Lockers

[Bent-Binder]

I am getting ready to install a locker in the front of my Scout and money is an issue, therefore I can't afford a true Detroit Locker, so I was curious what some of your oppinions are on this subject. I was thinking about using a Detroit EZ Locker or a Lockright.

[Hayraker]

Lockright, simple,cheap,ez to install,makes hardly any noise.

Front locker is the best thing I have ever done to my rig. If I had of installed one right off the bat I would have a lot less body damage.

[Overkiller]

You didn't say what front axle you have. I'll assume it's a Dana 44 in which case I'll agree with Hayraker but if it's a 30 or 27 don't do it. The Lockrights for the weaker axles are very problematic not to mention they help you snap your axles. But if you have a 44 up front then a Lockright is a good way to save some bucks.
Travis

[AgaveHound]

I was looking into lockers a while back and heard some talk about the OX locker. Anyone use one? Their web site mentions a design for the D44 but I haven't seen one yet. Looks good though. Any thoughts?

[lt303scoutin]

No personal experience with the OX lockers but found them interesting. 1 of the 4x4 mags had an article when they installed one in a D44.

Looked hell stout. was $$$$ more than an ARB but no need for the compressor.

.02

[Hayraker]

Originally posted by Chuck F.:
<STRONG>I was looking into lockers a while back and heard some talk about the OX locker. Anyone use one? Their web site mentions a design for the D44 but I haven't seen one yet. Looks good though. Any thoughts?</STRONG>

Yeah, I wheel with a guy that has one front & rear in a TJ, they are a cable actuated selectable locker (like an ARB but you don't need air).

In my opinion this is probably the best setup on the market for a front axle because you can leave it disengaged until you need it, They are very expensive though and I don't see why you would need one in the rear because why would you ever need to completely disengage it.

My cousin installed these OX lockers in this guys TJ and he said that they were a real
P I T A !! There is such a small tolerance on the cable actuated control that everything has to be setup very precisely.

With all of that said if I had plenty of money I would probably have them front and rear. <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

[Cliffy [JD]]

Originally posted by Hayraker*:
<STRONG>I don't see why you would need one in the rear because why would you ever need to completely disengage it.

<IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"></STRONG>

Same reason that guys get ARB's in the rear....that's not to say I understand it but that's probably the same reason.

I'll stick with my Detroit <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/usa.gif" border="0">

[Bent-Binder]

I appreciate everyones input. I'm still curious why nobody has any comments on the ez-locker. It is my understanding that it is pretty much the same thing as a lockright and there are priced pretty much the same. Does one offer a better warrantee than the other or is the lockright just an all around better locker?

[Cliffy [JD]]

I don't have any experience with them.

If noboy else does, try the gen 4x4 forum just ask about the EZ-Locker, I know there are some guys there who use them.

[TERRA-IZER]

I have ran both Lockrights and Detriot Ez-lockers both do a good job in the fronts, no noise. But i don't recommend either in the rear, the ez-lockers makes less noise but still don't like them poping and unloading when you let off of the gas. I'am going to a full spool on the rear pretty soon. Up front they work great in the rear they suck on the road. I like the springs set up on the ez-locker better then the lockright. The ez-locker uses 4 springs with a metal cap on the end compared to the lockrights 8 springs 4 large with 4 small ones inside the large ones.

[NotQuiteSane]

Originally posted by Cliffhanger:
<STRONG>Same reason that guys get ARB's in the rear....that's not to say I understand it but that's probably the same reason.

I'll stick with my Detroit <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/usa.gif" border="0"></STRONG>

Well, I want ARB's because I see no reason to have 100% of the disadvantages of lockers, when you only need them 1% of the time.

Ok, some people need them 2% of the time <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/thefinger.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

Joe

[Hayraker]

Originally posted by NotQuiteSane:
<STRONG>Well, I want ARB's because I see no reason to have 100% of the disadvantages of lockers, when you only need them 1% of the time.

Ok, some people need them 2% of the time <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/thefinger.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

Joe</STRONG>

Well I could probably see it if you were wheelin your daily driver, but I don't understand people wheelin their daily driver, what happens if you break, how ya going to get to work on Monday.

My old scout is a wheelin only rig, doesn't see the highway, isn't registered or inspected, and needs to be locked up about 75-100 percent of the time.

That is why my rear is welded up, I couldn't justify buying a cheap locker to put in it because I could deal with it not releasing when cornering.

But like I said earlier if I had plenty of money I would probably have OX front & rear. <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

[scoutman]

it must be nice to have the money to not wheel your daily driver. <IMG SRC="smilies/thefinger.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/thefinger.gif" border="0"> mind if i borrow some of your money so i don't have to wheel my daily driver '66 800?? ;flipoff2: just kidding. most people wheel their daily drivers because they can not afford a trial and daily driver. if i coud afford to have a daily driver i would. but wheeling a daily driver i find to be more challenging than wheelinga trail only rig. one must pick thier lines in such a way that they avoid the most breakage prone lines. daily driver rigs also may take body damage in conisderation for thier choice of line. also knowing if you break it better get it fixed provides a challenge and keeps the driver honest about his and his rig's ablitities. just remember that their are some people out her putting themselves through college and mommy and daddy are only helping out with tution. All my dad helped me pay for on my truck was the engine rebuild, I've had to pay for everything else, and i'll be damned if some rich punk will talk shit about me wheeling my daily driver. I guess that is why i wasn't welcome in the new wheeling club here. this freshman just got mommy and daddy to put a 6" lift on his late model tacoma.i'm throgh ranting. have fun wheeling in what ever it is you wheel in, be it a daily driver or trail rig.

[Hayraker]

Originally posted by scoutman:
<STRONG>it must be nice to have the money to not wheel your daily driver. <IMG SRC="smilies/thefinger.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/thefinger.gif" border="0"> mind if i borrow some of your money so i don't have to wheel my daily driver '66 800?? ; most people wheel their daily drivers because they can not afford a trial and daily driver. if i coud afford to have a daily driver i would. All my dad helped me pay for on my truck was the engine rebuild, I've had to pay for everything else, and i'll be damned if some rich punk will talk shit about me wheeling my daily driver. </STRONG>

I hope you are not talking directly to me. I put myself thru college 10 years ago with NO help from mommy & daddy.

I have about $1500 total in my wheeling rig, if I break it and don't have the money to fix it, it stays broke.

If you break the vehicle that you must depend on it has to be fixed whether you have the money to fix it or not.

So I wish I HAD the money to wheel a daily driver....It is a lot newer and nicer than my wheeling rig.

And I am not talking about someone who likes to take his daily driver down muddy roads or easy mountain trails where there is little chance of really tearing something up. I am talking about abusing a vehicle that you must depend on to make a living.

[Cliffy [JD]]

It sounded to me like he was referring to the guy w/the tocoma that is in the club???

We all have our preference's. My trail rig would be my daily driver *IF* I didn't have a company vehicle (I'd rather be able to drive the scout though, that's why I'm taking the time to fix it up halfway decent)

So I do consider my scout a daily driver because, if I lose/quit my job ever, I HAVE to have my scout to fall back on.

My only advantage is that for now I get to take my time and do it right the first time <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

Anyway I was meaning to say that I think the guys who wheel their daily drvers hard seem MORE hardcore to me than the guys with stricly trail rigs, just for the risk factor of potentially not having a ride to work anytime they go wheelin'. <IMG SRC="smilies/usa.gif" border="0">

[Old Scout]

REAR ARB you ask. SNOW on the highway thats why. A worn out trac-loc will send you spining off the road, a detroit would be scary!

[scoutman]

hayraker, i understand that you may have put yourself through college, and you have a small sum of money in your scout, but the way you worded your response came across as being look at me i can have a trail toy and a daily driver, and those of us who have to wheel thier daily driver were dumb. i kinda overracted because of people like they guy in the tacoma and most of the posouers at the high school i went too. but i do wheel my truck, ever heard of tellico? i went htere a week before I came out to colorado from tennessee for college. there are also several places in eastern tenn, that are serious trails that i have done. I have also wheeled some hardcore stuff here in colorado? spring creek, silver creek, guard rail, and carnage canyon. if you want proof i can post pics or take vhs and turn it digital and post a movie of me at tellico. So i hope that there are no hard feelings, i misunderstood the meaning behind the post. all that matters to me is that we get out to wheel. having my truck as a daily driver keep me from wheeling this weekend due to a steering box and rear pinion seal leaks that i am getting parts to fix for. so let's all have fun.

[tsm1mt]

Originally posted by Old Scout:
<STRONG>REAR ARB you ask. SNOW on the highway thats why. A worn out trac-loc will send you spining off the road, a detroit would be scary!</STRONG>

BTDT with the worn out (and quite abused) Trashlok.

I was trying to maintain 60mph on glare ice.. at 61mph the rear end would start coming around thanks to the Trashlok.

4-hi wasn't even an option at those speeds with a front locker.

Yet another reason for keeping my open/open Travelall for winter use. <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

[HooperSSII]

Originally posted by tsm1mt:
<STRONG>
BTDT with the worn out (and quite abused) Trashlok.

I was trying to maintain 60mph on glare ice.. at 61mph the rear end would start coming around thanks to the Trashlok.

4-hi wasn't even an option at those speeds with a front locker.

Yet another reason for keeping my open/open Travelall for winter use. <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"></STRONG>

Some areas, Locked rear is fine. W Washington only sees snow occasionally. I have a short commute to work. When it snows, the highways all slow way, way down. I have had NO problems with my lockright walking around on me, either on the city streets or the mtn trails.

On the daily driver vs dedicated trail rig,

My wheeling rig is my daily driver, and the sheetmetal shows it.

Does it limit how I wheel? Nope. Yep.

What I mean is, I don't have a trailer for my rig. So, if I break it on the trail, I have to fix it on the trail.

I spent a lot of money on my drivetrain and suspension this last year, to make sure it is up to snuff. If your drivetrain and suspension are in good shape, there is not much you can do on a trail, short of rolling it, that can't be fixed in a few hours of work, and a hundred or two in parts, unless you are really into the go pedal type wheeling.

Most things I might break on the trail are not high price items, or lengthy repairs that would keep you from driving to work anyway. Front axle ujoints. Axles. Drivelines. Driveline ujoints. Wheel and axle bearings. That is the great thing about scouts. They are rugged. You can take the tough trails without having to worry about it breaking, in most cases.

I have not *avoided* any trails around here for fear of breakage. I have not taken some obstacles because of high roll over possibility. I don't have enough of a cage to give me any confidence in a roll over. But, otherwise, I give the obstacles/trails a good run. But then, I am a slow and mellow driver. Not much into the gas anymore.

plus, I drive my trail rig in town for the *cool* factor. It is fun to drive around town with the top and doors off. <g>

Patrick

[Hayraker]

Originally posted by scoutman:
<STRONG> So i hope that there are no hard feelings, i misunderstood the meaning behind the post. all that matters to me is that we get out to wheel. having my truck as a daily driver keep me from wheeling this weekend due to a steering box and rear pinion seal leaks that i am getting parts to fix for. so let's all have fun.</STRONG>

That's cool man, I didn't mean to offend either, Keep showing them Tacoma boys what an old Binder can do. <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

[jdjanda]

Originally posted by Bent-Binder:
<STRONG>I appreciate everyones input. I'm still curious why nobody has any comments on the ez-locker. It is my understanding that it is pretty much the same thing as a lockright and there are priced pretty much the same. Does one offer a better warrantee than the other or is the lockright just an all around better locker?</STRONG>

I run an EZ-locker in the front. If you can afford it run a Detroit Locker. A couple of times this weekend on climbs I overpowered the locker, according to Detroit this is caused by the weight of the rig, and possible worn thrust washers. A quick jerk of the wheel, or letting off the go pedal allows it re-engage. So if you do it, buy and install new thrust washers. Depending on where you wheel, you may want to consider a twin stick for the t-case. Three times this weekend I wound up in bad lines because of the locker, I.E. I could not turn the wheels. I was also on the slabs at the Rubicon, with the twin stick I could run around in rear wheel low, very nice and no locker steer.

Joe <IMG SRC="smilies/smokin.gif" border="0">

[tsm1mt]

Originally posted by jdjanda:
<STRONG>I run an EZ-locker in the front. If you can afford it run a Detroit Locker. A couple of times this weekend on climbs I overpowered the locker, according to Detroit this is caused by the weight of the rig, and possible worn thrust washers.
</STRONG>

The only time I "overpowered" my front Lockright was the day I blew it into many chunks. <IMG SRC="smilies/thefinger.gif" border="0">

But they warranteed it. Does Detroit still only warranty EZ's when used with 32s or smaller? That was one of the factors in going with the LR. A buddy runs front/rear Lockrights with 42s and zero problems.

<STRONG>Three times this weekend I wound up in bad lines because of the locker, I.E. I could not turn the wheels. I was also on the slabs at the Rubicon, with the twin stick I could run around in rear wheel low, very nice and no locker steer.
</STRONG>

When mine is bound up, I tend to just rock it forward/backwards and keep turning the wheel to relieve the binding.

Of course, a big steering box might fix that problem.. or break the knuckles. <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

Only time I *couldn't* turn was after the Lockright blew chunks and would only unlock when turning right, but never left (or vice versa)..