Front Lockers for GQ

[BushPig]

I have read a lot about the pros and cons of auto and manual lockers for the front diff of a GQ, but I would like to hear from members who have fitted air lockers OR auto lockers.

I especially would like to get some feedback about auto lockers and how they perform in the following situations:
deep mud
loose gravel hills with sharp turns
downhill on greasy tracks

Many thanks,

Bushpig

[grazza]

I have a Lokka in the front, normal LSD in the rear.

Deep mud - loss of steering, still get traction but sometimes not in the direction I want, where a manual locker will give more steering control, particularly noticed at more than 20kph.

Loose gravel hills with sharp turns - probably dont need a locker, but I have had no problem with my autolocker, steering a bit heavier.

Downhill on greasy tracks - brilliant - much safer then no locker.

Touring on muddy or wet gravel - this is why I want to swap out my autolocker for a manual locker - not safe at speed.

But bang for buck, for rock crawling and most 4WD park stuff - cant beat them.

[BushPig]

Thanks Grazza,

Appreciate your comments.

[mudmav]

how do you figure that a manual locker will give you better steering control if its locked its locked and if its unlocke its unlocked doesnt matter if its auto or manual. i know the answer is going to be you can unlock it and then lock it again. but in practice that doesnt happen when you need it locked you leave it locked and you dont turn it off until you back on fairly easy terrrain. i have always been taught that a locker is not a recover device. IE: yhou turn it on before you get stuck. so i suppose what im getting at is that your driving hole or rock ledge a or b with arb locker in it will drive exactly the same as if you were driving hole a or b with lockright or the like. only difference is that once you back on easy terrain you can turn the locker off and for that reason alone i would buy an air locker or pro locker. please feel free to flame me

[blkmav]

I especially would like to get some feedback about auto lockers and how they perform in the following situations:
deep mud
loose gravel hills with sharp turns
downhill on greasy tracks

I have an auto-locker. The only difference I notice in your listed situations is marginally heavier steering. It's feels like when a car tramlines on bitumen. I agree with the other post about downhills being far safer and the vehicle feels more sure footed.

The only time it is a little interesting is fast gravel roads when I used to use H4. I've adjusted but either driving slower in H4 or going back to 2WD.

Now it's time for the ARB brigade who haven't driven an auto to cry

[MyGQ]

Just shoved a auto locker in the front of my patrol and i am anxious to get on the tracks and see what she is like. hoping all is good and works like its supposed to

[weeksy]

Definately buy ARB Air Lockers if you can afford them. About $1100 + fitting each locker and $270 for a heavy duty compressor. Much better all round for on and off road driving. ARB state that they are indestructable...

[killer_garden_gnome]

ive experienced both and u cant beat an air locker, auto lockers are good but they are unpredictable, its all well and good to be able to use ur breaks and steering to engage/disengage it when u want but when ur in a nasty situation the last thing u need to worry about is when or if ur locker wil engage, air lockers will take anything u throw at em and u can still steer with them engaged although i wouldnt recommend it for cv sake but in a big mud hole of climbing a hill u can still turn well enough to get urself out of the poo without hurting a thing mines been going for years and hasnt missed a beat