By impacting driveability in 4wd do you mean binding or other issues? I've read Aussie's guide on the locker and they do say you would need to take turns smoothly and slowly. Which isn't ideal for my driving style ha. Lot of winding roads over here.
The price and the plug n play is very appealing though. The LSD l I've been looking at is 500 and that's without paying someone to install it or buying the tools and attempting to install it myself.
I also started a thread when trying to figure out what option I wanted. Of course arb is the way to go. But I couldn’t justify the price for the amount of times I’d actually use it and it’s not forgiving at all once it’s locked it’s locked and it will not disengage if your bound up on a big rock. My brother in law has one in his rig
I have had an Aussie in the rear of my explorer for 7 years now running 35s and have zero issues or wear on the Aussie
No binding, it is a lunchbox locker
The only thing I noticed is at very slow 4lo-4hi speeds steering is heavy but the locker disengages like it should when you need it too
It does always want to pull you straight but I haven’t found it to be an issue on big rocks or fire roads or snow and ice
The faster you are driving when you turn the easier it is for the locker to disengage or ratchet as it should.
That’s why at slow speed you feel the heavy steering because it’s always locked and a little momentum helps the inside wheel spin faster as it normally does.
Awd still prioritizes rwd so it’s perfect for just a rainy day awd mode drive.
I can still hear the locker ratcheting as it should in awd but I have no changes in steering fees back like in 4lo-4hi
I also have a rear elocker and I haven’t had to use it since I got the Aussie installed honestly.
There is only one video of a guy installing a Spartan locker on his 3rd gen PHORunner I think he is called on YouTube
Good video to get an idea of how three install process would go
BUT as I learned you DO NOT have to lift the motor or trans up to free the front diff.
I have done it now on two different 3rd gens and the front diff comes out super easy without having the headache of lifting the trans or removing a motor mount and lifting the engine.