Front or Rear locker in a Vitara

[vit94]

Hi Every one , I know this has been discussed a few times but not sure if specific to Vitaras.
I was up at Land Cruiser Park on the weekend following a couple of Patrols and 200 series Land Cruisers around, and of course when your travelling
with the likes of those you need something extra , so you can go the distance.
So my thoughts are if I go for a locker , would I be best to put it in the front or rear.
My thoughts are the rear first as the front has the Alloy diff housing and CV's , which is a weak point in my view.
Am I on the right track

[TheOtherLeft]

I have an airlocker in the rear and also changed my front diff carrier to a steel one. I know CJ has used a front locker in an alloy housing without breaking it. You just need to drive sensibly.

With a locker on the front your steering will be affected. Only an issue on tight tracks though. Although if you're going front then that's a perfect opportunity to go a steel diff. Bonus!!!

[danssurf82]

go rear man thats all i got and capable enough to do anything the skyscrapers do-the vit does better

[atari4x4]

i built up a steel front diff with air locker for my vitara & it's the best mod i've done!

it's taken all the stress out of the front end when flexing & lifting wheels & I can now go places it never went before.

[Gwagensteve]

vitaras seem to keep their front end loaded up (they'll always lift a rear wheel before a front in my experience) so It would be tempting to say you'd get more out of a front locker in the vit because unlike a "normal" car the front always seems to have the weight on it, however, I don't believe there's any point locking the alloy front housing- it WILL break.

CJ did break an alloy front when locked before he went steel.

The rear is pretty strong and will take a locker reliably though.

Steve.

[monkeyplex]

Go a rear locker definitely. 9 times out of ten you want a locker to get UP hills. When you go up hill, especially steep hills, you get weight transfer to the back wheels, so you are getting most of your available traction at the rear, therefore go a rear locker to take advantage of that.

Also Steve said you are going to lift a rear wheel before the front in a Vit which I agree on, then all the more reason for a rear locker. Thats what they are for so that the wheel that still has traction can keep moving you forward and keep that axle in the game.

[Goatse.AJ]

LWB Vit, if I only had the option of one locker, I'd go front. SWB, I'd go rear, assuming you've already sorted the suspension.

[cj]

I've had locked front and rear swb and lwb Vits and I'd go the rear first although as Steve has pointed out the front of a Vit can work ok.

I drove for a bit with a locked front alloy diff without issues BUT it was an auto and I didn't get on it too hard ESPECIALLY in reverse. It did eventually break but there were other factors at play that contributed tto that. If I was going to lock the front I would recommend a steel housing.