Front Locker.

[Allan Mac]

Am considering a locker for my NL. A few things 1st; I'm not into hardcore stuff & am not looking at going down this road. My paj is reasonably standard except for a 2" suspension lift & have both A/T's & muddies.

Am not interested in pushing the boundaries of myself or vehicle, but would like that extra security/comfort that a locker MAY give me if I get myself in some trouble.

Have heard about various types from ARB airlocker to the recent addition from TJM. I do not want to lose my 'superselect' option though. Suggestions/advice appreciated. BTW, would need to be installed as I'm mechanically hopeless & $$$ limit is about under $2k.

Cheers
Allan Mac

[Bitsamissin]

Hi Allan the only front difflock available for a NL Paj that won't effect your Super Select is the ARB airlocker (RD110).
This is a selectable locker = you choose when it is on or off via a switch.
A front difflock in a Paj makes a massive difference offroad especially if you are running muddies.
The ARB comes in at just over $2K fitted but at least you score a compressor with that.

Frank.

[Ian Sharpe]

Allan,

yes, you certainly wont be dissapointed with a front locker

cheers

[Allan Mac]

Thanks Frank & Ian, the ARB locker was the way I was leaning & you both have confirmed my thoughts. My only concern is CV damage, but from what you 2 guys have said, the Pajero CV's are pretty strong & from my understanding the problem generally occurs by pushing too hard. Am I correct with this assesment?.

Cheers
Allan Mac

[Bitsamissin]

Yes mate the Paj IFS is one of the best going around in terms of strength.
I have never broken a front CV or axle even with the Detroit front locker and 35"s.
Breakages do happen but are rare and are usually related to poor maintenance or doing something stupid.
Tthere are many ARB front lockers fitted now on various different Paj models so if CV breakage was going to be a problem we certainly would have seen it by now.

[Tiny]

you should be able to get a locker for around $1150.00, fitting for around $250.00 then buy the new cheap air locker activator for $175.00 means $1600.00 odd. If you want a comp for tyres DONT buy the ARB, better off with a MAX AIR

[DougH]

Breakages do happen but are rare and are usually related to poor maintenance or doing something stupid.

That isnt totally true. They are strong but they arent bombproof. I will report back when my truck is fixed, the arb is installed, and I start blowing them up like pretzle sticks.

[Bitsamissin]

Well Doug how many on Trail Talk have broken them ?
Aren't you Yanks supposed to be the best and most hardcore wheelers in the universe
Same with the Paj Club forum = very rare.
Remember Paj's have been running front lockers here since the mid 80's and the evidence so far is the V6 CV's stand up very well. The 4 cylinder ones were much more prone to breaking. But as I said they are breakable. I broke 3 rear axles but no CV's.
If you start breaking V6 CV's like pretzels with only 33" muds then I would suggest your driving style is very suspect.

[Allan Mac]

Well, it's a happening thing . Went to ARB today & am getting it fitted in a couple of weeks. Just over $1800 all up with the new small compressor designed solely for the locker. Looking forward to giving it a tryout soon. As I said earlier, not looking to get into hardcore/extreme stuff, just a little piece of mind when doing my kinda of 4bying. Am thinking Rocky Track maybe a good little test, (only in the dry though for me )

Cheers
Allan Mac

[Bitsamissin]

Don't worry mate an NL with front locker, rear lsd, a bit of lift with some muddies will do Rocky no worries

[DougH]

I have broken two, OPEN sucka. And yes my driving style is very suspect.

[Bitsamissin]

Actually Doug, most of the breakages that I've heard of were with an open front.
So locked you can take things a lot easier. With gears even more so.

[Noisey]

So locked you can take things a lot easier. With gears even more so.

Frank, I've seen you drive - you can't go given advice like that!!

[Bitsamissin]

Thats why I can honestly say the CV's are pretty strong

[Allan Mac]

Frank,Ian & others, I'm sure that I will have a big learning curve once the locker is fitted, but a few questions. I hear stories of broken CV's (not pajs ) with the locker & as you said the majority is caused by the driver being a little enthusiastic, for want of a better word. Guy from ARB also said these problems can arise as a result of when locker is activated. Due to the ease of locking/unlocking some will attempt some terrain, lose traction, then activate locker with maybe 1 wheel spinning & once locked damage can occur. (I hope I explained this OK ) His suggestion was to activate locker prior to commencement if not sure that vehicle will make it without. May have not needed it, but better to be safe than sorry. Also, if losing traction & going nowhere, better off to stop completely then activate locker when wheels are not moving at all. This makes sense to me, but would appreciate you confirming yes or no.

Cheers
Allan Mac

[Bitsamissin]

Yep he is correct if you try to engage the locker with one wheel spinning you will damge it for sure.
Some people like to engage the locker first before attempting an obstacle. Others will have a go open diffed but then engage lockers if they get stuck but only when the vehicle is stationary then attempt the obstacle again.
You can certainly engage the locker at any speed providing both wheels are turning at the same speed.
Knowing your vehicles capabilities open diffed vs locked will dictate if you use them before an obstacle or not and this only comes with experience.
I'm still learning the new capabilities of my front live axle Paj so I tend to engage both lockers before an obstacle until I can learn fully what it can do open diffed.

[Allan Mac]

Thanks for that Frank. I will be interested to see the difference on some tracks that I can do 'open' now & when I do them 'locked'.

Cheers
Allan Mac

[Allan Mac]

Sorry guys, but should have reported back as got 2 messages asking if I got the locker.

I did & IMO is money well spent. Have been out to Toolangi twice & difference is amazing. Without locker got hung up halfway up Rocky Tk due to lack of articulation. With locker just crawled up no worries. Didn't go all the way, as was worried about panel damage on the 2 ledges .

Went up Steep tk & auto overheated so stopped. Reason was that I left in high range after coming off Marginal Rd. (What a dipstick )

Anyway, for those considering getting one; do it!. Easier on driver & more importantly the Paj .

Cheers
Allan Mac

[datster]

Words of advice.. I have granaded a couple cv's on my monty. It is the v6 cv's. But.. here is the but.. They were streached out at a really bad angle due to lift problems. On that note, with that infomation the weakest time for your cv's are at full streering lock to either side putting them at an angle. We have others that have broken many cv's doing the same. But with this knowledge, we have not broken any others by not giving power at full lock. Also, this will same your streering tie rods too. With full traction on the front, when you are turning, the tires will want to straighten them selves out. You know what I'm talking about if you have ever driven a front locked vech.

in short. don't give power at full lock or have them locked and try to turn.

btw. the cv's of the gen I will fit the gen II's. But the gen I's are a little shorter. So those who are looking for longer cv's for your gen I you can use gen II's.

[corkhead]

im hearing u datster.... mate has a 2004 hilux with front arb....

on a trackin in gembrook tried reversing out of a hole and had to much right foot with the steering at full lock - shot those ball bearings like a canon the CV was a mess (got it fixed under warranty though the cheap arse)

interesting point about gen I & II CV's .....so am i presuming that since i havea gen I and if i get gen II i could maybe shave some more off my bump stops for a tad more articulation up front ????

[Allan Mac]

I'm very conservative & always turn the locker off when doing a sharp turn or reversing, (advantage of air locker )

Those in Melb familar with Rocky Track will understand where I'm coming from here. Got up to bypass track, stopped & turned locker off. The bypass section here is not 2 difficult, but has a few sharp turns, so I think 'better safe than sorry'.

Also on Steep track paj struggled due to driver error (high range) but cause of locker we kept going up until auto got too hot. Stopped to reverse into run off area & again turned locker off.

Overly cautious ?, same may say yes, but I wont change.

Cheers
Allan Mac

[Bitsamissin]

I still think the biggest risk is having the foot planted when the wheels hit the deck and suddenly grip = huge shock load.
The Yanks tend to drive super grippy slip rock with tight turns so are at more of a risk with the full lock scenario in high traction conditions.
Down here in Melbourne we don't really have terrain like that.
Allan very wise to flick the locker off when turning right onto the bypass on Rocky but in reality you should be fine even if you didn't because it's still a very loose surface.
I never had any drama's at full lock with the front Detroit in terms of breakages the only issue was it not unlocking in mud to allow the vehicle to turn.

[PajeroSRV]

Ditto. My front is permanently locked and even on high traction surfaces I've not (yet) had a problem of that sort. It can be a cow to turn, but not experienced the problems you are talking about.