TORTIS

iTrader: (1)

my rear locker has quieted down. not near the noise when i first started driving it. i think you will really like have an aussie locker.

Jay351

I guess it depends on how much snow and what kind of snow you are driving on. If its a few inches it will get a little scary. I really needed the open front when I was driving on the road in the 2" of snow we got. But as soon as it got to about 7" no sliding at all.

If you guys see only a little snow, I wouldnt do it. If you see more snow, go for it.

Crap! I think my alt is starting to go aswell I hope your locker install goes smoothly.

Matt16

Are you referring to the rear acting up in the snow, or have you driven a front as well?

This thread will never die

n16ht5

my 85 had detroits f/r and in the snow it had a tendency for the front to slide around or not want to steer, but if you learn how to use the gas to steer and what not its fine (benefits outweigh the cons)




my aussie is noisy.. I have 90w oil... is that why?

Matt16

I finished most of it, but screwed up the bearing cap adjusters. I am going to take in to a shop to correct my stupidity. Crap. Don't try this unless you have the right tools- a big well lit shop bench, a vice etc.

Jay351

Sorry to hear! Where are you taking it?

Matt16

Probably North Shore Off Road. They've been good to me, once they got to know me.

Matt16

Any idea how much it might cost to install the bearing caps and set the backlash?

Matt16

About $80 at Krangle Automotive, in North Van.

Matt16

The Aussie Locker is installed. The weather has been absolutely miserable here and the install wasn't any fun, in fact, it sucked. I took the truck for a test drive and about five minutes down the road, there was a pinging sound and then what sounded like an air compressor. I was already to call Bill up and tell him that the locker was doing something weird. I jacked the truck up, turned it on and grabbed my stethoscope. Want to guess what that was?
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The rope I'd secured the prop shaft to the frame while the third was out had wrapped around the axle and snapped. "Nice going, idiot" I thought to myself.

The Aussie Locker itself is remarkably quiet with cheap 80W90 oil. I have to pay attention to hear it. The operation is pretty transparent as well. I do notice that you have to pay a tiny bit more attention to what gear you're in around corners as the inside wheel does the driving. The inside tire does scrub if you gas it around a tight corner. Above maybe 5mph, it makes no difference real difference. I could only break the back tires loose on loose gravel. It does wicked donuts now. On wet pavement the truck doesn't have enough horsepower to break the back tires loose so nothing dangerous there.

I doubt someone who hadn't driven the truck before would notice when they drove it.

Jay351

Awsume! I love having the locker, when its wet out I can easily break the back end out if I giv'r.

Hows it feel compaired to the lockright?

Matt16

Its a little smoother than the Lockright, and a little less noise. It seems to make less noise and going around corners it unlocks easier. If I had to give it a percent difference, I'd say 25% smoother. Thats, just after 10km. Once it breaks in and I give it some Redline Heavy Shockproof, I think it will be even better.

Jay351

I wonder how much of an impact the big mud tires have on the general feel of the locker. I bet if I threw a set of 31x10.50 street tires it would be quite nice

But I would love to see the locker in action. Good to see you got it in and its performing like its supposed to. You will love the extra traction!

Matt16

The click sound is less pronounced.

We could swap tires for a couple hours and test it out.

Jay351

hmm 31's and 4.88's

Matt16

The automatics came like that. Now 33x12.50 and 4.10s will be something else. I will be overtaken by wildlife.

Jay351

You will be fine, just don't turn or your bumper will be torn off

Matt16

Well i think I broke it.
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That is, there in no clicking or clanking coming out of the rear end. It sure does grip though for a broken Aussie Locker. I tried it out off road and i tried it in 2wd then in 4wd. Locked 2wd gets almost as far as a open 4x4, but not quite (in this case). On road, when you get the hang of cornering right, its the same as open, no sounds, no quirks. About once every ten corners (tight uphill corners) it jerks a little, maybe twice, there is the tiniest chirp of the tires and the other eight times its the same as corner with an open diff. The same. Not close enough to fool someone who hasn't driven the truck, but actually the same.

One interesting side effect is that the ride seems a little bumpier. Maybe I'm just imagining things or the road was particularly bumpy.

Matt16

Tested it out tonight in the rain. Going around corners with pedal to the floor and first gear, the truck just does not have the power to spin two tires at once. 31x 10.5 Nokian Vativas and 4.11 gearing. Its actually a bit on an on road improvement because it now goes around corners like a rocket sled on rails versus one back tire spinning uselessly.

I knew Aussie Lockers were good, but I never thought they would be this good.

Matt16

I got the Aussie to clank today. Not too loud, but definitely a clank. I drove at full lock in circles for a minute. I got dizzy before it clanked though.

Basically, if your commute to work involves steering full lock and doing circles for a couple minutes, then don't get a locker. Otherwise it is fine.