OK, so it's clear that a selectable locker is the best choice for the rear diff in a rig that sees use as a daily driver, so there's no way around the expense of an ARB or retrofitted e-locker for the rear. But what about the front? It's going to show that I don't really understand how all this stuff works, but if I put an auto style locker (aussie, detroit, Lock-rite, etc.), it would only opperate when I was in 4WD, right? Can this be done with shift-on-the-fly style 4WD (as opposed to manual locking hubs)? This would get around a lot of the issues surrounding poor street performance of auto lockers, right?

 

Heh...a full time locker in the front ("auto locker") would always be in effect. 4wd has nothing to do with it. Most people prefer a selectable in the front and a full time in the back....or both selectable. Full time in the front is gonna make turning a whole lot of fun.

 

Unless you have manual hubs up front.

 

you'd have to be a fool to use an auto locker in the front without locking hubs. i hear good things about the aussie locker in front, but don't do it unless you have manual hubs since it will still be engaged whenever the hubs are locked

 

If you use 4wd on the road, forget the front auto locker.

If you do not have manual hubs, work on forgetting the front auto locker.

It was a big pill for me to swallow, but I have two ARB's. Buy once, cry once. I think it would be better to go open than run an auto with no hubs and a snowy, icy East Coast base.

 

You want a selectable in the front for sure. Buy that darn Aussie Locker, put in the rear and wheel that sukka !!!

 

http://www.ttora-ne.com/old_site/tto...dd-locker.html

Try this site may help you out?

 

I ran an EZ locker up front for 5 years, swapped the ADD for manual hubs. The advantage of all 4 locked outweighed the increased turning radius. (One thing I've noticed with the new ARB up front, the EZ locker was much easier to steer than the ARB when it is engaged.)

I added dual cases later which allows you to run around in 2WD lo when you don't need 4WD which took some of the stress off of the front drive train.

If you do much driving in snow, I wouldn't recommend an auto locker up front. The steering is very squirly.

The advantages of an auto locker up front is they are cheaper and easier to install. You don't have to plumb your diff, run air lines, wires, etc. etc. The disadvantages are add'l stress on the drive line (when locker not needed), increased turning radius, and driving in snow and ice.

Pick your poison.

 

Hmmm. Went to the '00 Lock-Rite install link. As a keeper of the IFS flame, a straight axle seems less and less of a band-wagon-jumping move and more of a practical reality. Maybe us '86-'94 guys might have a bit of an easier time, but still . . . .