OEM vs ARB lockers

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

The Aussie is a locker that fits inside the stock carrier. It is basically always locked with a limited ability to unlock when not under torque.

The Aussie locker (like other automatic lockers) aways has one wheel locked and the other side free wheeling and ratcheting when both tires have traction. They only lock both sides when one tire is slipping. Torque only matters if it is high enough to cause a tire to slip. They switch drive sides when you turn L-R and R-L and when you go from drive to coast and visa versa. The drive side switching is responsible for the problems with popping, banging and twitching. Many people mistake this drive side switching for locking and unlocking.
 
The Aussie locker (like other automatic lockers) aways has one wheel locked and the other side free wheeling and ratcheting when both tires have traction. They only lock both sides when one tire is slipping. Torque only matters if it is high enough to cause a tire to slip. They switch drive sides when you turn L-R and R-L and when you go from drive to coast and visa versa. The drive side switching is responsible for the problems with popping, banging and twitching. Many people mistake this drive side switching for locking and unlocking.


I don't think so... That's a limited slip... Mechanical (splines, teeth, keyways, grooves, etc) locks do not have the ability to switch between working and not working while in motion. You'll need clutches, syncro's and bands for that.

I always thought that under drive, the pinion in the carrier splits the two inner parts of the locker apart and forced them into the outer parts...

Then, in a turn, when you power-off the outside, since the inner part had no force pushing into the outer popped itself out of the teeth with help from the springs and the teeth passing over themselves it what makes the ratchet sound...

power-on, it's locked... essentially a spool
power-off, outside tire since it covers the most distance and the gears pass over themselves making the ratchet sound...

P123.jpg


Aussie Lockers: How it works

"Like all automatic lockers, the "Aussie Locker' cannot be used in front axles of constant 4Wheel Drive vehicles. Some vehicle manufacturers offer a part-time 4WD option and automatic lockers can be installed. Some vehicle owners install part-time kits or use free wheeling hubs.'"

I always thought this...
 
Last edited:
Then, in a turn, when you power-off the outside, since the inner part had no force pushing into the outer popped itself out of the teeth with help from the springs and the teeth passing over themselves it what makes the ratchet sound...

power-on, it's locked... essentially a spool
power-off, outside tire since it covers the most distance and the gears pass over themselves making the ratchet sound...
...

What you are missing is the fact that virtually all of the time one tire is turning faster than the other, so it is free wheeling and the slower tire is driving. The tire speed difference only needs to be slight and that is essentially all the time.

You are misinformed about the power on, power off locking spool stuff. One side or the other is driving and it is just switching sides.

Here is a detailed description of how lockers work and it is entirely consistent with the Aussie locker web site although it also explains some of their negative behavior that Aussie doesn't want to go in to.

http://members.cox.net/golddebra/Photos/LockerOperation.pdf
 
I might buy some guy with great computer skills opinion, but not until I see a pinion that small, and the opening in the locker that big... sorry...
 
this is the part where Pin_Head tells me he made the PDF:lol:
 
ARB's in Cruiser 1 for 6-years with zero issues.
ARB's in Cruiser 2 for 3-years with zero issues.
Factory Lockers in Cruiser 3 (sold)...with zero issues.

I far prefer the ARB's because they UNlock in an instant. Not the usual case with the OEM's. That said, I would almost always take ones built into the truck cause they're there already and reliable.

For this OP...if you plan to re-gear then it's easier to stomach the ARB's because you have to rip everything out anyway during the regear.
 
I might buy some guy with great computer skills opinion, but not until I see a pinion that small, and the opening in the locker that big... sorry...

:rolleyes:

I guess that means that you don't have a better explanation for how they work or why you think "power-on, it's locked... essentially a spool"?
 
I’m looking at a pair of fj80 factory lockers. If I wanted to convert to ARBs would I need a non locked 3rd member or can I reuse the 3rd member that came with the factory locker.

I plan to put them in my 76 fj45 with a 2F and run at least 37’s
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top Bottom