Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Hi guys i have a mate with a hilux with 31" jungle trekers and is keen to put a arb air locker in but is unsure weather to put front or rear, what have you guys done first or what do you think he should do

Go the front IMO. You will more than likely lift a front wheel with IFS leading to breaking traction on a rear. A front locker will alleviate this issue.

Cheers

I've always said Go the rear because you may lift the front but the rear will still push you up the hill, and if you put a front locker in you will lose you stearing. If you put a rear in you can use it going down hills as you may sometimes lift a back tyre having a rear will help stop the truck runnig away on the decent.

Thats just how i see it i've got front and rear air lockers thay have been in my GQ ute for 4 years and i have never used the front (thats the truth)and in not shy on were i take the truck ether.

Go a front autolocker imo. It still gives you the ability to steer and to be honest the IFS goes pretty much nowhere unlocked anyway. So the advantage of turning it on and off is wasted.

If he fits an auto to the front himself and looks around he will find a second hand ARB for the rear. He will end up dual locked for the cost of one new ARB front fitted.

My theory, and it could be wrong,

By lifting a front all front drive is placed on one wheel and the diff will open center easily, placing all drive force on the rear wheels thus allowing one to brake traction.

If the front is locked there is less chance of a front wheel breaking free and placing all forces on the rear, leading to loss or rear traction.

I could be wrong but that's my theory

I asked this same question a while ago for my IFS Prado. After about a 50 - 50 response, I've decided to go rear first. I lift front wheels often but rarely lift the rear as thay have a lot more travel...

twocs wrote:I asked this same question a while ago for my IFS Prado. After about a 50 - 50 response, I've decided to go rear first. I lift front wheels often but rarely lift the rear as thay have a lot more travel...

So all that will do is drive the front wheel higher into the air as the rear digs in and trys to push forward. There is no hard and fast rule although many claim there is. In my own experience I found that the front helped me do tracks easier than similiar vehicles with a rear only.

thanks guys i guess there is no right or wrong way front or rear ill leave it for him to make the choose with the comments you have left

I would go a front air locker, but mine has a LSD in the rear. I know an LSD isn't a full lock, but this is just my preference. This way all 4 wheels are almost fully locked.

Go front first. As stated earlier, the rear will flex better than the front keeping both tyres on the rear most of the time. The front will always lift a wheel so you are better to have the one on the ground tring to pull the truck. So you will have nearly 3 wheel drive (if LSD rear).
If you put the locker in the rear and lift a front tyre you will only have the two backs tring the push (or dig) and the front doing nothing.

My 2 cents.

there is no doubt that the front will be the first to lift a wheel with the ifs and can certainly benefit from the extra traction.

im about to put a lockrite in the front of the surf, the only thing that worries me is slippery uphills where there is drive to both front wheels and it sliding sideways, putting you in an uncomfortable position crossed up on a slope. has anyone found this to be the case or does it happen that rarely that its not worth worrying about?

vrod, i do find that to be a problem with the autolockers, but it really doesn't happen that much. All depends on what driving you do i suppose but even without lockers you try and keep pointed straight up or down a slope anyway.