Outer Limits 4x4 Board

hey all
will a front lockright cause me an real steering problems?
a mate is telling me to get an arb air lock but f k that for the price.
I have a lockright in the rear and its tops but will it cause me dramas in the front
zook is not driven on the road except to get to the tracks
it runs 32's if that makes any difference

The do have an influence on steering, especially when descending.

If you're ruling out a airlocker though, you'll have to deal with it. remember you'll need a NT front diff or a rear diff with HD front axles (you need a "4 pinion" front diff centre)

There's a fair amount of latitude in setting these up. If they're too tight it will be a nightmare - it won't unlock easily and will make the steering grabby and hard, and directional control poor in the mud. If it's too loose it won't fully engage drive and slip.

Getting the setup right is more important in the front as a tighter setup in the rear will just make it more "spool" like and that's not really a bad thing.

Steve.

Gwagensteve wrote:(you need a "4 pinion" front diff centre)

4 pinion front diff is a NT front diff centre yes and then can retain stock WT front axles??

Otherwise the other option is HD higher splined axles in a rear WT centre on the front yes ?

Im about to put a lockright in the front of my WT zook and been told i need the 4 pin carrier. Do you have any pics of one?

Gwagensteve wrote:remember you'll need a NT front diff or a rear diff with HD front axles (you need a "4 pinion" front diff centre
Steve.

Are there any variations on this Steve? I have a front lockright in a 91 WT with as far as I know, an otherwise standard 3.7 centre and standard axles. Never gave it a second thought. I had a diff shop install it, so I haven't actually seen it apart myself.

Did any WT's have 4 pinion front carriers? Or has mine most likely had a NT centre fitted at some stage? I guess it must have. Will have it apart in the next few months so I guess I'll find out soon.

Summary of what I've learned on OL thus far about fitting Lockrights to front diffs.

Most WT's have 2 pinion front diffs and 4 pinion rears. Lockrights require 4 pinion diffs. Some early WT's (perhaps first 9 months of production when some NT components were being used in the WT driveline) have 4 pinion front diffs - these cars cars will have plastic flares instead of steel, and the driveshaft flanges will have 8mm bolts as per the NT's, not 10mm bolts as per later WT's.

If you're stuck with a 2 pinion front diff like me, there's the following options for fitting a Lockright:

1) Obtain a second WT rear diff. This will be 4 pinion but the sidegears will be 26 spline whereas the front axles are 22 spline. Thus you need to buy aftermarket 26 spline axles for the front diff to match the sidegears.

2) Obtain a 1.3L NT rear diff. This will be 4 pinion but is the wrong ratio (3.9 vs 3.7 for WT) and has 26 spline axles. Use the ring & pinion from the 3.7 WT with the centre and carrier from the 3.9 NT. Sidegears will be 26 spline so you'll need 26 spline front axles.

3) Obtain a 1.3L NT front diff. This will be 4 pinion, 3.9 ratio, but have 22 spline axles as per the WT front diff. Use the ring & pinion from the 3.7 WT with the centre & carrier from the 3.9 NT. Retain existing 22 spline axles.

As far as I've been able to work out, you can't use 22 spline sidegears with a carrier that's come from a 26 spline diff. So you can't for example get a rear WT diff centre and carrier and use it with the 22 spline side gears, retaining the original front axles.

I know bugger all about diffs beyond what I've read on OL though, so if I'm wrong please correct me!! Thanks to Gwagensteve for most of the info in various threads.

I have a 4 pinion, 22 spline NT front hemisphere here if anyone needs it.
PM me.
Jas.

Fit a NT carrier, and your orig side gears.
Your lokka will fit in the centre and you axls will still fit the side gears.

You will have to change the crownweel to the orig one too. otherwise you will have funky front/rear gearing

Pre 88.5 WTs have 4 pinion fronts. Mine did anyway and it was a stocker when I bought it.

i have a 89 widetrack with a detroit ez locker in it and it bolted straight in with the standard front axles

Yes I am aware of the early WT's having 4 pinion front diffs but wasn't going to mention it as I figured it would only add to the confusion.

It is correct though. Plastic WT flares = 4 pinion front diff.

Steve.

Gwagensteve wrote:Yes I am aware of the early WT's having 4 pinion front diffs but wasn't going to mention it as I figured it would only add to the confusion.

It is correct though. Plastic WT flares = 4 pinion front diff.

Steve.

I better have a closer look at my front diff before I order HD parts for it. I have metal flares. Have a spare rear centre (spare whole zook) so I have the parts either way but it's interesting to find out things on the car that I assumed were standard aren't.