restrictions on tire size or horsepower. The Aussie Locker is designed to hold up whatever you throw at them, time after time."

 

[80t0ylc]

........Just curious to hear about others long-term experience with this setup. This rig is not my daily driver. It is pretty much a weekend warrior and inclement weather rig.............

Weekend warrior - fine. Inclement weather, maybe not the best choice. Traction is one thing, an auto-locker seeking traction on an icy curve at 45+ mph is a completely different scenario.

Quote from Aussie site (color added):
"We "Do Not" recommend the installation of a locker in the front of a vehicle that will be driven on icy highways in 4WD without manual hubs. Driving on any slick surface requires additional attention to handling so test your Aussie Locker equipped vehicle in open areas under adverse weather conditions before driving on roads"

.............How they behave on the street depends on how you drive. If you don't change the way you go around corners, they will pop and bang a bit. If you slow down first and then accelerate slowly all the way around the turn, you won't notice them.

Your instructions may be fine for pavement, where you've got bocu traction. Living in SoCal you wouldn't be concerned with winter driving so much. But driving on snow-packed and icy roads for most of the winter has different principles. And if the OP wants to use an Aussie in a rig used for traveling in "inclement weather", he needs to know about this. An open diff or e-locker is what you would want, depending on your needs.

A locker will get you moving or keep you moving at the relatively slow speeds of wheeling and is highly desirable for ultimate off road performance. But for traveling down a highway and controlling a rig on slippery surfaces at highway speeds, predictability and consistency is necessary, as much as possible. And that is something that an auto-locker won't give you - at least with out a hell of a lot of practice. (See above warning from Aussie) And that means dumping it in the ditch a few times to find out that - whoops, that was the wrong thing to do. On an icy curve, if one side breaks loose, the other side will do the same. After that, if you stay upright going into the ditch, you'll need that locker to get out (plus, probably a whole lot more).

Please don't get me wrong. I plan on installing at least one Aussie in my Mini. But I would not put one in an axle that has not got free-wheeling hubs if I was using the rig for frequent winter highway travel.

 

[kidglove13]

I have had a lock right in the rearend for about 40k so far with no issues
I bought it used and it was in the rear of the PO's truck for quite sometime before mine
It looked brand new when I bought it, I just put a new pin and spring kit in it and installed it
The AWD system of the 80 makes it almost transparent, except when you are in parking lots and making slow tight turns I can hear it clicking

 

[KliersLC]

Weekend warrior - fine. Inclement weather, maybe not the best choice. Traction is one thing, an auto-locker seeking traction on an icy curve at 45+ mph is a completely different scenario.


Your instructions may be fine for pavement, where you've got bocu traction. Living in SoCal you wouldn't be concerned with winter driving so much. But driving on snow-packed and icy roads for most of the winter has different principles. And if the OP wants to use an Aussie in a rig used for traveling in "inclement weather", he needs to know about this. An open diff or e-locker is what you would want, depending on your needs.

A locker will get you moving or keep you moving at the relatively slow speeds of wheeling and is highly desirable for ultimate off road performance. But for traveling down a highway and controlling a rig on slippery surfaces at highway speeds, predictability and consistency is necessary, as much as possible. And that is something that an auto-locker won't give you - at least with out a hell of a lot of practice. (See above warning from Aussie) And that means dumping it in the ditch a few times to find out that - whoops, that was the wrong thing to do. On an icy curve, if one side breaks loose, the other side will do the same. After that, if you stay upright going into the ditch, you'll need that locker to get out (plus, probably a whole lot more).

Please don't get me wrong. I plan on installing at least one Aussie in my Mini. But I would not put one in an axle that has not got free-wheeling hubs if I was using the rig for frequent winter highway travel.

Do you have an aussie in the back of an AWD 80?

Have you ever driven on snow and ice in a rear aussie locked 80?

I have one and have DD'd it for the last 4 years in all weather and road conditions.

Bottom line is that you will not notice the aussie on road except for a small amount of ratcheting noise in parking lots. I can't get the rear end to swing out under throttle unless I really really try.

Putting one in the front is not a good idea without some kind of method for disengaging for street use.

roughly 60k on my aussie with no issues...

 

[80t0ylc]

I expected something like this. This is no criticism of the Aussie, just the attitude of those that have put it on a pedestal that it really doesn't deserve.

It was designed for off road traction first and on road compatibility secondary. I have done a fair amount of research and travel snow packed & icy secondary roads in the winter time in mountainous country for literally hundreds of miles daily. Any auto-locker makes this kind of driving more difficult because of the performance tendencies. Experience helps to tolerate it, but unless you're pushing snow with your bumper, an open diff gives more predictable and consistent handling.

Do you have an aussie in the back of an AWD 80?...

No and unless it becomes a trail rig, the only locker I'd put in would be selectable (E-locker or ARB)

.....Have you ever driven on snow and ice in a rear aussie locked 80?...

No, but I driven rigs with Detroit lockers. I've read that the Aussie has better manners, but I do not need or trust an auto locker for the way my 80 is setup now.

.....I have one and have DD'd it for the last 4 years in all weather and road conditions....

I'm glad it works for you. As they say YMMV

......Bottom line is that you will not notice the aussie on road except for a small amount of ratcheting noise in parking lots. I can't get the rear end to swing out under throttle unless I really really try....

Your bottom line doesn't agree with what I've read about Aussies and experienced with other auto lockers.

......Putting one in the front is not a good idea without some kind of method for disengaging for street use....

I agree with you here.

........roughly 60k on my aussie with no issues...

Are you sure that the awesome off road performance that the Aussie gives isn't causing you to ignore any minor quirks in street performance? I truly believe this is the case: Most owners that have installed Aussie or other auto lockers are just so tickled in the new off road performance that they subconsciously ignore the little negative manners on the street.

 

[KliersLC]

Not to be rude, but until you have driven on ice and snow with one in the back of an AWD 80 with VC, you should restrain your assertions.


As stated, I have driven extensively with the aussie on all road conditions, and am unable to get it to misbehave. If you want to bury your head in the sand and chant quietly to yourself that auto lockers are bad, go for it--however, don't float your uninformed opinions based on driving other vehicles with other lockers.

For instance if a member asks about the highway manners of an 80 and somebody responds that it couldn't be that good because he once had a range rover that was underpowered and had terrible brakes. Not helpful.

FWIW, both of my previous 80s had e-lockers and this one was open before putting the aussie in. I enjoy the offroad performance, but like most(sadly), more of my time is on pavement than otherwise. If it hurt the road manners, I wouldn't have it. If one searches around the forum, they will find the same info posted time and again.

Cheers!

Dan

 

[80t0ylc]

Not to be rude, but until you have driven on ice and snow with one in the back of an AWD 80 with VC, you should restrain your assertions.
If you want to bury your head in the sand and chant quietly to yourself that auto lockers are bad, go for it--however, don't float your uninformed opinions based on driving other vehicles with other lockers..........

Obviously, you need to polish your reading skills. None of my statements called the Aussie bad. Just opinions like yours. (I don't have to fall of a cliff to know that I don't want to.) I'm glad that you're having good luck with yours. Just gives me more confidence it will work for my use when I install one. Just not in a rig that I drive in winter for highway use. We live in different areas of the country and different road conditions. So lets just leave it at that.