"Lunch-Box Locker" questions

I have never heard too much bad. I know a lot of guys on another list I was on run them and liked them. A lot of them ran Loc-Rites IIRC. I think it is another depends on what your going to do with it. If you are running the Hammers on a regular basis, you might break or wear one out. For most wheeling that this group usually does and the drive train your running, you would probably not have much problem with them.

 

I think the main concern is the weakness. In my front LR I have broken two of the pins that line both pieces up. Not a major problem that damaged anything just it wouldnt stay locked in. But other than that everything is fine. Also the more miles you get on them the more they will "ratchet" and make more noise, due to the edges of the teeth getting worn down.

 

For a daily driver probably not your first choice. I did have some issues with one installed in a XJ 8.25, It started to chatter and then the couplers would not engage due to the edge of the teeth being worn, It was a used unit I purchased and installed. Just hold to the minimun clearance called out in the directions and you'll be fine. I have broken an D25 axle and grenaded locking hubs on my ECJ. Key word here is cheap and easy for the average Joe to install.

 

I've been running a Quick Loc for 4 years now.
Love it.
Only seen one drop in locker go boom.
The same guy also has blown up an ARB, an Atlas T case, etc, etc.

 

I love me some aussie locker!!!
i had one in the front of my CJ7 for about 2 years before i sold it. i liked the up front locker cause you could open your hubs and it was like it wasn't even there. never put one in the rear and i sold it to get my ECJ5...and i am afraid to put one in either the 27 or the tapered 44.

Tommy

 

I have the Aussie unit in my front 30, I haven't noticed hardly any noise at all. But then again with the unit in the front your usually somwhere making other noises with slipping tires or rocks crunching to notice any clicking from ther unit. My power steering is so lite that I noticed no difference at all in the steering, but I would guess that a ross box or manual saginaw would feel it to some degree.
I like mine and consider it a good upgrade, i will probably put a Pow'r lock in the rear though.

 

i got a lockright in the rear of my F250. its great. all of the cons mentioned are less noticable in my long wheel base truck then it would be in a short wheelbase jeep. for the jeep, powerlocks front and rear is what i have and for the street/moderate off roading i do, the powerlocks are perfect for me.

 

i've got a lockrite in the rear of my cherokee and agree with everything that's been said. the only thing i'd add is that you might want to buy some shim packs to get the minimum clearances. mine was loud and somewhat unpredicatble until i shimmed it up. since then it's been quite and just as advertised. the only time i hear it is making a turn at full lock while coasting and the occasionaly unloading that lynn mentioned (scared the hell out of me the first time it happened).

 

I had a Lockrite in the rear for a few years. It made driving on the street a challenge. As mentioned above the sudden lane changes when shifting was very interesting. The first time it unloaded I thought something broke in a big way. I pulled over to the side of the road and looked for breakage but of course there wasn't any. It was great on the trail but sucked in the snow. The rear end shifted around so much I wasn't sure wich ditch I was going to end up in. I did manage to wear it out. It wasn't engaging consistantly and it quite making the clicking noise on corners. I wasn't sad to see it go. If I were to do it again I would go with a Detroit. They have a reputation for not wearing out.
I did see (well, hear) a locker grenade on the Maob Rim once. It was in a Toyota Land Cruiser. It sounded like an axle snapping then the rear end quit working. He had to drive back down with front wheel drive.

 

I run a power loc posi in the rear to avoid all the bad manners on street. I does make a differnce...went through the rubicon open x3 years...then put in the power loc and made a big difference. I then put in a lockright up front when I went to the D30. That made a huge difference. Point it and it goes up it! Just my .02 $. Since doing the lockright, I do notice my rig likes to pull to the right when in 4wd...not sure what thats about.

 

I run a lockrite in both the tapered 44 rear and the 25 front. The only thing this setup has broken was a front bendix style ujount, but I think that it was more from binding than the locker. No problems yet with the rear. Also put one in the front 44 of my 6 on 38's. No problems with it yet.

 

My rear LockRight has been acting strange the last couple of times I've been out. Not offroad, but on the highway. It has started either locking or unlocking in the gradual curves. Feels like sh*t and is rather unnerving. It's been in for 5 or 6 years and I'm thinking something is getting pretty worn back there. I'm pulling it to go with a Detroit this winter. Just a little more insurance for the trail.

 

I have the Aussie in the front D30 on my TJ... even though it has hubs that are always locked, it's completely invisible on the street. Other than a slight clicking noise on turns you'd never know it was there. I do feel the hard steering offroad but unless the tires are against a rock or tree it's not a problem.

 

OK, I don't even understand what lockers are. Is this something I'd even need in a stock '56 CJ5 that's only going to be used for street driving and very mild scenic mountain trails? I have no intention of doing the hardcore rock crawling stuff or radical trails like you guys....I don't want to break things. I just want to cruise old mining roads and "jeep trails" in Colorado, and definitely want it to be safe to drive on the streets in any weather.

 

Don't worry Rondog, you don't need lockers. They just insure both tires turn at the same rate instead of just the tire with the least resistance spinning.

 

Whew! Glad to hear it! I'm sure you can understand the kind of trail riding I'm talking about, you've probably been over most of them here in Colorado. All this talk about parts breaking, grinding noises, sliding on snow and ice, etc., makes me nervous. That ain't what I'm looking for. I might go to Moab someday to watch others break their Jeeps, but I'm not into that. I'm going to have too much $$$ in it to go out and try to beat it up.