Offroad-Express

I'm thinking of buying a lockright diff for my Hilux and was wondering what people who have had them installed think about them.Also would it be better to fit it to the front or the rear?

I have one in the rear. It is a bit bucky on corners and chirps the tyres a bit on hard cornering in carparks etc but I can't say its a problem at all. I wouldn't hesitate on putting one in.

Hi

I have them in the back and front of my BJ73 Cruiser.
If you get one put it in the back. You will get more effect from that.

I agree that the super market car park is not a good drive. But for a fit and forget device I think they are great. No air pressure to operate. I can fit them my self and I am not a mechanic.

Off road are great.

Is your lux ifs ? anyway when climbing you generally loose traction so back wheels have most grip ( think weight transfer ) the back is allways gripping well so put in front and with manual locking front hubs it always off on road so you get the best both ways.

I agree with Browndog.

Fit it first to the FRONT END.


There was a study done in Aus a few years back that proved that in almost all circumstances if you only have one locker there are definite advantages to fitting it in the front end. Search for it on Google. I seem to remember some video coverage.

I have a Lock-Right in the front of my Prado and I rarely bother with using the factory Electric locker that I have in the rear.
Also the added bonus of it is that it only shows any side affects off-road when in 4wd where those side effects don’t matter, if you have locking hubs.

Some people think that your steering lock changes however I only see this in really deep slippery mud. On tight corners the lock is normally exactly the same as it was before I fitted the L-R.

I had front and rear lockers in my old surf. My mate has one just in the front. I put my rear one in first and think that the rear one made more difference. I would fit a rear one first.

Pete

Thanks guys for the great feedback keep it comin,how much difference did anyone notice after fitting one compared to there old one?If you get a wheel or two (hopefully no more)off the ground does it lock both of them together or distribute the drive to the one still on the ground?Im very new to 4wding and just like to make informed decisions before buying upgrades.cheers everyone.

they are amazing and will be the best mod you will do to your truck in my opinion. they are always locked and if you go round a corner the outside wheel is allowed to ratchet round faster. there is lots of info on here. do a search and see what you find.

Cheers Pete

Petemcc wrote:they are amazing and will be the best mod you will do to your truck in my opinion. they are always locked and if you go round a corner the outside wheel is allowed to ratchet round faster. there is lots of info on here. do a search and see what you find.

Cheers Pete

While the outside wheel is allowed to move at a different rate, often what happens is the outside wheel has the weight and the inside wheel has it light so if cornering hardish and powering at the same time, the inside wheels cheats and gets a spin on (quite impressive squeals). I reckon I loose traction quicker because of that tho because once it spins you only have the traction of the outside wheel and of course one is worse than two so you are one step closer to loosing it totally (have been out side ways in the wet before) also, for the same reason, I reckon I loose traction faster on grass, but gain traction on rough terrain and articulation. So that might be a good argument to put it in the front. But in saying that in the rear you are less likely to have to go into 4wd (which prob means stopping and putting hubs in) in moderately bad situations where the stopping could make you more stuck.

Regarding the poor road manners, yes you do notice something different (the guy I bought it off didn't want any one else to people to drive it because of it) but I've never really seen what all the fuss is about. Its not really a a big issue, you don't even really have to modify your driving style.

Check out
http://www.pps.net.au/4wdencounter/arti ... locks.html
It is not the article I was looking for but it does explain a few things and recommends the front as the best place generally.

i run a lockright in the front, which is awsome and an airlocker in the rear.

I have fitted one to the front of my crawler and the only problem that I have had with it is beakeing CV's so I fixed that with longs

i just put a lockright in the rear of my zuk and its farkin amazing!!!! no looking back now....got to start saving for the front one now

There always seems to be the "in the front" or "in the rear" arguement....... so if your putting one in you might as well do them both and save the arguements

Thens theres the "Auto locker" or "Selectable locker" arguement but cost usually sorts ythat one out pretty quick.


Personaly I prefer the rear locker and dont use my front one much coz I havent got Longs (Yet)

Sadam_Husain wrote:There always seems to be the "in the front" or "in the rear" arguement....... so if your putting one in you might as well do them both and save the arguements

i concur....

I agree with saddam and niblik, there are pro's and cons for both. I have front and rear fitted, I use the rear one the most, due to less risk of mechanical failure, but when the going gets tough, the front is defianately used.
I have ARB difflocks, and while I was not happy with the installer, I am extremely happy with the product. I went the ARB way after looking at the Lokka,n but I wanted the control over when it locked and un-locked.
The easiest answer is fit 'em both!!

I can't remember the site, but if you can only afford one, get it put in the front, I have 3 videos, all of the same truck, same hill, no lockers, rear locker only and front locker only, it only makes the complete climb with just the front locker.

Yeah, DAK is right, I remember seeing/hearing something like that, if I recall correctly, it is something to do with the front wheels pulling, and in loose terrain/mud they cut or break the ground first, and as such will pull the truck, rather than the rear tyres pushing on already disturbed ground.

Dak wrote:I can't remember the site, but if you can only afford one, get it put in the front, I have 3 videos, all of the same truck, same hill, no lockers, rear locker only and front locker only, it only makes the complete climb with just the front locker.

Dak
That is the site that I was referring to but could not find.
Definitely worth looking up and very informative.
Perhaps somebody else has better search ability than I.
Was in Aus and at least 3 years ago, probably five. And NO Physics have not changed since way back then

Yup, I've searched in vain but can't refind the site either, yup it was about 3 years ago, was done with a LWB GU Safari.

I thought it linked from an ARB site, to show the difference a locker made, but I could be wrong....I do remember watching it though. I was impressed at how slow the truck was going to get up the hill, as in minimal run up.

This it?

http://www.arb.com.au/arb-air-locker-video.php

Not the one I was thinking of, and I think DAK and I are thinking of the same one, as what he describes fits my recollection perfectly. It shows the same truck having 3 attempts at climbing the same hill, one without lockers, once with the rear locker in only and the last (successful) attempt with the front locker only.
It was not an ARB promo vid, if I remeber correctly, but more of a "why you need a locker" type vid. I was taking a stab in the dark with the ARB site idea, I dunno where I saw the vid to be totally honest, I just remember seeing it.

85BJ73 wrote:Not the one I was thinking of, and I think DAK and I are thinking of the same one, as what he describes fits my recollection perfectly. It shows the same truck having 3 attempts at climbing the same hill, one without lockers, once with the rear locker in only and the last (successful) attempt with the front locker only.
It was not an ARB promo vid, if I remeber correctly, but more of a "why you need a locker" type vid. I was taking a stab in the dark with the ARB site idea, I dunno where I saw the vid to be totally honest, I just remember seeing it.

The links to the vids are in my second post in this thread here
http://www.offroadexpress.co.nz/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=4332

just fitted lock rite in the front on my ifs surf and tested not bad at all , pulling the truck not pushing and its an add transfer box setup will play more now.........

ive just fitted my lockright to the front yesterdayso havent had it out yet but my back one left the states yesterday so should have hat mid this week if it doesnt get caught at customs an get gst slapped on.
was simple enough to do! cant wait to get the rear one in and try it out.

Ryan

tried it out today am real impressed with front locker right up til i spat a cv but hey still impressed and still open rear diff .....

i have been really thinking of getting one lokka for the front, have lsd rear, but was wondering what they are like say, going down a steep, slippery, bendy track, do they still allow good steering control??

Some say you steering will jam in straight line going down hill but i didnt find any problems and with slip diff in rear should be great personally im going lokka rear as well.........

gary_in_nz wrote:i have been really thinking of getting one lokka for the front, have lsd rear, but was wondering what they are like say, going down a steep, slippery, bendy track, do they still allow good steering control??

My front ARB dosent like to let me turn if I'm on a hard surface with traction but I think the auto lockers release and let you turn better than a fully locked diff?