OK, I'm researching lockers and I now know that there are several different types. I kow that the "lunchbox" lockers are cheaper, but don't give you the control to engage or disengage the locker. Apparently, when turning corners on normal roads is when you can tell that your full time locker is even there. They say that the locker "clicks" and makes a "racheting" sound. How many people experience this day in and day out and how loud is it? Is it insanely aannoying, tollerable or non-noticeable? Do your tires chirp if you accellerate through the turn? Please help.

Also, I know the ARB is the best, but it's also close to $725 before install. What are some good eLockers out there and how do the differ/compare to the ARB and a "lunchbox" locker?

 

i have lockrites front and rear (lunchbox style) I drive the truck everyday. Unless I am listening for it you wont hear the clicking coming from the rear, sometimes the locker doesnt break apart when your turning slowly and it causes the truck to jolt a few times, no big deal in my opinion. On a budget lunchbox style is the way to go.

 

Or you could consider the route I took:

I purchased a donor 96 4Runner SR5 with 4.30 gears and a factory e-locker for $10K. It was an Auto, and I wanted to keep my rig (5 speed), so I swapped the front and rear diffs (the entire assembly, housing and all) from both rigs. My rig had a 4.10 ratio, so I swapped it over to the auto 4Runner, and vice versa. Not only did I get a better ratio, but I got the e-locker too. I then purchased the e-locker ecu from Jim here on Yotatech, and wired everything up to the OEM button I "stole." I then sold the donor rig for $10,300.

The rear is not that hard. With air tools, I could probably have a rear swapped out in 3 hours (from one rig). Therefore, a 2WD such as yours would be pretty easy.

How does getting paid to get an e-locker sound?

 

96 runner
what was your old gear codes in the door jam: Does A030 or VZN185 - GKPZKA ring a bell? I am trying to figure out my ratio and the search leaves me confused. Sorry if it is a hijack
thanks

 

I ended up ignoring the codes and doing it the old fashioned way. Simply jack up the rear (safely), mark the shaft and tire, have someone spin the tire two exact revolutions, and count the number of turns at the drive shaft. I used this method because I got conflicting information and couldn't chance it. Sure enough, the allegedly 4.10 donor rig turned out to be a 4.30. Good thing I checked, otherwise I might have fried something. The front swap sucks - avoid it at all costs!

 

Order this system in the next 24 hours and I'll send you the "How to get a lift for nothing" video for FREE!

HAHA...

 

Who are you asking?

 

96- Thanks. I hoped I could do without having to do it manually. With the confusing onm the donor rig I wonder what your door jab says/said from the factory. I guess I might have the shop confirm it next time it is in.

E.J - I was asking 96runner

 

can you even add a lunchbox to a 2wd?

 

It took me and a friend 5 minutes. Go for it!

Sorry for the threadjack!

 

ErikJeanna do you happen to know your axle code?

 

I like that....buy a donor and then sell for a profit. Hmmm...might have to try that. So you took the whole rear axle....the button....but you had to buy the ecu? Couldn't take the one out of the donor? Just wondering.ZUK

 

Originally I did take the ecu, but I came to find out it also controls the ABS (it actually says it on the cover). So, I bought one for $50 here on YT, stole the button, made a wiring harness, and hooked everything up.

 

Alright... my thread is getting hijacked. I don't mean to be a weenie, but can we get back on target to the original question for locker users? Thanks.

 

erik,

well if you took my advice on reading the locker FAQ yesterday, i can see why youre coming up w/ these questions now

i've gone through this very same exercise re locker questions many many months ago and i did about a month's worth of reading/searching posts. the best advice i could give you is really not to start another thread but search and read alot. here are some search terms i used a few months ago:

- detroit locker
- aussie locker
- lunchbox locker
- detroit tru-track (not a locker, but an LSD)

you'll find who has them and what their experiences are. if i had any other questions, i emailed or PM'd the people themselves.

while this might save you some time, its best to research and read on your own. itll take a lot more time, but you'll get more insight into all of the lockers and their quirks. my research basically came down to this: there is noise/clicking around the turns for lockers like the detroit (lunchbox types). no avoiding it. most if not all users say that they "get used to it", mainly because they have their radios on sometimes they "bang" out because they took turns too hard, but after awhile of driving it and getting the feel, most if not all drivers can minimize the banging by making gentle turns

bob

 

When I rode in Marc P's 4runner that has a Detroit soft locker, I barely noticed when it would engage/disengage on the road or fwy and around turns. This type doesn't "ratchet" around turns, it feels like when you put your automatic in drive or into reverse. Around turns the locker disengages and when you straighten out it re-engages with a slight feeling of going into gear.

As for on the trail, it rocks! This last weekend marc and I showed up all the *bling* tacos in big bear, no 4runner had to turn around on the trail when it got hard. But there were plenty of tacos and dub cabs and 1 jeep that did

 

When i first bought my Runner, i hardly knew anything about lockers but after a couple months of searching/reading YT threads and other off road sites via google, I had more knowledge than i could imagine. The only questions i have now would be maybe a poll on which on to get.

I found answers to all these questions (and more) right here on YT.

A locker thread worth reading...
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/show...4&page=1&pp=20

The key words that Bob mentioned will yield mega results so be patient.
I just searched "locker noise" and its gave me 3 pages- https://www.yotatech.com/search.php?searchid=999190

 

I actually read that whole FAQ you sent me as well as stuff on the web and other boards (I get really bored at work so I read stuff all day long and get paid $30/hr to do it!). The things I couldn't find was any information regarding if the clicking or ratcheting sound bothered anyone. This is something that I want done, but if my wife notices it, she will ask why I paid money for the truck to make noise and suck around turns. So, maybe a lunchbox isn't what I want. Now to start thinking about the eLocker or the ARB. What's cool though, is my wife (successful real estate agent) just picked up a good sized listing. $1,350,000 house owned by 80's dance queen... Nia Peeples. Yeah, she called my wife right out of the Yellow Pages and asked her to list her house. She also got a call from one of Nia's neighbors... who may want to list as well. That house is probably just under 2 million... that's like $50,000 in commission. I made a promise and said if she sold both of those, she could get her new Maxima and I could get my regear done. She won't need to know about the eLocker or ARB right???

Oh, for those of you who don't know who Nia Peeples is... she was the hot Hawaiian girl (she's actually Scottish/Filipino) from the movie North Shore and was a main character on the TV show Fame. At almost 44 years old... she's still smokin' hot and my wife says her skin/body is flawless! She is also super nice and down to earth. A pleasure to be around. Here are some photos of her from a website.



IMDB Movie Listing









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This is a shot of the kicthen in the 1 bedrrom guest house in BACK of her house. Check out the name on the chair...

 

Now you did'nt just hijack your own thread did you?

 

Kind of... I figured this thread is basically done. I just have to do some soul serching as to what I want as well as what are the pros vs. cons of a ARB/eLocker as opposed to the Lunch Box. Price is the obvious one!