lockers f/r

[Carlos Murphy]

locker

If your doing gears later and want a locker NOW...
just weld up the spiders, yer gona hafta toss um anyway when you eventually do the gears and locker.

 

[Will]

Full time has NOTHING to do with the way the front hubs are set up. A full-time 4x4 means there is a third differential built into the transfer case.

I wouldn't weld the front. Unlocking one hub sux. Much better to use a lunchbox locker up there.

 

[Dishtowel]

Not trying to be fussy Will, but we were talking about just axles right? Not drive sets-ups if I'm correct...?
These are all different, and I understand them.
full time 4wd
all wheel drive (either 3rd diff or some sort of vicious drive, like the supercars sometimes use)
4x4 (part time T-case)

But back to the topic of axles, what I know of consists of:

A- Full time axle = if you turn the pinion AT LEAST one of the tires turns ALL THE TIME, no matter what. when you drive down the road at least part of your front driveshaft turns (prohibiting things like homemade square driveshafts) (bad idea to lock if this is up front and you want to drive on public roads)

B- Part time axle = you have a selectable hub, automatic (commonly vacuum) or manual. this disengages the tire from the axle shaft. SO when your hubs are UN-locked AND your t-case is in 2WD the front drive train is NOT turning.

If there is something basic I'm missing, I'd love to learn it.

 

[91exploreron37]

How much better is it off-road with a locker up front? I'm thinking about leaving my limited slip rear for now and do a detroit locker up front. Any suggestions?

 

[Totalled]

That's a good setup for now... if you add extra new clutches to the factory L/S... but you'll want a locker for it after the clutches wear out and you're back to unlimited slip... I just ordered an Aussie locker for my 8.8.

 

[Dishtowel]

How much better is it off-road with a locker up front? I'm thinking about leaving my limited slip rear for now and do a detroit locker up front. Any suggestions?

I would just lock up the rear... Having one axle locked is a huge advantage over a truck with open diffs, even over L/S, IMO. And if the rear is locked you dont have to fight with the steering wheel as much when your 4x4ing.

On the other hand, if the front is locked-up you can just unlock your hubs and maintain your street manners, but have all the awesomeness of a locked diff when you want to offroad. But then if you wanna use your 4x4 on-road for any reason, (eg.in the winter or whatever) trying to turn could be ticklish....?

 

[91exploreron37]

You bring up a good point I might just go with a lockright in the rear and a limited slip up front. I more than likely wont be using 4x4 on the street because it rarely ever snows down here and when it does everything closes down anyway.

 

[Totalled]

Lock the front and rear... you'll enjoy clawing with 4 tires and walking obstacles instead of spinning 3 and having to pound your way through with momentum.

 

[Evan]

Lock the front and rear... you'll enjoy clawing with 4 tires and walking obstacles instead of spinning 3 and having to pound your way through with momentum.

+1

Locking the front gives you a huge advantage rather than locking the rear only.

 

[Hahnsb2]

Yea I plan on locking my front once I find a 4.10 D35 to match my 7.5. I'm slightly worried about steering with snow on the roads, I don't like driving in 2wd on it with the rear locker becuase it kicks out so easy but 4wd is just fine. I plan on buying a set of chains for the front anyways so it should steer fine if locked.

 

[Dishtowel]

How good are these automatic lockers that you guys have been running? How well do they allow one tire to unload and go a different speed in a corner with good traction? So far I have not seen anything to convince me that they are alot different than a Lincoln Locker. If you have had good experience with them ON road, please let me know.

Because as of right now I would not put a NON-selectable locker in the front, period. Even if it was a trail only rig. I find trying to steer a short wheelbase rig with all 4 tires moving the same speed is... frustrating. As well as abusive on the drive train. I would gladly put a ARB or an OX up front, if I ever win the lotto, lol. But until then, 3 out of 4 ain't bad.

I'm NOT saying you guys that lock up the front are wrong, it's just not what I would do.

 

[Hahnsb2]

How good are these automatic lockers that you guys have been running? How well do they allow one tire to unload and go a different speed in a corner with good traction? So far I have not seen anything to convince me that they are alot different than a Lincoln Locker. If you have had good experience with them ON road, please let me know.

Because as of right now I would not put a NON-selectable locker in the front, period. Even if it was a trail only rig. I find trying to steer a short wheelbase rig with all 4 tires moving the same speed is... frustrating. As well as abusive on the drive train. I would gladly put a ARB or an OX up front, if I ever win the lotto, lol. But until then, 3 out of 4 ain't bad.

I'm NOT saying you guys that lock up the front are wrong, it's just not what I would do.

Lock-right works great, unlocks when you need it to, locks when you give it gas, cornering isn't bad at all, only time it will lock is if you make it, or you have a really steep uphill turn.

 

[metalmacguyver]

automatic lockers have a "ratchet" mechanism in them that allows a difference in wheel speed from side to side as as its not under load from the engine.

 

[Evan]

I have heard that the PowerTrax No-Slip is the best lunchbox locker. I think that's what I'm gonna get for the 8.8 I'm building. I've heard they are smoother and last longer.

They are about $100 more than the others.

 

[91exploreron37]

So with an auotmatic locker in the front you should be able to turn until you give it alot of gas and it locks? I'm just trying to get an understading as I want a locker up front but dont want to sacrifice turning radius and also dont want to have to get out to unlock one hub to turn.