Front LOKKA questions

[RB30Turbo]

Looking for unbiased opinions from people who have a LOKKA fitted in the front.

I'm considering purchasing one but would like to know the facts first. It's going in the front of an RB30 turbo with over 300rwkw.

Do they work? Will it handle the power? I've got a heavy right foot, is it more likely to bust cv's? I understand that any locker will cause broken cv's when bouncing off rocks etc but looking for people's experience with them.

Thanks in advance.

[Rock Trol]

Depends on what you want to do with the car. When in 2WD you wont know its there so f you are going fast there wont be a problem. If you want to use that power in 4WD high range on dirt roads then don't put the LOKKA in as it does affect the steering. I tends to make the car fidgety and steer from side to side. It's the only drawback that I have encountered with my LOKKA. Everything else has been good so far.

In low range if you are careful with the power it should be fine. I have had mine for 4 years without a problem but I don't have 300 rwkw in my rig. If you want to spin the tyres in 4WD then probably wont be a good option as it will always be on. With a selectable locker it will be switched off most of the time and only switched on for times you will be going slow anyway.

[RB30Turbo]

Thanks for your reply Rock Trol.

I never use 4WD when doing high speeds so that shouldn't be an issue.

I'll get one and give it a go I reckon. If it breaks or plays up I'll go an Eaton Harrop electric:)

[growler2058]

Read this mate. I had NO issues with steering. Theres some vids here driving dirt tracks and soft sand on the last few pages. BEST THING I DID TO MY OLD Q
http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forums/showthread.php?5784-My-attempt-at-installing-a-LOKKA-brand-Auto-locker&highlight=Lokka+install

[growler2058]

Bloodyaussie You know what you've missed by not getting a LoKKa dunya mate?

[Rumcajs]

I've got one in mine and although its only 118kW engine I'm yet to break it LOL.

There are things to consider though:

Cons:
Really heavy steering once in 4WD mode,
Extreme understeer in the soft stuff so not pleasant to steer precisely and a bit dangerous on over correcting,
Annoying clicking on harder surfaces under full lock, you can't have auto locking hubs,
4WD Systems company is very difficult to deal with indeed I advise you against.....(When you read about history of LOKKA and 4WD Systems you will not be pleased)
Chinese made....

So consider other reputable company like Eaton Lockright or Spartan locker

Pros:

Cheap (not really when you see what is in the box),
Easy to use,
Its there all the time so no guess work as to when to engage or not.



Personally if I had my time again I'd go for proper manually selectable diff locker probably E-Locker as I'm not a fan of ARB.

Regards



Looking for unbiased opinions from people who have a LOKKA fitted in the front.

I'm considering purchasing one but would like to know the facts first. It's going in the front of an RB30 turbo with over 300rwkw.

Do they work? Will it handle the power? I've got a heavy right foot, is it more likely to bust cv's? I understand that any locker will cause broken cv's when bouncing off rocks etc but looking for people's experience with them.

Thanks in advance.

[growler2058]

I've got one in mine and although its only 118kW engine I'm yet to break it LOL.

There are things to consider though:

Cons:
Really heavy steering once in 4WD mode,
Extreme understeer in the soft stuff so not pleasant to steer precisely and a bit dangerous on over correcting,
Annoying clicking on harder surfaces under full lock, you can't have auto locking hubs,
4WD Systems company is very difficult to deal with indeed I advise you against.....(When you read about history of LOKKA and 4WD Systems you will not be pleased)
Chinese made....

So consider other reputable company like Eaton Lockright or Spartan locker

Pros:

Cheap (not really when you see what is in the box),
Easy to use,
Its there all the time so no guess work as to when to engage or not.



Personally if I had my time again I'd go for proper manually selectable diff locker probably E-Locker as I'm not a fan of ARB.

Regards

From my experience I didnt experience any of this in my GQ, hopefully its the same when i get one for the GU
Really heavy steering once in 4WD mode,
Extreme understeer in the soft stuff so not pleasant to steer precisely and a bit dangerous on over correcting,


This is caused by it unlocking when turning so the steering shouldnt be heavy. If under load and powering on it wont click and will stay lockedAnnoying clicking on harder surfaces under full lock, you can't have auto locking hubs,

[Rumcajs]

From my experience I didnt experience any of this in my GQ, hopefully its the same when i get one for the GU
Really heavy steering once in 4WD mode,
Extreme understeer in the soft stuff so not pleasant to steer precisely and a bit dangerous on over correcting,


This is caused by it unlocking when turning so the steering shouldnt be heavy. If under load and powering on it wont click and will stay lockedAnnoying clicking on harder surfaces under full lock, you can't have auto locking hubs,

Well, my experience is based on sand and on dirt roads. I actually avoid going in 4WD mode on normal dirt roads as the understeer combined with tight rear LSD can make the car twitch and unstable in fast flowing corners because front end wants to plow straight and rear end wants to come out sideways, I nearly rolled the beast several times before I wised up as to what is happening. Definately have to slow down comparing to driving with open front diff.

Steering is way heavier too, and can't really relax the grip on the steering wheel once starting to turn as the tendency is to wrestle the steering wheel out of my hands back to straight ahead so it is uncontrollable to a degree (unlike with castor angle the front wheels will return to centre once starting to straighten...) So after you've been driving in the deep sand for several hours your arms can feel it....

In the deep sand taking sharper corners is a lottery and sometimes counter productive as when I need a momentum and the bloody thing understeers the only way to get it to turn in I have to back off and then....

I'm not complaining as such just telling the experience as is. The understeer behavior is well know with these indeed any front lockable diff.

Also the instructions from 4WD Systems are fraudulent and incomplete as this installation is in all seriousness not just several hours, indeed it is a massive job with so many gotchas and opportunities for the things to go wrong especially for the inexperienced. If you think you can knock it in the afternoon then you are sadly mislead.

Thoughtful preparation is required as chances are that you may as well also repack/grease front wheel bearings (requiring you to change the seals too), possibly re do the CVs etc...change/service brakes etc....

Regards

[growler2058]

Well, my experience is based on sand and on dirt roads. I actually avoid going in 4WD mode on normal dirt roads as the understeer combined with tight rear LSD can make the car twitch and unstable in fast flowing corners because front end wants to plow straight and rear end wants to come out sideways, I nearly rolled the beast several times before I wised up as to what is happening. Definately have to slow down comparing to driving with open front diff.

Steering is way heavier too, and can't really relax the grip on the steering wheel once starting to turn as the tendency is to wrestle the steering wheel out of my hands back to straight ahead so it is uncontrollable to a degree (unlike with castor angle the front wheels will return to centre once starting to straighten...) So after you've been driving in the deep sand for several hours your arms can feel it....

In the deep sand taking sharper corners is a lottery and sometimes counter productive as when I need a momentum and the bloody thing understeers the only way to get it to turn in I have to back off and then....

I'm not complaining as such just telling the experience as is. The understeer behavior is well know with these indeed any front lockable diff.

Also the instructions from 4WD Systems are fraudulent and incomplete as this installation is in all seriousness not just several hours, indeed it is a massive job with so many gotchas and opportunities for the things to go wrong especially for the inexperienced. If you think you can knock it in the afternoon then you are sadly mislead.

Thoughtful preparation is required as chances are that you may as well also repack/grease front wheel bearings (requiring you to change the seals too), possibly re do the CVs etc...change/service brakes etc....

Regards

Yeah same just my experiences over the 5 years i had the ol Q, but were 100% different than what you describe. Must be the size of car that makes such a difference ay

[growler2058]

Yeah theres a bit to pull apart but I found the actual install a piece of piss. I wouldnt say the instructions were fraudulent by a long shot. They weren't clear (pics), but not fraudulent

[AB]

You'll love it and completely change your driving but I did get a little sick of the heavy steering when all day off-roading to be honest especially in the high country but I found a work around by using 4h a lot more and on the fly back to 2h

[Clunk]

You'll love it and completely change your driving but I did get a little sick of the heavy steering when all day off-roading to be honest especially in the high country but I found a work around by using 4h a lot more and on the fly back to 2h
Oh you do that too...... got a Spartan in mine, works well. Don't get any clicking either. ..... well not that I've noticed

[Skitzyrex]

I had one installed on Saturday and had replacement 4.11 diff centers put in at the same time. I got to the mechanic at 7 and was gone by 1 and that was putting the back center in also. Didn't look like a complicated task and if I hadn't just had a hernia op I would probably give it a go. The rattle gun certainly made a difference.
I'm yet to test it but have been told to just take it easy until you get use to it.

[RB30Turbo]

Thank's for the reply's fellas.

Sounds like there's fairly varied opinions but the general consensus is that they're not a bad bang for ya buck...

I'll give one a go and see what happens:)

[Rock Trol]

Thank's for the reply's fellas.

Sounds like there's fairly varied opinions but the general consensus is that they're not a bad bang for ya buck...

I'll give one a go and see what happens:)

Good call!
They are probably the best bang for your buck that you can get. They certainly work well and for the $380 or so for the LOKKA it leaves money for other mods. Easy to steer with them in 4WD, just back off the throttle, turn wheel and then apply power again. You just need a short time to learn how it behaves and then you wont notice it the front most of the time.

[growler2058]

Good call!
They are probably the best bang for your buck that you can get. They certainly work well and for the $380 or so for the LOKKA it leaves money for other mods. Easy to steer with them in 4WD, just back off the throttle, turn wheel and then apply power again. You just need a short time to learn how it behaves and then you wont notice it the front most of the time.

Yep that's what i found. Just a bit of throttle control and away you go. I was able to steer in sand and dirt with 1 finger in the Q

[threedogs]

I wouldnt put one in the front, like my steering too much.
with 330rwkw Id opt for a selectable locker.
I know heaps of guys with those rear kw figures
and not one has chosen to go an auto locker in the front or rear for that matter
In fact most pulled out their ARB lockers in favour of a TJM Pro Locker.

[Hodge]

In fact most pulled out their ARB lockers in favour of a TJM Pro Locker.

Just curious, who is "most" ? Not being biased or anything towards ARB or against TJM.

[growler2058]

HAd F&R ARB in a holden v6 gutlux non power steer and it was HEAVY. Didnt like it for my application

[Winnie]

I wouldnt put one in the front, like my steering too much.
with 330rwkw Id opt for a selectable locker.
I know heaps of guys with those rear kw figures
and not one has chosen to go an auto locker in the front or rear for that matter
In fact most pulled out their ARB lockers in favour of a TJM Pro Locker.
Don't know anyone in the comp scene with TJM lockers. They all run ARB or Eaton elockers.

[Clunk]

HAd F&R ARB in a holden v6 gutlux non power steer and it was HEAVY. Didnt like it for my application
Yeah mate of mine had the ARB ones in his 60 series, now that was a mission to steer

[RB30Turbo]

Your talking non power steering tho. That's gonna make a huge difference.

[Clunk]

Your talking non power steering tho. That's gonna make a huge difference.
Nope, definitely had power steering

[Rock Trol]

Does anyone here have a selectable locker up front? How hard are they to steer on rocks and firmer ground?
Or do you just switch it on and off to turn the wheel?

[Winnie]

Does anyone here have a selectable locker up front? How hard are they to steer on rocks and firmer ground?
Or do you just switch it on and off to turn the wheel?
I do. They're not THAT hard to steer, but I only lock mine when I need it and unlock it when I don't.

[Rossco]

Yeah ive got one too (ARB), once you get used to it it's not bad at all, being selectable is good tho, get to know when to use it or switch it off. That said tacking big red this year had the tires @ 10psi and both lockers on and started charging towards it, had to swing left to line up and the thing did not want to turn at all ! ! Made it up first go tho so they must have done something . . .

[MB]

My apologies, time poor & lazy to scour this full thread. Have only ever used ARB airlockers since the early 90's as they were then factory proven tested well beyond all others. Old Cruiser's we ran would explode every other drivetrain component bar our lockers. Not competing with mates these days but have now F/R ARB locked the Trol up. Have heard too many horror stories of permanent/auto lockers freaking out whilst scrabbling over creek crossing rocks & shail.

[threedogs]

Don't know anyone in the comp scene with TJM lockers. They all run ARB or Eaton elockers.

10 yrs ago when the likes of Andrew Cassar and Adam Bird were
in the Comp scene they went to Pro lockers for what reason I have no idea.
But this is about Auto lokka's, I had one briefly in the rear of my troopy
but chewed out the drive line very fast, being the easiest to access I opted for the ARB locker
in the rear, and later when the front needed a reco I went for a Pro-locker

[threedogs]

Just curious, who is "most" ? Not being biased or anything towards ARB or against TJM.

"MOST" being the comp guys I knew runing 330plus RWkw's.
I too am not biased on either the ARB locker or the Pro-locker
my other 4x4 had one of each.

[growler2058]

Your talking non power steering tho. That's gonna make a huge difference.

Yeah mate it was an absolute PIG

[DaveGQ]

I've got the harrop elocker in the front. You can definitely feel resistance while trying to turn (35" tyres), and it will increase your turning circle so making sharp turns is a bit harder.

But like others said, you only really turn it on when you REALLY need it.