Where to buy Detroits & other auto lockers???

[christover1]

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.

thanks, that makes good sense, but I left it as I found it, and it was originally fitted up by an approved fitter, so lets hope he/she did it right. It may be worth swapping them around in time, to extend life.
Todays test drive was brilliant, very smooth, and very positive, and steering, particularly down hill, was great improvement..

christover

[DiddyZook]

Waxhead, why do you hate a welded rear?

I was leaning to lockrights at both ends, and reading some of Chris's posts the powersteering is sounding like a good companion modification for lockers.

But now I am starting to like the idea of saving $$ for powersteering by welding the rear (maybe front too, but as Chris says was big improvement to go to locker, not sure). The Zook is up on stands at the moment with the rear axles out (waiting for new bearings) and James' (the other one) uncle can weld the diff. So I am really tempted to undo the U-bolts and brakelines and drop it over to him as the bearings won't be done for a couple of days.

Any opinions? Speak now or forever hold your peace

[christover1]

I had all the same worries when I first welded mine up. I wanted to go on the first Adventure Tour, but saving for a locker never happened. So I got it welded just for the weekend. Liked it so much, it never came out.
If air lockers are affordable, they are much better.
I noticed the change in steering at higher speed 4wd today with the front lockright, so I am guessing you would feel it with a rear auto locker. A couple of zookers on todays trips have auto lockers in the rear, and they like them, and they quickly got used to handling changes.
A zook diff is cheap enough to take a gamble, if you hate it, you can grab another fairly cheaply.

hard decisions.


I am hoping the lockright lasts, love it up front.

christover

[Bad JuJu]

DiddyZook, Just undo the tailshaft from the diff and the bolts that hold the diff center into the housing. Much easier, smaller and lighter.

[DiddyZook]

DiddyZook, Just undo the tailshaft from the diff and the bolts that hold the diff center into the housing. Much easier, smaller and lighter.

Yeah, makes a lot of sense. And by the time I got back to it it would appear obvious. Afterall I,d have to undo the tailshaft any way.

[waxhead..]

Waxhead, why do you hate a welded rear

Just because a welded rear makes any car a pig to drive, and say goodbye to your tyres. Knowing how to drive (believe me, ther is no skill to it) with an auto locker, is like driving with an unlocked rear.
Driving with a welded rear makes every turn reluctant, loud, uncomfortable, and expensive (on your tyres). Admitedly a zook is light and I may be going over the top about tread wear, but I personally dis-like it. Having driven a few cars with welded rears, two lux diff zooks, a couple of stock zooks, an RX-7 and a 180sx, I have fair grounds to personally dislike them.

But, given the choice, stock zook play toy with open diffs, or locked zook play toy with welded diffs, I would pull out the welder, if funds did not allow for a locker. But I would be re-considering if it was my daily.

Weld the front, if you are running under 31's, you can still turn the thing, and you won't need to hit the gym after a wheel, and you still have a good daily on the road.