Air locker F/R

[Struth]

Guys should I fit a front or a rear locker first to a 94 4Runner?
I can't afford both.

Can you fit them to diffs with ADD?

Cheers

[lay80n]

Search matey, there is about eleventy billion threads about the same subject.

Layto....

[bogged]

Search matey, there is about eleventy billion threads about the same subject...

[rixrunner]

Guys should I fit a front or a rear locker first to a 94 4Runner?
I can't afford both.

Can you fit them to diffs with ADD?

Cheers

Struth you can read yourself stupid on this subject and still be none wiser…… there are pros and cons for both.

Front = better for IFS but more prone to break CV’s

Back = not as good for traction but stronger (also easier to fit).

I have front and rear lockers in my 94 4Runner and this is what I reckon ……….

Start with the back but do all off your wiring to have both in the long run. It is heaps easier and cheaper while you are at it. Using only the back still makes a mass of difference in the runner. Flicking in the front is just better again……. Most of the 4Wdriving I think you are likely to do, would be fine with just the rear locked.

But seriously aim to get both done in the end….. they make the truck very capable and you will blow away a lot of IFS baggers While you are at it…… you should change to 4.88 centres if you haven’t yet (will suit your tyres). This is also cheaper and easier to do now.

Don’t know about the ADD……. but change it out anyway. Although…… with a rear locker, you can often just flick in the back and not even engage 4WD for light work.


Ricky

[thunder]

Put in the rear.

[bastard]

Rear

[Struth]

Thanks guys, any takers for the front?

Oh and we all know search sucks

Cheers

[crankycruiser]

id say rear.. but a front one would strengthen the front diff heaps

[turps]

If I could only afford one. I would put it in the front.
Most times I have been stuck in a SWB Patrol it was cos 1 front was free spinning. Even a rr locker didnt help. But the front wold make it idle over.

[Redboy]

Front!!

And ADD is okay, better if you remove it but if you don/t just ensure you don't turn on 4wd on the fly.

And put on some free wheeling hubs

[ausyota]

I would go rear first.
Reason being you can chuck the rear locker on pretty much as soon as you hit the dirt without any major handling problems (other than being able to do powerslides in the gravel easier ) and it will give you a heap of more ability.

Front is great too but its more of a "lock it in for the extreme stuff" kind of thing. Front also makes the weak IFS crownwheel and pinion a lot less likely to grenade.

If you were asking for a Poo-troll I would say front as they have a pretty good LSD in back and strong CVs in front that will handle it.

I have front and rear in my IFS Lux and it is fun showing up some of the solid front "IFS haters"

[ozrunner]

.....but if you don/t just ensure you don't turn on 4wd on the fly.

BS

You don't need to remove ADD as thats what makes the air locker so suitable for an IFS 4Runner. When its not locked nothing is changed from normal ADD useage, ie use it as normal and only engage the locker as and when required etc.

Hubs are also not required.

But its still wise to fit them to any IFS 4Runner etc just for the fact they will stop the axles and CV's constantly turning when its really not necessary, especially when city driving etc.

But yes if you do fit hubs then they must be engaged before you select 4wd on the fly, irrespective whether you have any locker installed.

[rvh96]

rear first i hardly ever use my front locker but i used to have a RA RODEO with lockers and i had to use the front a lot more in that

[bazzle]

Rear locker .

Bazzle

[Gribble]

Front

[r0ck_m0nkey]

I have a 4runner and i am saying front first. Mainly because i got a second hand one for a fair price

But regardless i wanted a front first, to stop the wheel in the air from spinning, when they hit the ground, they have a tendancy of making the front diff go bang. My LSD Rear still actually works quite well, so didn't see the point in getting rid of that quite yet when it's not the end loosing the most traction.

[Struth]

Seems like front will be the go to avoid a spinning wheel landing and snapping a CV.

It was my first choice too, but like everyone sort of says, it's a personal prefference thing and you find out when you do it.

Cheers guys

[rixrunner]

But regardless i wanted a front first, to stop the wheel in the air from spinning, when they hit the ground, they have a tendancy of making the front diff go bang.

How does a locker stop your front wheel spinning ??? In fact it makes the problem worse.

My LSD Rear still actually works quite well.

Doubt it.

Seems like front will be the go to avoid a spinning wheel landing and snapping a CV.

It was my first choice too, but like everyone sort of says, it's a personal prefference thing and you find out when you do it.

Cheers guys

Bad choice Struth.... you might break more CV's


Ricky

[r0ck_m0nkey]

But regardless i wanted a front first, to stop the wheel in the air from spinning, when they hit the ground, they have a tendancy of making the front diff go bang.

How does a locker stop your front wheel spinning ??? In fact it makes the problem worse.

Well when it's in the air it turns the same speed as the one on the ground. It may still be turning, but it's not spinning faster then everything else.

My LSD Rear still actually works quite well.

Doubt it.

You can doubt it all you like, i know it works.

Seems like front will be the go to avoid a spinning wheel landing and snapping a CV.

It was my first choice too, but like everyone sort of says, it's a personal prefference thing and you find out when you do it.

Cheers guys

Bad choice Struth.... you might break more CV's


Ricky

Give me a broken CV over a broken diff any day, quicker, cheaper and easier to repair.

[Struth]

IMO if the front diff is locked and one wheel is in the air, it will be spinning at the same rate as the other. Provided the locker actually gives you traction then you will be moving forward at the same speed as the surface speed of the tyre in the air.

When it lands it will encounter very little resistance and therefore should not break anything.

On the other hand if the wheel still on the ground is spinning rather than having traction, or not spinning because it isn't locked, then a CV will snap when the wheel off the ground eventually lands and gets some traction.

This is the only way I can see a locker contributing to a broken CV.

Am I missing something here

Cheers

[r0ck_m0nkey]

This is the only way I can see a locker contributing to a broken CV.

Am I missing something here

The other thing though is, If a wheel is in the air, the opposite side is pretty much taking all the force to move forward which can apply enough stress to break something aswell.

It's really just one of those things with Toyota IFS, you're at the lower end of strength when in comparison to other front setups of other vehicles. If you're doing things that lockers are a consideration, regardless of wether you have the locker or not, you're going to have to face some kind of breakage in the front end at some point or another in my opinion.

Just in my mind, breaking a CV isn't the end of the world, carrying a complete spare shaft isn't a costly thing to do or takes up much room. If it comes down to it, not that difficult to change out in the middle of no where either.

[Struth]

the opposite side is pretty much taking all the force

fair point.

[Ezookiel]

Just my 2 cents worth, based on what I was told by another is:

Put it in the front.
Their reasoning was thus:

If you're climbing something and you have just barely enough traction, and your front loses traction, then the entire load falls to the rear wheels which is likely to cause them to also lose traction.
Putting in a front locker ensures that the front continue to carry its share of the load more of the time, and thus helps prevent the extra load being dumped on the rear so often.

[Nelso]

A rear locker will push you up hills better as the majority of the cars weight is on the rear end.

[Cossie]

rear

[rvh96]

If your rear end looses traction when climbing thats about when forward motion stops reguardless of weather the front is still hooked up or not

[-Scott-]

IF you have a decent working LSD in the rear (it is a Toyota, after all ) go the front locker first.

With rear LSD I rarely need the locker, and if locked front doesn't get me through I've got all 4 wheels spinning anyway - I don't think a rear locker would make enough difference for me to spend the money.

I think a "front locker causing breakages" is psychological - driver thinks "I've got a locker, I'm not giving up", so keeps trying until something gives.

Go the front.

Now, the ADD system. If you're talking air-lockers (ARB/TJM) there's no need to touch it (Pajeros have a similar system - no problems whatsoever. ) Auto-lockers are a different story...

[rixrunner]

r0ck_m0nkey.... I like the avatar change.

Nice truck


Ricky

[MKPatrolGuy]

Go the front first.

[Reddo]

na, rear first - for all the reasons above...