lockers
Submitted: Friday, Feb 03, 2012 at 09:48
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jamdan
I'm considering installing air lockers on my 80 series Landcruiser, the question is, front or back?
I've probably opened up a can of worms, but i'll weigh up the fors and againsts, and hopefully make a better informed decision.
Cheers
Reply By: gbc - Friday, Feb 03, 2012 at 10:17
Friday, Feb 03, 2012 at 10:17
If it was a nissan, holden, rover or anything but a toyota I'd say keep the LSD and stick the locker in the front.
Being a toyota though, the only LSD the poor thing's probably got left is the sticker on the diff.
An 80 with a rear locker goes anywhere.
AnswerID:
476751
Follow Up By: Kimba10 - Friday, Feb 03, 2012 at 12:53
Friday, Feb 03, 2012 at 12:53
""the only LSD the poor thing's probably got left is the sticker on the diff"" Yep got to agree with you gbc 100%, I had 4 toyotas with LSD and virtually useless when new and totally useless after 20k, you can pull them apart and get them redone but still fail after another 30k ...............
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Reply By: Robin Miller - Friday, Feb 03, 2012 at 10:21
Friday, Feb 03, 2012 at 10:21
Hi Jamdan
The physics behind a locker is such it provides best result on the axle with the least articulation.
I.E. A wheel with less articulation will lift earlier , hence wheelspin , which locker is designed to stop.
There are many different senarios in which a 4wd may find itself , but a typical main use here in Vic is going up steep
hill.
One would think that weight transfer to rear would mean locker in rear , however if you look at situation closer 2 things happen.
1/ Weight transfer to rear means
suspension will conform to ground better hence less need for locker.
2/ As weight comes of front wheel then it is more likely to spin , and this is just what locker is designed to stop - hence locker in front.
In real practical tests we have
well proven that for GU Patrols the front is the better choice as more than 50% of articulation is from rear.
For 80 series the result is not so clear and our careful tests with twin locked cars could not show an advantage for either end.
This result will be different for different vehicle setups.
Try this practical
test- pump tyres up hard and go to a place you can't quite get thru.
Have someone see which end spins wheels - put locker there.
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476753
Follow Up By: Whirlwinder - Friday, Feb 03, 2012 at 15:38
Friday, Feb 03, 2012 at 15:38
Robin,
We have an 80 series DX with an"open" LSD in the rear and a Lock Right locker in the front. I have not yet failed a
hill (within reason). The set up works
well.
I agree the Patrol LSD is so much better than the Toyota's.
Ian
FollowupID:
751924
Reply By: On Patrol & TONI - Saturday, Feb 04, 2012 at 13:34
Saturday, Feb 04, 2012 at 13:34
jamdan
Just my humble opinion, but, a locker in the wrong hands (read inexperienced 4wd driver) can just get one further into trouble before one realises that they are in trouble.
I have never owned or felt I needed a locker after many years of driving in this fair country, I do however asses a situation carefully before committing to it.
Someone here rightly said that on the front axle it inhibits steering to a large degree.
Correct tyre pressures combined with a good & smooth driving technique overcomes a lot of obstacles that some drivers overcome with lockers & in so doing cause some track damage that could have been avoided.
I guess this all depends on what you want to do with your car.
Cheers Colin.
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