Topic: Locker front or back

[crx-si]

Thinkin about gettin a lockrite locker for my 85 pickup and was wondering where to put it, in the front or back.

[DTB]

What about aussie lockers? I just saw a thread about them, http://board.marlincrawler.com/index.php?topic=16248.from1136664701;topicseen#msg206338  Better than a Lock Right? (or lock wrong as some people call them)

[whiteman]

Some may argu but you should lock the rear first and then the front, the lock right is an ok cheap locker.  If you want to go with more reliability and better performance spend an extra $100 and get an Aussie locker.
 Definatley start with the rear first you dont want the front doing all the work.

Or you could always weld the rear and aussie the front and never look back

[crawlerdan]

Thinkin about gettin a lockrite locker for my 85 pickup and was wondering where to put it, in the front or back.

most will tell you rear, but think baout it logically, if you put it in the front-its the first axle to meet an obsticle,there is far mose weight on the front axle, more traction,and it will be un-noticable in 2wd on the road.but it will have and effect on steering off road and will put more stress on front axle parts then if you put it in the rear.

[blackdiamond]

Get an Aussie Locker and put it in the rear.  I think it will have less of an impact on daily driving because it unlocks easier and possibly makes less noise.

A locker in the front with stock birfields and axles will greatly increase the chances of getting to do a trail fix.  Also, from my experience, Toyota trucks tend to lift rear wheels off road more than they do the fronts which makes a rear locker essential.  Jeeps seems to lift the front wheels more so it might make sense for a front locker first in that case. 

[crx-si [OP]]

Still thinkin about puttin it in the front i won't have to be using it all the time and the most weight is in the front.
Seems logical to me any more opinions.

[whiteman]

What tires are you running?

Do have lower gears?

[crx-si [OP]]

Just runnin stock 410's with a set of 33 mt's

[blackdiamond]

Here is the bottom line...

An open differential provides some traction as long as both tires are on the ground, and will provide zero traction when one tire is in the air.  A locker will help most when it is used on the axle that spends the most time in the air.  If you put a locker in the front and you pick up a rer tire, you have just created a fwd truck, and we that would create a ton of unneeded stress in the front end.  Plus, the steeper the trail, the more weight that shifts to the back.

[DTB]

^^^^What he said^^^

less traction in the rear, right?

so locker in the rear, right?

[skid]

Lock the rear.   It's alot cleaner to dig into and won't affect the steering as much when in 4wd.  Everyone I know where with a front locker where I live has broken a front birfield.
Wait on the front till you can upgrade the birfields.
Also, if running the stock push pull steering, some believe the added stress of a front locker shortens the life of the J-arm.

[olemisstoy88]

lock the rear. mine is locked all the time and its a daily as well as toy. It drives great on and off road. on the trail your rear axle will prolly be the one on the ground mostly so Id rather have traction in the stronger axle on the ground.

[Rocksurfer]

Lock the rear and either leave the front open, limited-slip or if you must lock the front be gentle on it. If you don't replace the birfs with Longs or something similar and hammer your rig it is only 1 rock away from exploding. I have never (except in my Sammi) locked a birfield equiped truck. Stock birfs are fine as long as you keep the load centered on them, that means don't turn the wheel till it locks and stab the skinny pedal.