Auto Locker

[yoshie]

Any one got one of these in the front? I've read a lot about the odd driving characteristics so thought the front may be a good idea, as with the surf 4wd set up and freewheeling hubs it would be completely disengaged on the road so no odd driving, in the mud it shouldn't matter so much about the affect on steering, just a thought

A front locker is a trade off, great in some respects when you are in very serious off road situations, however, they do tend to make the truck want to drive straight when in loose conditions even thou you steer left or right.

Can be very disconcerting on a side slope and does not instill confidence. That said the majority of trucks running front and rear lockers getting used in angry will have very good roll over protection if not full cage.

I don't quite understand the unlocks when coasting comment above as the auto locker is locked all the time it them slips when the inside and outside wheel speeds differ i.e on roundabouts or as above the "up hill hairpin" that is when you hear them clicking or loud ratchet noise if fitted wrongly.{back lash}

Auto locker

[tweak'e]

I don't quite understand the unlocks when coasting comment above as the auto locker is locked all the time it them slips when the inside and outside wheel speeds differ i.e on roundabouts or as above the "up hill hairpin" that is when you hear them clicking or loud ratchet noise if fitted wrongly.{back lash}

i'll see if i can answer this if you excuse my crap writing skills.

your quite right in that the locker unlocks when there is a speed difference between the wheels.
however if you look at the locker you will notice the hole the cross pin goes through the locker, its got a taper on it. so when you put foot on gas the cross pin get pushed into that taper which not only pushes the locker around (which pushes the surf forward) it also pushes the two halves of the locker sideways.
that pushes the locker teeth together which makes the locker stay locked.

so even if your going around a corner, if you have enough power on, the locker will stay locked.
when you take the power off the cross pin is no longer pushing on the taper, very little pressure on the teeth which enables the locker to unlock.

so for the unlocker to unlock you not only need a difference in speeds on each tire but also not putting much power down.
the more power you have on the bigger the strain on the tires before it unlocks. so you can end up with a tire squeal as it spins or a bang as the locker suddenly unlocks.

in practice if you stand hard on the gas mid corner, the cross pin pushes the teeth together and locks the diff, which makes the surf suddenly understeer off the corner.

clear as mud?

[yoshie]

i'll see if i can answer this if you excuse my crap writing skills.

your quite right in that the locker unlocks when there is a speed difference between the wheels.
however if you look at the locker you will notice the hole the cross pin goes through the locker, its got a taper on it. so when you put foot on gas the cross pin get pushed into that taper which not only pushes the locker around (which pushes the surf forward) it also pushes the two halves of the locker sideways.
that pushes the locker teeth together which makes the locker stay locked.

so even if your going around a corner, if you have enough power on, the locker will stay locked.
when you take the power off the cross pin is no longer pushing on the taper, very little pressure on the teeth which enables the locker to unlock.so for the unlocker to unlock you not only need a difference in speeds on each tire but also not putting much power down.
the more power you have on the bigger the strain on the tires before it unlocks. so you can end up with a tire squeal as it spins or a bang as the locker suddenly unlocks.

in practice if you stand hard on the gas mid corner, the cross pin pushes the teeth together and locks the diff, which makes the surf suddenly understeer off the corner.

clear as mud?

Correct "enables" as I said locked is the default position.

[JD_975]

Cheers for the info Yoshie, I think I'm going off the idea rapidly.

Still would like one for the back but concerned about the everyday driving experience, hence I thought front might be the ideal solution. I have sold my other car as it just wasn't getting used as I now get a lift to work and back, I don't drive much in the evenings or weekends but if needs be the surf still has to be able to be pressed into everyday use, predominantly at the minute it goes off roading once a month and that's about as far as it gets.

How much compensating do you have to do for them in reality? Looking round the Internet opinion is divided between people who love them and people who hate them!

[tweak'e]

Correct "enables" as I said locked is the default position.

yes by default the locker is locked due to the little springs in it.
when coasting it takes very little pressure for it to unlock. but with power on (or lots of trailing throttle) it takes a lot of pressure to unlock it.

in the front they are fine for normal driving as you simply unlock the hubs (need to fit hubs!) and the diff is not used.
i can't comment to much on offroad but i understand it can make understeer a lot more. however someone had the idea of rewire the ADD system so you can unlock the axle so you will have power to only one front wheel.

tho the big complaint with auto locker is with onroad driving when you have a rear locker. takes a bit of getting used to and i would not recommend it for a daily driver if your carrying passengers a lot or do a lot of city driving.

[Bazza52]

The "clicking" is nothing to do with incorrect fitting, it is just the locker unlocking as by design. The Ausie locker not only comes with fitting instructions but aslo a driving advice card (to be handed to MoT chappie so he doesn't put your truck thru the wall on the rolling road brake test), it explains about the "clicking & squeal" as normal operating conditions. My truck is a daily driver and now we have no issues with the handling, it's just practice to get used to it.

[yoshie]

Clicking is fine, if it's a loud ratchet you have made an arse of fitting it.

Auto lockers are a cheap option you get what you pay for, great for an off road toy. If it was a truck I used on the road I would pay the extra and get an air locker.

[Bazza52]

Each to his own sunshine

[yoshie]

Clicking is fine, if it's a loud ratchet you have made an arse of fitting it.

Auto lockers are a cheap option you get what you pay for, great for an off road toy. If it was a truck I used on the road I would pay the extra and get an air locker.

Each to his own sunshine

[tweak'e]

for me i can't stand a daily driver with open diffs which rules out air/electric locker. so its LSD or autolocker.