Aussie Lock in Front - Question

[jkane]

I have an Aussie locker up front in my 03 Ranger Fx4. I just bought the truck and what I am wondering is this..

When driving in the winter, will the locker destroy my front axles/Cv's? Would it be a good idea to get manual hubs and only lock one at times?

Also, how hard would it be to remove the locker entirely and revert back to stock?

Thanks for the help, all is appreciated!

 

[UrbanRedneckKid]

That won't be fun in wintery weather.

The front diff isn't a hard job, but it's a big job, and not one for wrenchin noobs. Changing out the locker for a set of spider gears is the easy part, since the Aussie Locker doesn't involve messing with the ring and pinion when installing or removing.

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[adsm08]

Also, good luck installing manual locking hubs on your live axle.

 

[jkane]

True, it is a live axle, but I thought I saw a manual hub setup available on the 2000+ trucks? Maybe I'm wrong.

I guess I'll see how bad it is in the winter and decide what to do from there.

 

[gw33gp]

You would need to convert your hubs and possibly axles to the 98/99 system to convert to manual hubs. There is no manual hubs for live axle beyond 2000.

I think the front locker will only show its negative aspects when you have it in 4WD while in snow or slippery conditions. It should not have any negative effects in 2WD.

I don't think your axles or CVs will be damaged in slippery conditions when in 4WD with the locker. You could have axle/CV issues if pushing it very hard (abusing it) off-road in 4WD.

If it were my decision, I would just keep the Aussie Locker to see how it works. If you go off-road in 4WD, just don't beat on it.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I made my d-28 into a LSD mainly for bush and snow. In the snow its great for straight lines but as soon as you want to turn it still wants to go straight. And if you're on the side of a hill it'll want to slide down because both tires lose side traction at the same time. I don't know if that will relate to the locker in the same way but I suspect it will. No problems in 2wd tho.

Richard

 

[jkane]

Thanks for the great responses. 'AlwaysFloored', you're saying the truck will want to go straight in the snow because the steering wheel is hard to turn? or because while turning under power, both wheels will be spinning and pushing forward?

Either case I guess I will have to get used to letting off the gas to turn.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

It's not that the steering wheel is hard to turn. Part of it the LSD in the rear trying to push the truck straight, part is that the front wheels are rotating at different speeds and so don't have the same traction on each side and spin. I kind of have to use the throttle to steer. All this is only true when in 4x4 and hubs locked.

Richard

 

[UrbanRedneckKid]

A LSD rear really has nothing to do with a locker in the front.

When an axle is locked, both wheels turn at the same speed. Acceleration and deceleration both lock it up, it is only unlocked at very light throttle, in neutral, or with the clutch disengaged.

When you make a left turn, the left wheel rolls slower and less distance than the right wheel. Vice-versa for right hand turns. Example, walk around a tree, now walk around it again while staying 6' away from it, it's a much longer walk.

If the front differential can't differentiate, the result it's a forward motion, because they are both pulling forward at the same rate.

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[jkane]

That makes perfect sense 'Urban' so it would almost seem likely that it would be easier to control the 4x4 in the snow since the snow could allow the wheel to slip freely on the snow to maintain pace with the inside wheel.

 

[FritzTKatt]

Instead you will just loose traction and end up back where you started... except instead of just rolling on the wheel and not getting power, it's slipping.

It seems most people go for a posi up front and a true locker in the rear.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

It's not that the steering wheel is hard to turn. Part of it the LSD in the rear trying to push the truck straight, part is that the front wheels are rotating at different speeds and so don't have the same traction on each side and spin. I kind of have to use the throttle to steer. All this is only true when in 4x4 and hubs locked.

Richard

^^^ bad description. Both front wheels are turning at the same rate. With the pedal down the front end lifts, loses some traction. Then the rear with more traction and LSD drives the truck straight ahead. When I'm steering with the throttle, I'm changing weight bias from back to front and back again. When the bias is on the front I have steering. It's the best way I can think of for describing what I'm seeing.

A LSD rear really has nothing to do with a locker in the front.

When an axle is locked, both wheels turn at the same speed. Acceleration and deceleration both lock it up, it is only unlocked at very light throttle, in neutral, or with the clutch disengaged.

When you make a left turn, the left wheel rolls slower and less distance than the right wheel. Vice-versa for right hand turns. Example, walk around a tree, now walk around it again while staying 6' away from it, it's a much longer walk.

If the front differential can't differentiate, the result it's a forward motion, because they are both pulling forward at the same rate.

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More or less what I was trying to say but didn't. Thanks Urban.

I have an Aussie locker up front in my 03 Ranger Fx4. I just bought the truck and what I am wondering is this..

When driving in the winter, will the locker destroy my front axles/Cv's? Would it be a good idea to get manual hubs and only lock one at times?

Also, how hard would it be to remove the locker entirely and revert back to stock?

Thanks for the help, all is appreciated!

For your original question;
While I don't believe winter driving with a locker will destroy parts, I don't know for certain, all I can do is guess. Someone with more knowledge and personal experience should answer.

Richard

 

[gw33gp]

I don't know exactly how the Aussie locker works but I would guess it is similar to a Detroit locker. I do know how a Detroit locker works because I have used one in racing for many years.

A Detroit locker does not actually lock both sides full time under acceleration unless you are going straight. Accelerating around a corner the fastest spinning wheel (the outside one) goes in and out of lock as needed to allow the different rotating wheel speeds on each side. The slowest spinning wheel (the inside wheel) does stay in lock mode to keep driving the vehicle forward (or backward). You could almost call a locker a ratchet but the system works when going forward or backward. I guess you could call it an automatic switching ratchet.

I think the reason a locker in the front tries to make the vehicle go straight while turning is; the inside wheel is the one that is primarily driving. Imagine a front wheel drive vehicle that was driving with only the right wheel. It would always be pulling to the left under forward acceleration. So, if you were trying to turn right, it would tend to pull straight. If you turn left, it would do so with no problem.

I think one of the biggest draw backs to lockers is they tend to be harsh when engaging under acceleration. This causes a shock to the drivetrain to that wheel. That shock can also cause a brief loss of traction if the tire is already at the limit of adhesion. This is why many road racers don't like to use lockers. I find they work well for me on a dry track but work terribly on a wet track when use on the rear differential. I have never raced with 4WD or FWD and I don't have an opinion for those applications. There are lockers that are designed to reduce the harshness of engagement.

 

[bigmark303]

If the locker is an auto locker you will just have to be carefull when in 4wd and trying to turn. Try to turn with as little throttle as possible. When you are not in 4wd there is no poer going through the front end and the locker will allow for the different rotational speeds of each tire to complete a corner. When you are in 4wd the locker will engage and dissengage according to how much power is sent through the drivetrain hence trying to turn with as little throttle as possible.

My auto locker slightly engages when im cornering and feathuring the throttle. If I have to give it some gas the locker engages fully and the outside wheel chirps/hops on dry pavement. On slick terrain it takes off sideways. I have a rear locker but its the same concept either way. Under load the locker will engage and both wheels will be rotating at the same speed. In the front end turning becomes near impossible and in the rear end the vehicle takes off sideways and trys to come around in a circle.

You will only have an issue with it in 4wd because power is flowing to both front and rear. being that the locker is in the front turning is what its going to affect and that calls for a lot of cautious driving on your part or just stay out of 4wd unless absolutely necessary.

 

[jkane]

All great information guys, I really appreciate it. I guess it will be an overall learning and adapting experience for me.

It snows a lot here in MA and my work calls for me to be in during heavy storms, so I think I will probably use 4x4 on the highway going straight and disengage when in the back roads. Unless needed in the back roads, I will just take turns slow.