Member - Chrispy (NSW) replied:

My Patrol also has a great LSD ........... so the locker will go up front :)

Wayne (NSW) replied:

Rather than saying which to put in, front or back, have a think obout this.

I have never had a Lokka or simular, prefer ARB lockers front and rear, so I can't say how they handle, however the locker that you are asking about is realy a un locker.

This is my understanding of how they work.

When the vehicle is travelling in a straight line, the locker is locked ,ie, both wheels on the same axel are getting a equal amount of drive. The diff is locked.

When the vehicle is turning a corner, roundabout or bend in the road the inside wheel has to ratchet over because of the diffrent arc and speed that it has to travel.

If the inside wheel has enough traction this will happen, but if there is not enough traction for the inside wheel to grip then it will not ratchet and will continue to drive. With both wheels getting equal drive then the vehicle will have a tendency to go in a straight line. This is the same as if a air locker was engaged while turnig a corner. The inside tyre has to go the same speed as the outside tyre and this causes the inside tyre to spin, a good LSD will do the same thing.

On the back of the vehicle this is not a big problem as the vehicle can still be turned by the front tyres, however if the front tyres have equal drive and want to go in a straight line, then turning a bend on a dirt road with little traction might cause a problem.

Shifting back to rear wheel drive only and having the front hubs locked, the problem is still there , the front diff is still locked. Unlocking the front hubs is the only way to free the front tyres.

This is why when the lokka and simular first come out they would not go into a constant, all wheel drive, vehicle like the GXL 80 Series. A soft lokker was then on the market but I think it was more like a good LSD.

This is how I think these type of locking diffs work,if not I stand corrected.

Wayne

Member Eric replied:

I am yet to see a good LSD in a Cruiser . If you were talking Nissan , I would put it in the front , but cruiser , I would put it in the rear .

Member - Captain (WA) replied:

Hi Timbobaroobob,

I had a 1HZ 80 series with a front Lockrite and reckon it was great. I would not hesitate to put it back in the front again. However, I would not put a lockright (or any auto locker) in the rear. This is effectively on all the time and will give noticeably different handling characteristics on the road, plus increased rear tyre wear. I would only go an air locker in the rear.

As for the handling characteristics of a front lockright, yes they can be felt but are not a problem and only exist when in 4WD. I still prefer the lockrite over an airlocker in the front for many reasons, but mainly because they still enable good steering control while locked. Others may disagree but I have tried both and know what I found better.

And as for the cruiser rear LSD, not even worth spitting on! I now have a GU Nissan and finally understand that an LSD can actually make a real difference!

Cheers

Captain

Dodgy replied:

I myself would put that lokka in the front Tim.. you already have the LSD in the rear..think about it?? when do you lock the front in?? when your off road and in a situation when the wheels are loosing traction.. when do you disengage?? when you have traction again so what steering is impaired by having the locker in the front is not worth mentioning..it turns on and off so there's no problem with steering when it's turned off..i hope that helps a little..

keep your whistle wet and your powder dry..Regards Dodgy..

Dodgy replied:

the lockers turn on and off manually Wayne.. when you need extra tractions to lock in both sides of the axle you engage the locker.. if there isn't a big traction problem you disengage them and drive it like a normal 4b in 4 wheel drive..

Dodgy replied:

Appolagies Captain.. i referring to manual locking diffs and not auto's.. my mistake.. i better post it right next time huh..LOL..Dodgy..

Dodgy replied:

Hey Wayne.. you almost got it.. a locker actually locks both sides of an axle together so both wheels turn the same revs.. if one wheel is off the ground the same amount of torque is still at that wheel as is the one on the ground.. all that hub locks do is engage the axles to the wheels.. here's an example.. your going up a hill and your rear end starts to spin.. ok you lock in your hubs and put it in 4 wheel drive.. your going up the same hill and your loosing traction.. engage the locking diff.. now you have the added traction of both wheels on the front or rear driving together.. it locks the differential to both axles..
hope that helps pal..

Truckster (Vic) replied:

in the front they are a nightmare.. they clunk when you turn as they lock/unlock etc..

IF you must have one, put it in the back, as cruisers have no such thing as an LSD, and save for Air locker in the front.

This discussion has been had a billion times in the past... Have a search, you can get a few 100 other opinions.

Wayne (NSW) replied:

Tim,

As Caption says to each there own, and while there is a choice of lockers on the market there will always be diffrent opinions.

Good luck,

Wayne

Tuff60 replied:

I make no comment on using Lokka(or any simular device of different name), in the bush, but if you ever go up to the snow where, as you have a 4WD you only use chains on the front, any snow/ice covered slippery corner could be your last. The reason being is if the inside wheel slips, on comes the lokka, sending the car straight, regardless of where the wheels point. Just plain dangerous.

There are other options, both cable and electric, factory, lockers are available for the rear of an 80's, and I would be putting it in the back(Toyota and Nissan owners agree, there is NO such thing as a Toyota LSD), as truckster said it's where the weight is when climbing, and the front diff in an 80 is it's weakest link.

Timbobaroobob replied:

Have you guys ever read the explanation of how the lokka actually works? some of you are talking as if it is locked all the time, like a spool or a cig welded diff. it works like a detroit locker, can operate like an open centre or lsd and when traction is being lost to a wheel it will lock in and send engine torque to that wheel. anyways have a look at this: http://www.4wdsystems.com.au/html/lokka.htm

Coops (Ex-Pilbara) replied:

haven't read any other responses but will give my opinion be it conflicting with those or concurring.
I have had Lokka's in front of my STD 80 series for over 5 years and 120 000 km's and haven't had a problem to date. People complaining about heavy steering need only think back to days when there was no belts and pumps. I find the steering moderately harder than normal when in 4WD but when I am using 4WD I find that I have other things to concentrate on and this is the whole reason we go 4WD'ing in the first instance isn't it?
I wouldn't recommend Lokkas in rear as you will get clunking and bangs etc so Air Locker is only option there (this is first hand experience and not hearsay), so given the cost factor then Lokkas to front will give you added performance and allow you to reassess as to whether or not you need to spend heaps more to put air lockers in rear. My tip is you won't bother unless there's no oher mods left for you.

Feel free to ask any further questions if you have any but this will be the cheapest performance and reliability mod you perform in my book. My girl will go anywhere I point it and places other similar vehicles (without Lokkas) have not.