Air Diff Locker On GU

[knakkers]

G-day guys,
im sure this topic has been discussed many times before.

The time has come to fit an air locker to my GU

Whats the preferred air locker people are fitting out there??

Performance & value for money. I only wanna spend the money once, so i wanna get it right the 1st time. Any pros or cons on which brand/make poeple are using out there on the GU wagons?

Im leaning towards ARB rear locker ($1732 fitted) & their middle of the range permanently mounted CKMA12 – High Output On-Board air compressor with tyre inflation kit ($545 fitted) total $2277 fitted

Opions please peoples??

Cheers

[Drewboyaus]

For that kind of dosh I'd be doing an Eaton/Harrop eLocker IN THE FRONT and banking the change......
The rear LSD rocks in Patrols and IMO you go a locker in the front first......
Just my 2c though.....


Tip tip tip......tap tap tap....

[MudRunnerTD]

Front for sure mate.

I am not sure what the eaton is worth but worth comparing the price for sure.

Note that's saving you make will be no air compressor but if you need that for pumping up tyres then that should be taken out of the price?

But FRONT FIRST for sure.

[P4trol]

Can you post up the current price for e-lockers if you get that far?

[knakkers]

Thanks for the input so far guys. Much appreciated.
My personal theory behind either front or rear locker has difinatly been solved. I will get the front locker done first.
Now im starting to lean towards an elocker after doing more homework.

[knakkers]

Yup no prob P4trol, will do mate
Can you post up the current price for e-lockers if you get that far?

[threedogs]

M2cW would be Pro Locker in the front with one gallon tank on chasss rail
Leave the back LSD awesome, or go Electric Diff loc.

[BearGUST]

I priced a front elocker for my GU last year. $2000 fitted through opposite lock in North Melbourne. With the change you can fit whatever air compressor you like, I like the idea of the elocker a bit more than an air actuated unit.

[knakkers]

Is there anybody else in the southeastern suburbs of Melb that supply & fit e-lockers besides Opposite Lock in Mitcham? I live in the Hampton Park area

[Drewboyaus]

Ironman sell them. Email Harrop, they'll give you the good oil.....


Tip tip tip......tap tap tap....

[knakkers]

Thanks for the input guys.

Decision has been made.

Ive totally switched from my original thorts.

Patrol is booked in for next Tuesday to get fitted with front Eaton's Elocker.

Everything 4WD in Cranbourne is doing the job for me.

I cant wait

[Cuppa]

Thanks for the input guys.

Decision has been made.

Ive totally switched from my original thorts.

Patrol is booked in for next Tuesday to get fitted with front Eaton's Elocker.

Everything 4WD in Cranbourne is doing the job for me.

I cant wait

Please feedback how you find the experience once you've had it done, & more importantly how you find the elocker.

[Steve4wdin]

X2 Very interested in the locka

[knakkers]

Please feedback how you find the experience once you've had it done, & more importantly how you find the elocker.
Will do Cuppa.
Im going out this Sunday to tracks ive never been to before, out towards Labatouche & Poweltown, see how i travel. I will try to get out again within the next couple of weeks & do the same tracks again & see what a difference it makes.
Pretty excited at this end fella. Been waiting a long time to get locker fitted

[happygu]

Great stuff - let us know how it goes

[Drewboyaus]

Really looking forward to hearing how it goes......
How much is it setting you back?


Tip tip tip......tap tap tap....

[knakkers]

Not much change out of 2K, which is better then ARB quoted me with onboard compressor fitted as well with air locker
Really looking forward to hearing how it goes......
How much is it setting you back?


Tip tip tip......tap tap tap....

[Patrol-Guy]

So like 10 months later is there an update or did I miss something somewhere?

[mudski]

No update. The OP hasn't been here since July...

[P4trol]

Ok, well I will post up my experience with the elocker. $2200 fitted. Comes with an awesome cube shaped space case.

Actuation is silent. The way I think they are best used is 1) planned use, activated before an obstacle or 2) didn't think it would be needed, but I'm stuck, and need to get out (maybe last ditch before you break out the shovel!).

My main experience is mud so far... It doesn't make you suddenly un-stuckable. The same rules apply in mud, momentum being desirable. The difference is that in between the really slippery bits, both front wheels (I had the front only done) are keeping momentum going. Before the vehicle would sometimes come to a halt with one front wheel spinning

Activating it, once you had come to a halt in mud, still leaves a dicey feeling when you get going again.

In sand, (haven't done much testing yet) I found leaving it off worked better. Especially turning full lock, where you can put a bit of right foot in to pull it around.

So I still managed to need to winch myself a few metres up out of a bog hole before all 4 wheels stopped spinning. You have to experiment and work out what does and doesn't work!

Worth it? I'm impressed. It is that little extra something that gives an edge over a standard 4b and allows you to go further - and get back.

[Seanz]

Just a head's up with winches and locker's have always been advised
that to disengage front locker, while winching. As is puts a
extra strain on front axle and bearings if locked under load.
Anyone with other knowledge about this, unless lockers have changed
Cheers

[P4trol]

I'm waiting for further advice from the forum, but if you have the winch on, chances the wheels are already spinning, ie no stress.

[MudRunnerTD]

Just a head's up with winches and locker's have always been advised
that to disengage front locker, while winching. As is puts a
extra strain on front axle and bearings if locked under load.
Anyone with other knowledge about this, unless lockers have changed
Cheers


I'm waiting for further advice from the forum, but if you have the winch on, chances the wheels are already spinning, ie no stress.

Yeah P4trol got it in one. If your winching its because you have No Traction, when you regain traction you can stop winching. Lockers on as part of your self recovery equipment.

[MudRunnerTD]

Ok, well I will post up my experience with the elocker. $2200 fitted. Comes with an awesome cube shaped space case.

Actuation is silent. The way I think they are best used is 1) planned use, activated before an obstacle or 2) didn't think it would be needed, but I'm stuck, and need to get out (maybe last ditch before you break out the shovel!).

My main experience is mud so far... It doesn't make you suddenly un-stuckable. The same rules apply in mud, momentum being desirable. The difference is that in between the really slippery bits, both front wheels (I had the front only done) are keeping momentum going. Before the vehicle would sometimes come to a halt with one front wheel spinning

Activating it, once you had come to a halt in mud, still leaves a dicey feeling when you get going again.

In sand, (haven't done much testing yet) I found leaving it off worked better. Especially turning full lock, where you can put a bit of right foot in to pull it around.

So I still managed to need to winch myself a few metres up out of a bog hole before all 4 wheels stopped spinning. You have to experiment and work out what does and doesn't work!

Worth it? I'm impressed. It is that little extra something that gives an edge over a standard 4b and allows you to go further - and get back.

S the thing you want to avoid (AirLockers, so assume yours Elocker will be the same) is Crash switching, switching the locker on while your hard on the gas and things are spinning up. For obvious reasons this is a bad thing to do, lots of Comp guys do this (less now) and a little mechanical sympathy will go along way.

On the other hand though, you don't have to stop to engage, this could and probably will cause more trouble for you. If you find yourself loosing traction and you want the front locker just back off the gas or put the clutch in a second flick the switch and hard on the gas again, maintaining your momentum is paramount.

Any kind of Locker is a Traction Aid, it is not the Be All and End All, you can and will continue to get stuck. You will go further than most though but you will get stuck.

They are a Game Changer but you still must abide by the TTT rule! Traction Traction Traction. Enjoy.

[FNQGU]

Yeah P4trol got it in one. If your winching its because you have No Traction, when you regain traction you can stop winching. Lockers on as part of your self recovery equipment.

You could also be winching from a stationary position, with your foot on the brake. eg. pulling someone else out backwards. I haven't heard of anyone ever having done any damage to their front axles, bearings or CV's whilst winching someone out though so not sure there is any substance to it though.

[P4trol]

I just saw a YouTube clip which made reference to switching lockers off when winching.

There was a thread here or on another patrol forum, with a short promotional video clip. It featured a land cruiser crossing a muddy tidal Creek. They got stuck crossing, then right on cue the tide started to come in. Lots of drama, swearing etc for the camera. The vehicle snatching then rolled as it tried to snatch. The promo video ended there. I believe it is a TV series.

Anyway, they have other short videos too. In one, the driver was heard to mention turning off the lockers while winching - presumably whilst in neutral. I am guessing they would be talking about the extra drag via the driveline (front wheels, back through locked diff to the transfer case)

Whilst they said this, I noticed straight after they had the locker on as one wheel popped into the air during winching. / edit: not quite true, they used the other vehicle as an anchor, and had started to use it as a tow vehicle by this time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hueKuzUHPG8&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Starting just after 4 minutes for the comment.