True cost of Lokka Diff Locks & easy to fit?

Submitted: Tuesday, Oct 28, 2008 at 20:01

ThreadID: 62995 Views:23240 Replies:6 FollowUps:9

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Member - Tony B (QLD)

To all that are considering this option. Note the following that may help with a decision.

1) Not easy to fit, a good mechanic took 8.5hrs for my Holden rodeo 2007. They required some precision machining of spaces to get the require tollarances. Do not attempt this at home if you can not perform these functions. It leads me to believe there may be quite a few of these fitted that are not within the required tolarances for the diff they are in.
2) Free wheeling hubs need to be seriously considered due to the way the diff workings change after fittment of the lokka for on the fly shift models.
True cost $610 delivered. $450 fitted (great price at 8.5hrs to fit) and $290 fitted for new hubs. $1350 being the true cost of this item fitted ready to go. Second hand hubs would reduce this cost if you can find them, I could not.
Good things.
1)All Ra Rodeo, Jackeroo and AVM433 17 Spline Free Wheel hubs will fit the latest Rodeo or any RA.
2)Free wheeling hubs stops the drag,wear and tear on all the turning bits - but make sure you give them a run occasionaly.
3)They work great and have a 3year warrenty. If you drive your car soft, I see no reason they will not last. I have found little difference with the steering, but yet to do the serious stuff.

Consider the above cost against the Air Lokker where there is no real need for Free Wheeling Hubs.

Hope this all helps to those that are looking. Contact me if you need more info while it is still fresh in the mind. Cheers Tony

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Reply By: joff1 - Tuesday, Oct 28, 2008 at 21:14

Tuesday, Oct 28, 2008 at 21:14

I'm having ARB air lockers put in my cruiser as we speak.

Not really a fan of auto lockers and personally I'd never put an auto locker in the front of a 4by.

The job will run out at somewhere near $3.5k as long as there are no hidden issues. That includes the new ARB compressor with the tyre inflation kit.

AnswerID: 332403

Follow Up By: Member - Doug T (NT) - Tuesday, Oct 28, 2008 at 22:43

Tuesday, Oct 28, 2008 at 22:43

joff1
And why is it you don't auto's in the front....?? I have auto's in my 4x4 and they both work great, in fact the rear is always working , no switches to operate no air lines to get torn off ,

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Follow Up By: Bonz (Vic) - Tuesday, Oct 28, 2008 at 23:00

Tuesday, Oct 28, 2008 at 23:00

Yer I wondereed why too Dougie. I have an auto in the front of the Patrol and it makes steering a little heavier but works a treat

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Follow Up By: Member - Tony B (QLD) - Wednesday, Oct 29, 2008 at 18:36

Wednesday, Oct 29, 2008 at 18:36

joff1. With a perfectly good rear LSD, the front is the best option. For slow rocky work front is best as it pulls you up and over the obsticale. I did a lot of research before I put my first Lokker in and I came to the conclusion if you are going to put one in and you have an LSD in the rear, put it in the front. Its been great for me, gone lots of mighty places with a very light foot. Cheers Tony

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Follow Up By: joff1 - Wednesday, Oct 29, 2008 at 20:22

Wednesday, Oct 29, 2008 at 20:22

Doug, Bonz; Firstly because I like my AWD landcruisers and second because the 2 hiluxes that I have driven with them had some very odd handling issues on loose dirt roads. I'd prefer to decide when I load up my transmission and when I don't.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying those that have them are dopey, just that I don't like em.

Tony B; I drive a Landcruiser, there is no such thing as a perfectly good rear LSD. LOL

Anyhoo, when my Cruiser comes home it'll have front and rear ARB air lockers so I guess I'll see what I think of em then.

FollowupID: 600383

Reply By: Member - Mfewster(SA) - Tuesday, Oct 28, 2008 at 21:37

Tuesday, Oct 28, 2008 at 21:37

I thought that the specs/advertising for these diff locks mad it clear that they were only for free wheeling hubs and if you therefore chose to fit them and needed to change the vehicle to take them????
I have been very happy with mine fitted to the front of a 60 series Toyo. It has done lots of hard work, including quite a few Simpson crossings. They are at their best on dunes where you need to change direction while grabbing traction. ie the crests of many Simpson dunes. Here, I want both hands on the wheel and don't want to have to be trying to turn the thing on and off so I can turn in these conditions. For straight line traction work, the air lokker might be better.

AnswerID: 332408

Follow Up By: Member - Tony B (QLD) - Wednesday, Oct 29, 2008 at 18:18

Wednesday, Oct 29, 2008 at 18:18

Mfewster. Far from it, nothing on their site about free wheeling hubs. Also got a reply in regards to this question and was told by the supplier I do not need to change the hubs as the Lokka are suitable for shift on the fly models. I went with my mechanics advice though and now run free wheeling hubs just in case. Cheers Tony. I think the major point I would like to make is, unless you are a good mechanic, do not try this at home. Cheers Tony

FollowupID: 600366

Follow Up By: Member - Mfewster(SA) - Wednesday, Oct 29, 2008 at 19:03

Wednesday, Oct 29, 2008 at 19:03

Tony, that's interesting. Must admit, I haven't actually looked at their advertising recently. When I bought mine, there certainly was advice that they were only recommended for manual locking hubs, which of course the 60 Series had. I didn't fit mine myself. Ordered them by mail and had it done at local garage and they didn't seem to have any problems at the time. Can't remember the cost of purchase and fitting, but combined it was a lot less than your total came to.

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Reply By: Robin Miller - Tuesday, Oct 28, 2008 at 21:40

Tuesday, Oct 28, 2008 at 21:40

Interesting Tony - while I've also gone away from Lokka mine were fairly easy to fit on the Patrol (front).

When I changed to ARB lockers with help from mates it took all weekend to fit because of difficulty of getting a bearing off , but cost was $1000 cash for the locker from ARB and no cost but a lot of stuffing around for the air system and tank which we homemade out of some steel pipe etc.
Did spend some $200 on tools and taps though , which we still have.

AnswerID: 332409

Follow Up By: Member - Tony B (QLD) - Wednesday, Oct 29, 2008 at 18:24

Wednesday, Oct 29, 2008 at 18:24

Robin. I usually do all my own work too. I think what stopped me with this one is I had never worked on IFS with Shift on the fly. Glad I did not, just not set up to machine spaces etc. The Patrol would be lot more straight forward and I have worked on my old Patrols front diff. Guess you just have to know what you can and can not do with a spanner.
Glad yours worked out. Ive always had Air Lokkers in the past, so at least I can compare after a few trips. Cheers Tony

FollowupID: 600367

Reply By: Cape York Connections - Wednesday, Oct 29, 2008 at 06:34

Wednesday, Oct 29, 2008 at 06:34

I got a Detroit fitted in the rear of my 60 about 5 years ago took it to the shop and not opposite lock and took all day and cost 1350.

All the best
Eric

AnswerID: 332438

Follow Up By: Member - Tony B (QLD) - Wednesday, Oct 29, 2008 at 18:42

Wednesday, Oct 29, 2008 at 18:42

Eric :-) Look you made me happy knowing I was not the only one paying that much, actually mine was a bargain then, 5 years on.
:-) Cheers TONY

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Reply By: Twinkles - Wednesday, Oct 29, 2008 at 08:02

Wednesday, Oct 29, 2008 at 08:02

I have a Lokka in the front of my 04 Hilux. Makes a huge difference, with IFS to cause loss of traction. I fitted AVM manual hub locks as well, not because I had to for the Lokkas but to stop the CV's spinning when in 2wd.
I don't notice much difference in steering when doing slow hard tracks, but if in 4wd for improved traction on faster tracks notice the heavier steering, wanting to go back to centre.

AnswerID: 332451

Follow Up By: Member - Tony B (QLD) - Wednesday, Oct 29, 2008 at 18:31

Wednesday, Oct 29, 2008 at 18:31

Twinkles. Thats good to know, will look out for that. That is why my mechanic said to go for the hubs. From what I understand now I have loked the diff the front right CV & Shaft, diff centre and tailshaft would now always spin because I fitted the Lokka. He suggested that fuel consumption would rise, wear and tear onparts and tyres would increase and he found the car had a tendancy to pull towards this side because of the extra drag. Cheers tony

FollowupID: 600368