A couple days ago I installed an Aussie locker in the rear end of my truck. Everything went ok, but I am having trouble driving with it in. I can go around faster corners ok, but I am having trouble pulling out onto streets from a stop. It seems like the locker is not racheting at all, but instead acting like a spool. Around faster corners I dont even notice it. Anyone have any tips?
I need to figure out how to drive with this locker because it starting to chew up my tires.....

 

A couple things come to mind.....tire pressures the same in the rear?

Did you install the Aussie correctly? Did you re-use the thrust washers that were behind the oem sidegears?

Did you check the drive-pin/ring clearance specified in the instructions....was it between .006"~.020"?

Did you know that all rear application lunch lockers are much friendlier on auto transmissions than for 5 speeds?

 

I just installed a lockright. I like hearing my tires chirp around turns...this lets me know its doing the job......makes people think I've got a big engine and lots of hp hahahah. I'll live with the quirks of my locker because I now can drive over stuff I never imagined. Like huge piles of rock at my buddies stoneyard

 

With my old Detroit, I had to accellerate easy when starting out and turning. Why? Because in a turn, the outside wheel/axle over runs the ring gear and unlocks. All the torque is sent to the inside wheel. Fine and dandy until you realize the inside tire has less weight on it (because of the outside weight transfer in the turn), so it is very easy to break loose. So in this case, your locker that is supposed to help traction, is actually working against you. By transferring all the torque to the wheel with the least traction, it is more likely to slip if overpowered (that is why you have to take off easy when turning). Now if the inside wheel does slip, it'll catch up to the outside wheel and then the locker will lock and behave like a spool.

I recall one time I drove up a local mountain road, in a light mist, the first rain in many months. The road was very greasy with the water and oils on the surface. On every turn up the mountain, the inside wheel would lose traction, spin, then lock up the outside wheel. By that time I was trying to back off the throttle, this would let the inside tire regain traction and the cycle would repeat all the way up the hill, major PITA.

Ended up switching the Detroit for an ARB and have never regretted the change.

 

I had the same issues when I installed my rear Detroit Soft Locker. I began to understand and to know when the locker was going to engage.

I began not to chirp the wheels in some corners I used to, but always in a stop in a corner I had the tires chirping... Half and a week later one day I stopped in that stop and when I went I noticed my tires hadn't chirped. You'll get used to without noticing it.

Good decission on the Aussie, I've one in the front on my truck and it's great!

David

 

I remember you talking about that-did you re-buy it, or just end up not returning it? I know you have an auto, but I'd be curious how your tires wear with it on.

Any of those pics come out?

Ian

 

A while ago I had a lockright but had to return it before I could install it. I just bought one again and now it's in for good. Tire wear is going to be just fine. I always drove like a grandma so the lockright and me are getting along great. I didn't need to adjust my non-winter driving style at all. The pictures turned out really well. Sorry about not posting any, I've been climbing in W.V about every weekend after our trip to SQ. Ian, are you going to be at the next trail ride?
-Chad

 

Chad, are you talking about the hog roast deal? I'd like to but I don't know. I have a cousins wedding at the end of the month, not sure which weekend. I put a couple of pics over HERE , feel free to add some as I didn't get too many on my own camera.

Zuk, just how big a difference is the behaviour of a lunch-box locker between the auto and the manual tranny? I'm not sure that I've seen this mentioned in the spool/autolock faq, and I'm curious (I've been thinking I'd get an aussie when its available for my truck, wanna see if I should change my mind).

 

drive rasta. (smooth) Also, to prevent "banging" when coasting into a parking place, I hold down the clutch, even if the tranny is in neutral.