Front/rear locker questions

[rudiedj Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close rudiedj]

The intension is not to open a potential can of worms but rather to educate myself
Q1: if i had to put one locker in ONLY. which one would be more advantageous, frnt or rear?
Q2: if i had both, when would u use the front and when the rear?
Thanks

[williade Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close williade]

Q1: In a Prado, the rear locker.
Q2: That is a massive question that had hardly be answered in a single post.

For rough hill climbs and descents, use the rear locker. If that doesn't get you through engage the front locker. There is will so be times when you should engage both before starting and knowledge when to engage each locker will come with experience.

[tassie tiger Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close tassie tiger]

I prefer the front. You can use it to climb out of ruts easier. Plus, you have an LSD, not a good one but better than none, in the back already.

cheers

[rudiedj Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close rudiedj]

Thanks for the info. My LSD .... I am not sure if it really works. I was told, that it has a clutch mechanism that wears out, and once it goes, you do not know if it works or not. I guess only way is to jack the one wheel up and see if it turns or not?
ARB has a special now. IF you fit both, you get the compressor and pump kit for free. $1100 for front, $1100 for rear, $1100 odd for install.
Is that a good deal?

[williade Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close williade]

I prefer the front. You can use it to climb out of ruts easier. Plus, you have an LSD, not a good one but better than none, in the back already.

cheers

Toyota LSD's are useless.

If you engage a front locker without the rear, a single front wheel may end up bearing the weight of the whole vehicle. That is just asking for CV joint failure. I would rather the much stronger rear axle be taking all the load. The rear also has more weight (hence traction) when going up hills. And because it does not give as much feed back through the steering you can engage a rear locker more often.

If it was a GQ or GU Patrol, its a different story. Their LSD so effective and the front drive line so strong, I wouldn't have any hesitation in locking the front diff first.

[MidLifeCrisis Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close MidLifeCrisis]

Its been a year since I got mine, but I don't think I paid that much and would expect prices to drop given the strength of the Aussie dollar. I will check if I can find the invoice.

[rudiedj Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close rudiedj]

makes sense.
thanks

[croozza Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close croozza]

The intension is not to open a potential can of worms but rather to educate myself
Q1: if i had to put one locker in ONLY. which one would be more advantageous, frnt or rear?
Q2: if i had both, when would u use the front and when the rear?
Thanks

To answer your questions.
1. If you only go one locker, go for the rear, a front locker only, is asking for brakages.
2. if you had both, you can not put the front on only, the way they are set up, is to make you have to put the rear on first, then the front.

If you can get them for the price you said go for it, that is not much $$$ for 100% traction.

[Guest Close Guest]

Rudiedj,

You have a 120 Grande which has a fairly effective traction control. Some will argue that it is good enough instead of a rear locker.
Prados with TC have a non-LSD rear diff.

[wooley Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close wooley]

Rudiedj,

You have a 120 Grande which has a fairly effective traction control. Some will argue that it is good enough instead of a rear locker.
Prados with TC have a non-LSD rear diff.

I suppose that explains why the LSD doesn't work then...

[pimped_prado Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close pimped_prado]

So, this locker deal..is it a Nationwide thing or only your Tassie dealer ?
I looked on ARB.com and it only mentioned the deal for the chainsaw

steve

[wooley Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close wooley]

So, this locker deal..is it a Nationwide thing or only your Tassie dealer ?
I looked on ARB.com and it only mentioned the deal for the chainsaw

steve

Where did you find said chainsaw deal?

[pimped_prado Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close pimped_prado]

http://www.arb.com.au/stihl-promo/ Oops sorry...just looked at the fine print .... maybe this expired in 2010

[tassie tiger Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close tassie tiger]

Toyota LSD's are useless.

If you engage a front locker without the rear, a single front wheel may end up bearing the weight of the whole vehicle. That is just asking for CV joint failure. I would rather the much stronger rear axle be taking all the load. The rear also has more weight (hence traction) when going up hills. And because it does not give as much feed back through the steering you can engage a rear locker more often.

If it was a GQ or GU Patrol, its a different story. Their LSD so effective and the front drive line so strong, I wouldn't have any hesitation in locking the front diff first.

I agree with what you say, however it also depends on the skill of the driver. If you know what you are doing, and dont rush things like a bull at a gate, you shouldnt break a CV.

Of course, there are lots of bulls out there

[williade Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close williade]

ARB have cleverly given lots information on the front vs rear locker debate without giving an opinion.

http://www.arb.com.au/getting-starte...or%20rear_.php

The average Joe's response after reading that would be get both. Very smart ARB, well done.

I think the fact that standard ARB wiring for vehicles fitted with dual lockers does not allow the front locker to be engaged by itself says alot.