Locker in the front????

[mcaz5]

I'd like more feedback on the Spartan lockers. At ~$300, they seem like a bargain. Mine is a DD and weekend wheeler, would a Spartan in the rear be a poor choice?

I would like to learn more about this option as well

 

[Atrox Caeda]

I've only heard good things about the Aussie lockers. It's almost the same thing. I used the LockRite version in my SAS pickup and it works great. If it's a good deal I'd snag it. Just keep in mind if you do a rear locker that you want to be select-able you'll probably be better off getting another air style locker so you can plumb into the compressor for both front and rear.

 

[white_n_slow]

I'd like more feedback on the Spartan lockers. At ~$300, they seem like a bargain. Mine is a DD and weekend wheeler, would a Spartan in the rear be a poor choice?

I don't know about the Spartan brand, but I've used Aussie lockers and Lockrights and it is easily the best $300 you'll spend on a truck that gets off road use. More important than a lift, IMO, and equally important as decent tires. There is no drive-ability issue aside from a little bit of noise coming from the rear diff. You just get used to being smooth with the throttle around tight corners. In the snow, the rear was a little squirrely in my pickup (no weight in the back), but no problems at all in my 60, so I think a 4runner would do just fine.

 

[IanB]

Im going to go take a look at it tomorrow after work. If it is in good shape i will getr it. I plan to install it and use it when needed when i go wheeling untill I save enough for a rear locker. At that time or before if i don't like it you guys will be the first to know.

Make SURE it's the right one for your truck, the front diffs are different from the 4cyl to the 6cyl trucks.

 

[Chill will]

As far as the rear goes I will most likely bypass an auto locker and save for a selectable one. I've gone this far open/open, might as well wait and get what I really want. Unless another great deal comes my way

 

[Chill will]

Make SURE it's the right one for your truck, the front diffs are different from the 4cyl to the 6cyl trucks.

I checked with arb and the front duffs are identical from I believe 88 to 03. They are all 7.5

 

[mcaz5]

I don't know about the Spartan brand, but I've used Aussie lockers and Lockrights and it is easily the best $300 you'll spend on a truck that gets off road use. More important than a lift, IMO, and equally important as decent tires. There is no drive-ability issue aside from a little bit of noise coming from the rear diff. You just get used to being smooth with the throttle around tight corners. In the snow, the rear was a little squirrely in my pickup (no weight in the back), but no problems at all in my 60, so I think a 4runner would do just fine.

Sorry to be a thread jacker but would dual locked Aussies be bad for a DD?

 

[IanB]

I checked with arb and the front duffs are identical from I believe 88 to 03. They are all 7.5

They are all 7.5", but they are not identical. Give Chase at East Coast Gear Supply, he can explain further.

 

[catalina34]

Well since I live in New England there will always be snow. I grew up driving in the snow and my first few cars were rear wheel drive. So if you get into the gas too much you get a little sideway, but still in control. How much different would a locker be, I wonder. I guess I won't no untill I try one out.

My Aussie locker is great in the snow when in 4wd. I don't drive in the snow in 2wd, and especially wouldn't do it with the locker, but in 4wd it drives fantastic and I haven't had any unpredictable handling. I haven't had any problems in the rain while in 2wd with the locker. I don't regret the locker one bit and can only roll my eyes when people argue that an auto locker is problematic for a daily driver. Like someone mentioned earlier. Don't drive like an ******* and enjoy the greatly increased capabilities.

 

[IanB]

My Aussie locker is great in the snow when in 4wd. I don't drive in the snow in 2wd, and especially wouldn't do it with the locker, but in 4wd it drives fantastic and I haven't had any unpredictable handling. I haven't had any problems in the rain while in 2wd with the locker. I don't regret the locker one bit and can only roll my eyes when people argue that an auto locker is problematic for a daily driver. Like someone mentioned earlier. Don't drive like an ******* and enjoy the greatly increased capabilities.

Just keep in mind not everyone has a multimode TC with an AWD function, you aren't supposed to drive in 4x4 where there is traction, as you get driveline binding. Some guys reading this may have to drive in the winter in 2wd is what I'm saying, and the auto locker COULD be an issue if you let your wife drive the truck for example.

 

[catalina34]

Just keep in mind not everyone has a multimode TC with an AWD function, you aren't supposed to drive in 4x4 where there is traction, as you get driveline binding. Some guys reading this may have to drive in the winter in 2wd is what I'm saying, and the auto locker COULD be an issue if you let your wife drive the truck for example.

If it's not slippery enough to warrant the use of 4wd, you probably wouldn't have any issues with the locker anyways (provided you are careful with the throttle).

 

[Chill will]

They are all 7.5", but they are not identical. Give Chase at East Coast Gear Supply, he can explain further.

4Runner, LN61, YN63: all 10bolt solid axle part RD132
all IFS-2005. 7.5" part RD90
all IFS 05-current 8" part RD 111
I did speak with Chase and he did verify that they are the same 4cyl & 6cyl
Anyways thanks cause I rather put in the effort in double checking rather than getting wrong part.

 

[IanB]

4Runner, LN61, YN63: all 10bolt solid axle part RD132
all IFS-2005. 7.5" part RD90
all IFS 05-current 8" part RD 111
I did speak with Chase and he did verify that they are the same 4cyl & 6cyl
Anyways thanks cause I rather put in the effort in double checking rather than getting wrong part.

When I was looking into Trutrac front diffs, they were different between the 4cyl and 6cyl, I guess the ARB's are the same. Better safe than sorry, agreed.

 

[LINY4Runner]

I have a TruTrac in the front. For traction it's outstanding. The CV's are unhappy though. I'm up to 9. :ybrick:

 

[KidVermicious]

I have a TruTrac in the front. For traction it's outstanding. The CV's are unhappy though. I'm up to 9. :ybrick:

I don't wanna hear that. I've had mine in for a year and no CV bustage yet, but this is not encouraging. :: knock on wood ::

 

[J-money$$$]

\We are noticing the spider gears giving up after the 10 plus years and from years of wheeling.

yet another reason the lunchbox lockers are a good deal up front. Yeah they use the stock carrier, but they eliminate those tiny spider gears.


I have an aussie locker up front. its pretty good. once you lear how to drive it proper then you should have no issues with the cvs always breaking. It took me 5 cvs in the matter of about 6 months to finally learn what exactly break them. Now its all good. i still break them occasionally but not all the time.

 

[Chill will]

I have a TruTrac in the front. For traction it's outstanding. The CV's are unhappy though. I'm up to 9. :ybrick:

Why are you breaking so many CV? It can't be just from a locker can it? What size tire are you running? What terrain are you in when they break big rocks or loose gravel? I have only broken one cv and it was due to driver error. Steep incline loose gravel too much of the skinny pedal add in a sudden stop and that equals broken cv.

 

[Chill will]

Well I finally picked up the locker, compressor, switches, and third member. Now I just need to find time to install. Untill then its on the shelf with the rest of my parts waiting for wrench time.

 

[Chill will]

I have an aussie locker up front. its pretty good. once you lear how to drive it proper then you should have no issues with the cvs always breaking. It took me 5 cvs in the matter of about 6 months to finally learn what exactly break them. Now its all good. i still break them occasionally but not all the time.[/QUOTE]

So what's your secret? For you what do you think it was that was causing them to break?

 

[LINY4Runner]

Why are you breaking so many CV? It can't be just from a locker can it? What size tire are you running? What terrain are you in when they break big rocks or loose gravel? I have only broken one cv and it was due to driver error. Steep incline loose gravel too much of the skinny pedal add in a sudden stop and that equals broken cv.

Most of the time I break them it's not from wheelspin...I think I just wheel my truck harder than it's intended purpose...like climbing close-to-vertical rock faces and having a CV that can't pull the weight of the truck...never have the wheel turned too much to one side, I know that's a sure-fire way to kill them. It could also be the rebuilder making these axles...