V6 Hilux Air Diff Locks - Front or Rear

Never put in a front diff lock without a rear one. You use the rear one first and only use the front one as a last resort - you loose your steering when the front diff is locked.

PeterD

Dan,

Having just been through this exercise with my 80 series, the answer seems to be (from a range of opinions), put it in the rear unless you think that the rear LSD is whizz bang. For an 80 series (and I assume your Lux) the rear LSD is no great shakes, so it is the one to replace. Many Nissan owners will tell you (with some justification) that the LSD in the rear of a Patrol works so well, that the front is the go for a locker if you are only fitting one.

I don't think it is right to say that you lose steering with a front locker engaged. It certainly affects it and you need to be conscious of that when using it, but provided you are aware of the effect, a locker in the front will work well. The key is to use it sparingly regardless of whether it is in the front or the rear. The instructions that ARB provides with them suggest this, and that you minimise cornering with them locked. My workmate has just put one in the front of his GU and left the standard LSD in the rear. He is very happy with the way it works and can certainly still steer.

Anyhow, long story short, my vote is for the rear in your case.

Matt.

P.S. Don't automatically go with ARB to fit it. Shop around at accredited diff repairers and you may get a better price on fitment. Remember also that ARB generally won't do any other jobs (overhaul) that could be done while your diff is apart and it is a good opportunity to have the whole thing checked.

Dan
I think you will find that ARB will be the only air operated option available to suit your vehicle, and contary to what has been posted above, when ARB brisbane fitted mine to a nissan I had . they replaced all bearings seals etc at the time. Worked out much cheaper than normal as they only charged me what the bearings etc cost them.

And another thing......
I would think that there would be warranty implications at getting an ARB diff fitted at a non ARB store. If something were to go wrong its too easy for the non ARB guy to say its not their fault even if they stuffed up the fitting. And of course if the problem was in the fitting, ARB are going to say sorry, wasnt fitted by us, talk to the fitter. Have seen this sort of thing happen before. (not with diffs though) Even if it costs a bit more, (which I doubt it would) its better to deal with the manufacturer.

Hi Dan,

1stly I went an auto locker for a number of different reasons which for this post is prob'ly by the by. Anyway I was always advised by ARB, TJM etc in Cairns that the best option for a diff lock in the Hilux was in the FRONT.

Reason being LSD is very good for On Road performance esp. if you like to let the rear hang out a bit cornering, LOL.

The rear can have a new aftermarket LSD put in when it's completely gone @ 100K thereby retaining it's usefulness in the rain etc.

The best mechanical advantage for a 4wd is to pull itself along and over things and that doesn't happen in the lux I find the rear pushes it in. Porbably because the rear is so light.

Yesterday did a track here that was mainly a river course with lots soft sand and in one particular bit was small boulders loosely arranged as a crossing exit and the lux just crawled over it all no prob's (Ears still ringing from the kids laughter..)

Pre locker I wouldn't have bothered attempting it as it's not worth the effort. The rear would've been digging holes trying to push the nose up the first bit (under a foot high boulders) and the only way then was to get a bit more momentum, Hassle hassle.

I am strongly of the opinion that a locker FRONT or REAR needs to be treated with a soft foot as it would be easy to rip something off. Hence the "Get you further into the bleep e" opinion.

Go slow and tread carefully.