front diff locker worth it?

[theduff86]

Hey fellas. I just bought a 96 gxl 80 series a little while ago. Tryin to turn it into a decent tourer that can go most places, but its an everyday driver. Ive fitted a 2" lift kit, 33 " mudders. Im now looking at getting a lokka automatic diff for the front and fitting a set of free wheeling hubs. The lsd in the rear seems fine hence why im thinking of a lokka in the front. Does this seem like a practical way to go? keeping $$$ in mind? Any opinion wanted?

[stilivn]

mate if you arent going to lift it any more I would go a air or electric locker, once you pay the cost of the 2wd kit you could almost get one and its not worth the sacrifice in road handling for minimal fuel savings, maybe $3 a tank, and no real point if its not going to fix front vibes just my 2c.

[theduff86]

nah im pretty happy with the lift. yeah the air locker is what i really want, a little out of my price range though. a mate has just given me a set of free wheeling hubs for free so this seemed like the most cost effective choice

[stilivn]

take your front tailshaft out and drive it around for a week, take corners a little slower, you also need the part for the transfer case.

[stockhorse]

I don't know about the 80's but 6o's diffs front and rear are the same centre.If this is the same for the eighty put the lsd in the front and auto locker in rear.

[SIMMO84]

80s don't have same centers.

[TheBigBoy]

I don't know about the 80's but 6o's diffs front and rear are the same centre.If this is the same for the eighty put the lsd in the front and auto locker in rear.

Then the lsd will be running its teeth on the back edge. You will need reverse cut gears.

[4RUNNER_01]

Hey I think you'll find its really worth while saving for the air locker instead there's a lot of situation where a front auto locker is not helpful like slippery descents, or maneuvering through a tight track. also alot more constant stress on cv's etc

[De-lux]

People need to stop comparing Air Lockers to Auto Lockers.

Air locker + compressor - $1500
Auto locker (Spartan) - $290

That alone makes them no comparison.

For the record, I just got this below Spartan locker delivered to my door from Wayneharwig (on Pirate4x4) who works at Diffsonly.com. It is an auto locker to suit 80 series front diff..

[DIRTY ROCK STAR]

why not an auto locker in the rear?

or just keep on saving.

air locker for 80 rear was $888+gst when i bought mine new.
and im sure i paid about $200 for a new ARB compressor.

and i shopped on here and got a 80 front arb locker and compressor 2nd hand for about 850 i think???

[keencdk]

If you keep an eye out for a second hand air locker that is installed in a diff centre then it is just a case of removing one centre, installing the other. Buying a new air locker or auto locker means either doing the work yourself or paying someone to install it which adds up pretty quickly. Second hand 80 series front lockers seem to go for about $800 installed in a diff centre. You could then sell your front centre for say $100-200 and it's cost about $600, and an hour or two's work (plus compressor if you don't have one).

Buy a new auto locker for $350, pay $250 to get it installed and you are at the same cost BUT the air locker will give you much better results. When driving down a steep hill, a locked front diff wants to track back to centre all the time - being able to unlock it means you can stay in 4wd and have effective steering.

[SCANAS]

If you had a part time 80 an auto would be ok but for the bother converting full time to part you might as well fit the ARB

[TheBigBoy]

You get what you pay for... Some like them some dont. I hate the pieces of shit . Mine was set up 2 times by a pro. Then replaced and evn the new 1 kept chewing the springs and dowls. Every time I had to call a tow truck. I gave it away. And went airlocker. No probs at all ever.

[stilivn]

From the search I done yes they are worth it and yes they will get you further off the beaten track but you need to weigh up the pros an cons for yourself, what I was getting at is it will cost you $400 for the transfer part to convert it and another $300 for the locker. 2nd Hand air locker can be had for $800.

[theduff86]

air locker it is. thanks

[MogLux]

There is nothing wrong with Auto lockers if there set up correctly, i ran them for yrs before getting elctric lockers and thats cause they came with the complete axle i bought....
If i was to do it again auto lockers front and rear and use the extra money for a set of longfields for the front... same over all price and you get the best CV's avaiable

[woo_paul]

Why not just weld the front diff and use the free wheeling hubs? would be a whole lot cheaper! ... or is that just a dumb rookie mistake?

[91Mav]

or is that just a dumb rookie mistake?

Yep.

[woo_paul]

or is that just a dumb rookie mistake?

Yep.

Thanks!!

.. so, in 2000 words or less .. Why???

[SCANAS]

Cause you can't steer mostly.

[gotoy]

A air or electric locker is always much better than an auto locker.

Considering you have an '80 can't find any factory lockers? The electric units.

[84sloth]

good luck finding the elec units.. even if you did. you need to own the australia MINT.. if you have a tight budget auto is the go.. can be a pain sometimes. but for the money saved its worth it i reckon.. i run the spartan locker in the front of my 47/80 hybrid, longfield cvs and 37's and havent had a drama. i put part time kit in it. when i want to turn sharply i just disengage centre diff lock and i lose my front drive. works for me

[crankycruiser]

good luck finding the elec units.. even if you did. you need to own the australia MINT.. if you have a tight budget auto is the go.. can be a pain sometimes. but for the money saved its worth it i reckon.. i run the spartan locker in the front of my 47/80 hybrid, longfield cvs and 37's and havent had a drama. i put part time kit in it. when i want to turn sharply i just disengage centre diff lock and i lose my front drive. works for me

Eaton make an elecy locker to suit 80's and luxs now days.. bout $1600 each from memory

[gotoy]

Hey I think you'll find its really worth while saving for the air locker instead there's a lot of situation where a front auto locker is not helpful like slippery descents, or maneuvering through a tight track. also alot more constant stress on cv's etc

Well said that man.

[gotoy]

People need to stop comparing Air Lockers to Auto Lockers.

Air locker + compressor - $1500
Auto locker (Spartan) - $290

That alone makes them no comparison.

For the record, I just got this below Spartan locker delivered to my door from Wayneharwig (on Pirate4x4) who works at Diffsonly.com. It is an auto locker to suit 80 series front diff..

You just made a comparison too!!

Try out a vehicle fitted with air or electric lockers. I am sure you be convinced of the advantages.

[58bernie]

Nothing better than control at the flick of a switch

[RAY185]

People need to stop comparing Air Lockers to Auto Lockers.

Air locker + compressor - $1500
Auto locker (Spartan) - $290

That alone makes them no comparison.

For the record, I just got this below Spartan locker delivered to my door from Wayneharwig (on Pirate4x4) who works at Diffsonly.com. It is an auto locker to suit 80 series front diff..

Mick, I've lost count of how many times you've ranted about how awesome auto lockers are all while pointing to that pic of a cardboard box. Open it already!

[Willy Hilux]

I know I might get bagged or upset some people, but I help a neighbour fit some China ripoffs of the ARB AIR Lockers to his 80 series. They did look like a alright make. The wiring harness isn't as tidy as the ARB but for around $900 landed to the door for 2 lockers and 2 compressors you can't complain.

Now I love my ARB's and have run them in my comp truck for many years with no drama's. I went out on the weekend with the 80 series and he gave it a good punnishment. He tried to follow everywhere I went. He had wheels lock to lock trying to get up hills and alot of launching coming down under power with no drama. At the end of the day he ended up snapping the stub shaft of the passenger CV.

I wouldn't run these in a comp truck but for a weekend truck - for the money they seem alright.

[TheBigBoy]

$900 landed for 2 is cheap. The chinese ones on ebay are $700 with compressor compared to arb locker only for $1000 landed. Where did he get the chinese ones so cheap from?

[metak]

Just for reference I have a Spartan locker in the rear of my hilux and I really don't like how it disengages and pops for that reason I wouldn't fit one to the front because I would be worried of the shock loading on my cvs I don't know anyone else running one so I dont know if its normal