KidVermicious
New member
A local wheeler offered me a Spartan automatic locker for $200, new in box, and while I was saving for an elocker, I couldn't pass this up. I just finished installing it.
Install process - difficulty is a 3 out of 10. If you can change your brakes or bolt on a new starter or alternator, you can install a Spartan locker. Time-wise, it took me about 8 hours over two days, but this was the first time I'd ever pulled my third, and I spent lots of time scratching my chin and drinking beer and consulting my manuals. Doing it again, I bet would be 3 hours tops. Uncommon tools you will absolutely need are a ft/lb torque wrench and a long punch - I didn't have a punch, and I went through two screwdrivers trying to drift out the rod that holds the center pin. Don't bother reading the directions that come with, they're generic garbage. Read the Aussie locker writeup on ZUKs site, gearinstalls.com, and just remember that you're not re-using the thrust washers. You will have to pull the ring gear to remove the center pin, but this will not affect your backlash.
Driving impressions - I'll be back to update this once I get this bad boy on some rocks, and again after I've driven it on a snowy road. Right now I've had it around the block a few times, and am impressed. I'd heard that it would click loudly, bang every time I got on the throttle, and bind up and chirp the tires if I didn't coast around corners. None of those things happened. It clicks quietly on tight corners, not obtrusively at all. I also don't notice it when turning and accelerating from a stop, unless I really punched it, at which point I could feel the rear not want to come around, but not bad enough that I chirped or scuffed the tires. At 1/4 throttle or less (ie, normal driving), I didn't even know it was there.
I'm totally stoked. I know it's going to add to traction off-road, and so far its on-road manners are much better than I was even hoping for. I'll be back to update as I get it in more situations.
Install process - difficulty is a 3 out of 10. If you can change your brakes or bolt on a new starter or alternator, you can install a Spartan locker. Time-wise, it took me about 8 hours over two days, but this was the first time I'd ever pulled my third, and I spent lots of time scratching my chin and drinking beer and consulting my manuals. Doing it again, I bet would be 3 hours tops. Uncommon tools you will absolutely need are a ft/lb torque wrench and a long punch - I didn't have a punch, and I went through two screwdrivers trying to drift out the rod that holds the center pin. Don't bother reading the directions that come with, they're generic garbage. Read the Aussie locker writeup on ZUKs site, gearinstalls.com, and just remember that you're not re-using the thrust washers. You will have to pull the ring gear to remove the center pin, but this will not affect your backlash.
Driving impressions - I'll be back to update this once I get this bad boy on some rocks, and again after I've driven it on a snowy road. Right now I've had it around the block a few times, and am impressed. I'd heard that it would click loudly, bang every time I got on the throttle, and bind up and chirp the tires if I didn't coast around corners. None of those things happened. It clicks quietly on tight corners, not obtrusively at all. I also don't notice it when turning and accelerating from a stop, unless I really punched it, at which point I could feel the rear not want to come around, but not bad enough that I chirped or scuffed the tires. At 1/4 throttle or less (ie, normal driving), I didn't even know it was there.
I'm totally stoked. I know it's going to add to traction off-road, and so far its on-road manners are much better than I was even hoping for. I'll be back to update as I get it in more situations.
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