Front Locker

[Pattywagon]

Is it acceptable to have a locker like an Aussie or Lock-Rite in the front a wagoneer with full time hubs? Its going to be offroad most of the time, with short trips on the road to get to trails and such, and I have a Slec-Trac transfer case.
Lunchbox lockers only engage under power correct? So if the 4wd 2wd switch is set to 2wd, the front diff will be getting no power and it will act like its open right?

Sorry all my other 4wd vehicles have manual hubs so im a bit confused!

[Stuka]

Well, it *should* be ok. But it is possible that there is enough drag on the drive shaft that it may lock on some occasions. But otherwise it should be fine. Just make sure to not have it in 4wd.

[cmelo]

You'll be fine, not everyone running lockers have selectable hubs and it's fine on the street. You might hear some ratcheting of the locker around corners. I drove with lockers front and rear in my QT rig with it in "all wheel drive" before I got locked it in 4wd so I could unlock the front hubs.

[duncanstives]

Got one in the front of my waggy... It works great and as far as I know has never locked in 2wd.

[Casey]

An Aussie or a Lock Right is 'locked' all the time. There is no unlocking or power to engage. Since it replaces the side gears in the carrier, if the shafts are turning the locker is engaged.

If your t-case is working properly you won't be sending power to the front axle when in 2wd. If there's no power to the front shaft the locker isn't very noticable, even without locking hubs.

[ARouser]

Do it :drivin:

I have a friend that drives welded on the street for short distances :eek:
I dont believe that lock-right will give you too much grief.
Either way the gain will FAR outweigh the tire scrubbing or "ratcheting" sound.
And as said previously, you shouldn't notice unless you're in 4wd and under throttle through a turn.

[novacayne75]

do it! i have aussie lockers in both ends and dont even notice them.

[ThisGuyUKnow]

do it! i have aussie lockers in both ends and dont even notice them.
do you DD your rig?

[ob1jeeper]

At issue is not whether it is problematic on high coefficient surfaces, but the loss of traction (thus steering control) when on very low coefficient surfaces, such as some snows, and nearly all icy surfaces, could create some real control issues...

Even the slightest loading of the tires caused by a locker can in these low-coefficient surface conditions, be sufficient to cause a tire to break loose, which until the tire regains grip causes that tire to loose any traction, whether that traction be used for going, stopping, or turning...

Probably not very problematic for the locations that most of you are posting from, but in B.C. where the OP appears to be located, I suspect his road uses will involve significantly more VERY low coefficient surface driving, in one season than many of you will see in a lifetime...:o

[ARouser]

Its going to be offroad most of the time, with short trips on the road to get to trails and such

http://www.cfsjc.com/forums/images/smilies/rtfm.gif

My suggestion was based purely on this statement. To me it sounds as this vehicle is not his primary mode of transit. So the fun factor of the front locker may very well out weigh the danger of the locker engaging on an icy road. Which can be overcome by adjustment to the driving technique and being aware that you have a front locker when driving in such conditions.

[Pattywagon]

Thanks for all the input, and nope, this is a toy, not my DD hahah. I drive a lifted toyota (ew! import!) with a Detroit in the back, so I'm used to all the locker weirdness. Think Im going with Aussie lockers, I did a search and people swear by them appently...any input on those guys?? How does the AMC 20 like being wheeled? Im only gunna run 35s or so..

[Mark Wilde]

Your AMC20 will do just fine. The bad rep comes from the CJ's which had 2-piece axleshafts. The ones in SJ's are one piece and arguably slightly stronger than D44's.

As long as you're not doing extreme rock climbing on those 35's that is. If you are, well, you'll break just about anything.

[Casey]

Think Im going with Aussie lockers, I did a search and people swear by them appently...any input on those guys?? How does the AMC 20 like being wheeled? Im only gunna run 35s or so..
Lock Rights are American made...


:cool:

[fulsizjeep]

Lock Rights are American made...


:cool::thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[Mex in the city]

I have lockrites front and rear (D44 and AMC20). I also have manual locking hubs, but I keep them locked all the time. I drive sometimes in the street with the hubs locked and as long as I drive in 2wd mode, I can barely notice they are there.

I have 35" BFG MT and I hit the gas pretty hard and I'm yet to break anything. There are no places where you can do rock crawling around here so, I haven't try that yet. But based on what I've seen and done, I think I could do rock crawling as long as I don't hammer it.