Anyone explain Diff Lockers. Air vs Auto?

[HomeBrew]

Anyone explain Diff Lockers. Air vs Auto?
My Surf has an lsd but from what i understand these are shite
Would it be best to fit it to the front or the back?

Shaun

[snotgoblin]

LSD is better than a standard open diff.

Air Lockers are remotely operated by you in the cab and you can select when the diff is locked. The most common and some will say best brand is the ARB ones. But there are some Chinese ones around fro less - quality?
Pro - you can control it
Con - expensive and you need an air source

Auto lockers like LockRites etc are mechanically operated diffs that "sense" the power load and lock on their own. A well set up one will give you minimal hassles in driving on the road - apparently.

Toyota do cable operated locking diffs for the Landcruisers - I wonder if these might fir a Surf rear end? I doubt it though.

I would go for the rear first - apparently gets very easy to break CVs when the front is locked. Of course I am assuming you want your Surf to be road legal??

[Sadam_Husain]

Anyone explain Diff Lockers. Air vs Auto?

theres a good link Here thats worth having a read through mate and yep toyota lsd's are shit the only real advantage of them is there stronger than a standard open diff if your lucky enough to have a 4 spider one

[HomeBrew]

Anyone explain Diff Lockers. Air vs Auto?

theres a good link Here thats worth having a read through mate and yep toyota lsd's are shit the only real advantage of them is there stronger than a standard open diff if your lucky enough to have a 4 spider one

4 Spider? How can i tell what sort i have?
Ill give it a read cheers.

[tweake]

auto lockers are locked all the time and unlock when you go around corners.

if you want to go nuts there is electric lockers and they can be converted to cable operated.

"lunch box" (lockrite, lokka, spartan) style auto lockers are the cheapest locker.

[Sadam_Husain]

4 Spider? How can i tell what sort i have?

dunno mate I'm not really up to speed with hilux shit you'll have to have a search or wait for one of the hilxus guru's to post up, theres a few good hilux diff threads in the archives somewhere

[tweake]

if you think its stock then look on the plate on the firewall and read the axle codes. look up axle code and it will tell you what diff you have.

[HomeBrew]

if you think its stock then look on the plate on the firewall and read the axle codes. look up axle code and it will tell you what diff you have.

Cheers Mate. Will Do.

[HomeBrew]

Seems like an auto locker in the rear of the surf is the best value for money.
Just worried about onroad. How annoying would it be if i wanted to take the truck for a long trip onroad.
Shaun

[Dethklok]

I have a Lockright in the rear of my surf for the last couple of months, I have had no issues on road at all. (Maybe the odd click or clunk). You just need to drive a little different, small amount of power when going around corners in town. I'm doing around 1500kms a month on and off road for work.

suzolla on here has some good prices... thats where I got mine from.

[nzlux]

small amount of power when going around corners in town.

That would be foot flat to the floor in my 2.8 non-turbo hilux then?

[HomeBrew]

I have a Lockright in the rear of my surf for the last couple of months, I have had no issues on road at all. (Maybe the odd click or clunk). You just need to drive a little different, small amount of power when going around corners in town. I'm doing around 1500kms a month on and off road for work.

suzolla on here has some good prices... thats where I got mine from.

Sweet As. Big improvment offroad?

[Sadam_Husain]

Coz you asked best thing you can do before throwing a whole pile of hard earnt money and modifications to your truck mate is to just spend a bit of time driving it and getting used to offroading with a bit of seat time working out how to drive it, how to get it stuck, how not to get it stuck, how to get it out when its stuck, how to keep it on its wheels, how to keep the engine from hydrolicing then once you realise 4WDing is for you you'll then be able to work out if you've got the right sort of truck for your driving style or if you need to change to something that'll suit you better for what you want to do and what sort of mods you need will naturally come in the right order, diff locks are cool but not the be all and end all and theres lots of other smart things that can come before them watch other people to learn what to do (and what not to do ) ask heaps of questions (verbally not 50 threads a day ) do heaps of reading and digesting theres endless experience, knowledge and information on here and on the net in general all available at the touch of your keyboard

dont forget to buy yourself some reasonable recovery gear and a spade if you havent already done so

Hey Guys

So im just getting into the whole 4wd thing. Trucks a 1991 3.0L V6. 2inch Body Lift and 31inch muddys.

Really keen for someone to show me the ropes. Been around Ashurst a couple times with a mate but neither of us REALLY new what we were doing. Seen way to many idiots my age rolling and wrecking there 4wd's. Couldnt imagine doing that to my new toy.

Anyway heres a pic.
Any suggestions on what to add on next?
Really keen to get out in some mud SOON haha flick us a message if your in the area.

Shaun

[HomeBrew]

Coz you asked best thing you can do before throwing a whole pile of hard earnt money and modifications to your truck mate is to just spend a bit of time driving it and getting used to offroading with a bit of seat time working out how to drive it, how to get it stuck, how not to get it stuck, how to get it out when its stuck, how to keep it on its wheels, how to keep the engine from hydrolicing then once you realise 4WDing is for you you'll then be able to work out if you've got the right sort of truck for your driving style or if you need to change to something that'll suit you better for what you want to do and what sort of mods you need will naturally come in the right order, diff locks are cool but not the be all and end all and theres lots of other smart things that can come before them watch other people to learn what to do (and what not to do ) ask heaps of questions (verbally not 50 threads a day ) do heaps of reading and digesting theres endless experience, knowledge and information on here and on the net in general all available at the touch of your keyboard

dont forget to buy yourself some reasonable recovery gear and a spade if you havent already done so

[/quote]

Cheers Mate nice to see someone looking out for the newbies like me
Im not able to throw a whole pile of money at my truck, just trying to find out what this and that are, and what real people think of them not just internet reviews

All ive lashed out on so far is A SHOVEL Snatch strap a couple of dbolts and a fire extinguisher (got that for free, seems like a good thing just incase though)

Anyway sorry if im blocking up the threads, ill stick to reading for a wee bit then

Shaun

[Sadam_Husain]

Anyway sorry if im blocking up the threads, ill stick to reading for a wee bit then

Nah mate your not.... well not yet anyway

[rokhound]

Coz you asked best thing you can do before throwing a whole pile of hard earnt money and modifications to your truck mate is to just spend a bit of time driving it and getting used to offroading with a bit of seat time working out how to drive it, how to get it stuck, how not to get it stuck, how to get it out when its stuck, how to keep it on its wheels, how to keep the engine from hydrolicing then once you realise 4WDing is for you you'll then be able to work out if you've got the right sort of truck for your driving style or if you need to change to something that'll suit you better for what you want to do and what sort of mods you need will naturally come in the right order, diff locks are cool but not the be all and end all and theres lots of other smart things that can come before them watch other people to learn what to do (and what not to do ) ask heaps of questions (verbally not 50 threads a day ) do heaps of reading and digesting theres endless experience, knowledge and information on here and on the net in general all available at the touch of your keyboard

dont forget to buy yourself some reasonable recovery gear and a spade if you havent already done so

Reese, Can you please copy this and start a stcky thread at the very beginning of ORE entitled 4WDing for newbies.

For the new guys:
The info Marty has provided here is exactly what you need to do. There are a whole heap of stages you need to go through on you "off highway" trip. Just building (or wosre, buying) a weapon and not knowing how to use it is madness. You don't think the V8 supercar boys jumped staright into a drive witrh one of those without putting in the hard yards first (different levels but same theory)

[HomeBrew]

Reese, Can you please copy this and start a stcky thread at the very beginning of ORE entitled 4WDing for newbies.

For the new guys:
The info Marty has provided here is exactly what you need to do. There are a whole heap of stages you need to go through on you "off highway" trip. Just building (or wosre, buying) a weapon and not knowing how to use it is madness. You don't think the V8 supercar boys jumped staright into a drive witrh one of those without putting in the hard yards first (different levels but same theory)[/quote]

I agree completely. Sticky it as a must read for all newbies.
like me