Where to buy Detroits & other auto lockers???

[derelict_frog]

Gday all, just wondering what are some places around australia i could buy these from??, only site ive found is bigballsoffroad, any other places? or places i could ring up?

Or even from america if some one was getting some at the same time!

For a NT suzuki, front and maybe even rear.

Thanks!

[suz_rolly]

Detroits are sold by OPPOSITE LOCK www.oppositelock.com.au

lock right is sold by BBM www.bigballsoffroad.com TJM www.tjmproducts.com.au

offroad performance warehouse also stock verious types www.opw.com.au

the arb air locker is my choice though http://www.arbsouthside.com.au/air_lock ... ntials.htm

[derelict_frog]

Thanks, few good links there i always forget about!

Pity your favourite is probaly double+ the price of the others...

[sierrajim]

BBM 02 96799744 Liam or Rick

[-Mick-]

www.rocky-road.com

mine cost about $295 AUS at my door back in the day (only bout 12 months ago)

[lay80n]

Got my Detroit ez-locker from www.roadlessgear.com. Good service and help with sorting up shipping and payment. Bout $175ea US from memory.
Layto....

[waxhead..]

2 lock right auto lockers from trail tough in the states, just under $800, and a week to get here. One phone call required and great service over the phone. I know air-lockers are the prime choice, but couldn't justify the outlay on a cheap toy. These things have been given a work out over the past year on 31's and have not let me down yet.

[Nisspatrol]

didnt want to start a new thread so, are the leaf and coily diffs the same, will a lockright fit? or is it a different model?
cheers

[Turbo Tonka]

we used to have a lokka in our 1 litre zook. The LOKKA brand but it shatterd and we were told at the time they were no good because of the teeth on them but who knows????????just weld up the rear being a suzi or go a lockright. ARB's are good but the price isnt always nice.BIGBALLS or your local store can get a lockright in,the LOKKA we had was from 4wd megastores or one of them supermarkets i thinmk the old man got it from

[mach.25]

I got a spool for the rear (more predictable on the road) and Lockright for the front landed for $600 from Trail Tough. As Waxhead says great service. I went there because of the spool, no one else seemed to have them the Locka was dearer just.
If you get them in the states get a quote for the frieght first as it can be a ball breaker if you are unaware of the price.

[derelict_frog]

And how did u pay for them?

and got a good number to ring? do i need extra stuff in front to ring from australia?

[mach.25]

Credit Card, phoning them best to check the phone book on how to dial International. Get a tracking number with your order as you can see pretty much exactly where it is all at on the net any time. The slowest part is when it gets to Oz and make sure they label it made in the US as then there is no tax payable. Don't order 2 of anything, for 2 lockers make sure they are labeled clearly front and rear as I hear that you can really get stung by customs here if they think you are going to resell them.
You are not going to believe the difference lockers are gonna make.

[derelict_frog]

Kool kool, thanks.....

yea hopefully make thing possible like my pic.. that was as far as i got before i slid back down sideways lol!

[Liam]

1 and 1.3 litre Seirra lockers are currently on sale for $399 each. ($798 for two )
Genuine Lock-right brand.

[christover1]

1 and 1.3 litre Seirra lockers are currently on sale for $399 each. ($798 for two )
Genuine Lock-right brand.

I assume the 1.0 litre lockrights are the type that re-use the Sierra side gears ?? I would like to get hold of 1 that had the side gears replaced.

I just fitted my front lockright, 2nd hand, came with diffs I needed. So far I am very happy with it, time will tell on strength/reliability issue.

christover

[DiddyZook]

Liam wrote:
1 and 1.3 litre Seirra lockers are currently on sale for $399 each. ($798 for two )
Genuine Lock-right brand.

Where from?

[DiddyZook]

So what is the difference between the spool and the locker?

Which is stronger?

Mach.25 states more predictable on road, how? What is affected by each type?


Benefit of one over the other?

[christover1]

Liam wrote:
1 and 1.3 litre Seirra lockers are currently on sale for $399 each. ($798 for two )
Genuine Lock-right brand.

Where from?

I believe Liam is Big Balls Off Road, so he means from him, I guess.

christover

[christover1]

So what is the difference between the spool and the locker?

Which is stronger?

Mach.25 states more predictable on road, how? What is affected by each type?

Benefit of one over the other?

A spool stops all differential action, as does welding up the diff.
It is more predictable, because nothing changes while driving, whereas the auto locker comes on/off at different times.
A spool is nicer than welding, because you can take it out, and/or transfer to another diff more easily than weldied diffs.
Locker is better if you need/want some diff action.
Strength I couldn't say for sure, But I'm guessing a spool would be stronger, as has more metal???

christover

[christover1]

1 and 1.3 litre Seirra lockers are currently on sale for $399 each. ($798 for two )
Genuine Lock-right brand.

I reckon that a very good price, and nicer to keep some money in oz, too.

christover

[lay80n]

Are you talking full spool or mini spool. A full spool is much stronger than a locker, as it has no moving parts to rely on, it just basically joins the two axles together and has the crown wheel bolted on to it. A mini spool is not as strong cause it relys on the strength of the pins to transfer the drive.
layto....

[DiddyZook]

Thanks for the explanation Chris.

I would threfore assume that one of the downsides of a spool would be higher tyre wear if driven on hard surfaces as it can not disengage.
Spool rear, locker front would therefore be a good combination.

When I first read Liam's post, I clicked on the link in his signature line and looked for the lockers. Going by the normal price it looks like he is reducing them a fair way, big saving over the normal price.

[christover1]

Thanks for the explanation Chris.

I would threfore assume that one of the downsides of a spool would be higher tyre wear if driven on hard surfaces as it can not disengage.
Spool rear, locker front would therefore be a good combination.

I've had a welded rear for years, and it's my daily driver, too.
Admittedly it does less K's than a working person's car would do, but it does do many road miles/kilometres (old imperial habit)
My tyres have shown no obvious wear caused by the welded rear, just normal track damage. Zooks are very light and narrow, bigger cars would not get away with it, I suspect..
I have been using a welded front, too, for around 2 years, till just now, and I am trying the lockright on the front in the bush tomorrow.
I needed power steer with the welded front, but some don't.
I suspect I'll be needing the ps even with the locker.

christover

[lay80n]

Due to a zooks light weight, when off road auto lockers often will often stay locked under light load turning on flat ground ( like moving around a campsite etc) I have noticed a slight increase in wear on the rear tyres of my road tyre set, but i also tend to make my locker engage around corners, gotta love the sound of MTR's howling.
Layto....

[derelict_frog]

Thanks for that liam, u have got an email!! money in aus sounds good to me.

[DiddyZook]

Okay, spool vs mini-spool vs welded vs auto locker.

The auto locker (lockright, detroit etc) will disengage when cornering, are there any other situations in which they disengage? eg strong side angle

Spool is stronger than mini-spool both can be taken out if selling vehicle, new diff etc Weld is permanent. Other than portability why buy a spool instead of weld?

Price wise weld would be cheapest option, then mini spool, then ?? spool? or locker?

[christover1]

The auto locker (lockright, detroit etc) will disengage when cornering, are there any other situations in which they disengage? eg strong side angle

Its a bit like a ratchet, that will only disengage if 1 wheel tries to go faster, ie cornering or maybe over a large obstacle....all other times they stay locked. Under power they stay locked, because the pins actual force the meshing gear outwards.

Spool is stronger than mini-spool both can be taken out if selling vehicle, new diff etc Weld is permanent. Other than portability why buy a spool instead of weld?

I personal don't see any other reason, though if welding is done by a poor welder the diff will be weakened.

Price wise weld would be cheapest option, then mini spool, then ?? spool? or locker?

thats about right..price is why I tried welded rear first, but I liked it so much, it stayed that way. A mate welded it, I removed and refitted it, cost me $10 in oul, and cost me mate some welding wire.

christover

[Zute]

James, go the lockers front and rear. We've got all these bloody round abouts.
Plus, Ill help you fit them.

[Bad JuJu]

Christover,
My lockrights fitting instructions say if you are using the OEM sidegear type, swap them over from left to right as the old back side of the gears teeth becomes the new frontside which should be much fresher and have a more square profile.

[waxhead..]

Go the lockers front and rear, if you are considering a spool, just pull out the welder instead and keep the money in your pocket. If you do just weld it, it doesn't cost that much for a stock sierra diff centre if for some reason you ever want to get rid of it.
Driving with an auto locker rear is a piece of cake and it becomes second nature after about 2 minutes, you either clutch in for corners, allowing it to disengage, or keep on the accelerator if you want her to stay locked, and you can run chunky expensive meats without eating them all on the bitumen and having no-lugs left to play on the rocks.
All this about auto locker on road predictability, IMO, is crap.
And personally, I hate driving with a welded rear.