Page 1 of 1

factory locker

Posted: Fri Dec 22, 2006 9:06 pm
by high_lux
hay im looking at getting a gq and i wonted to no what models came out with the factory rear diff locker and r they as good as the after market units eg arb thanks

Posted: Fri Dec 22, 2006 10:44 pm
by chops
they're sometimes a bit slow to engage/disengage, and you have the diaphragm thingy hanging off the diff so you'd need to protect that so you don't rip it off on rocks

but I reckon they're just as good as the ARB ones

Mine has a factory locker, and it's a 1988 ST wagon (4.2 petrol manual)

Posted: Fri Dec 22, 2006 11:05 pm
by Beastmavster
Mine is an 88 Maverick XLT SWB and has one.

Agree with chops. They're not as fast to actuate, but then again I doubt an ARB would be working as well after 250,000km so you have to take that into consideration.

There are a fair few threads about these lockers now and there are ways to speed up the actuation. For me the actuation is quick (normally no more than half a turn of a wheel) but the release is damn slow.

Posted: Sat Dec 23, 2006 5:46 am
by Ezookiel
89 Ti Model (Import).
Front and rear lockers, front seems to have been an add on as it has a makeshift switch.
Seem to do the job, and been told elsewhere they're a very strong unit.

And ditto to the slow to activate/deactivate. Especially the deactivate.

Posted: Sat Dec 23, 2006 6:23 am
by Vulcanised
the factory locker will activate quickly if you are turning...... they only seem slow at times because they only show they are engaged when the locker drops in. Sometimes mine is slow to let go..... but turning left and right whilst driving helps speed it up a bit. Sometimes it takes a few seconds to drop out, sometimes a few minutes. I try to get mine to drop out before doing too much on the tar...... cuz when it does come out, it's usually on a corner and it makes a nasty sound :shock:

EDIT: btw, mine is a 1989 ST auto

Posted: Sat Dec 23, 2006 8:06 am
by badger
mines a 1988 st manual.
they are slow to disengage but usually thats not an issue. if ther were slow to engage that would be alot worse.

also dont break one. they are very expensive to fix
eg if you damage the actuator it is cheaper to buy a whole arb or tjm locker than this 1 part.
a good solid bash plate should fix this tho

Posted: Sat Dec 23, 2006 12:30 pm
by high_lux
thank for the info sounds like there good i can deal with them being a lil slow as long as it works :)

Posted: Sat Dec 23, 2006 12:44 pm
by dansedgli
Mine worked for 5 minutes then I turned left and it bang and now it occasionally turns on but wont stay activated.

:(

Posted: Sat Dec 23, 2006 12:52 pm
by Tiny
dansedgli wrote:Mine worked for 5 minutes then I turned left and it bang and now it occasionally turns on but wont stay activated.

:(
could be the solanoids, factrory ones are crap, also check the actuator, maybe a leak in the diaphragm?

there is pleanty of tech articles on replacing the factory solanoid with a MAG dual unit that works very well

Posted: Sat Dec 23, 2006 1:14 pm
by dansedgli
Its not my solonoids, they were replaced with some irrigation hose and a few valves to switch it on and off manually.

It did work fine when I needed it a few times then one day I got off a track and turned left onto a flat dirt road and it went bang. I was doing about 5km/hr when it died.

Ill see if I can take the diaphragm off and have a look.