Lokka's

[mooman]

Hey all, any body know of a good brand name of lokkas? and if i fit them to the front or rear or both? would prefer the rear but never used them so wouldnt know ;D. Also a ball park figure so i know if im gettin a good deal..

Cheers

[Jimmu]

Lokkas are a brand name.
They are the auto locker brand sold by www.4wdsystems.com.au

Jimmy

[geeves]

currently theres realy only 2 choises of locker for the front and 1 for the back.
The ARB is available both ends and is manual control but expensive
The locka is an auto locker so less to learn and cheaper.
If you fit lockers expect to break CV joints

[mudgrip4]

On this forum board scroll down to 'Faults and Questions', then click on the 'Drive train' part and there is a topic there on difflocks. There are contact numbers, purchase details for Aussie lokkas. Probably about $575 or so from Steve at 4wdstuff (depending on exchange rates), and about 5 hours to fit in the front. I think from memory you can also get an aussie lokka for the bighorn 10 bolt rear diff - but this needs to be checked. Have a number of mates with Aussie lokkas in Isuzus and they do great - the increase in grip and climbing ability is at times phenomenal. But as noted above you do have to be more cautious re cvs - no bouncing and no hard power on while on full lock. I believe the lokkas have a 5 year guarantee and am not aware of any problems with them in club trucks.

You can also get Detroit? and Lockrite lokkas - other makes of auto locker - but would probably be a bit dearer. The lokka from 4WD Systems in Adelaide is a goodie - very pleased with it.

Sounds crazy but it has doubled the climbing ability my swb bighorn had with a tightened lsd - friends have the same experience. Crawls up in low first what it was hard pressed to do flat out and bouncing everywhere in second before. Bit harder on cvs but alot less stress on the rest of the truck, as relying now on traction rather than momentum.

There has been some discussion re rear auto lockers and WOF - might be worth checking before possible purchase.

Mike

[Pissy]

I want one in the rear!

OK that's a bad joke, but I'm/we are all still waiting and hoping to find out if there is any movement for a rear Auto locker from the lokka makers.

No one can say for sure what's the deal with a rear locker, just alot of "hopefully soon" talk.

[Bruce]

4WD Systems told me, when I brought my front one , that they won't have one untill at least the middle of next year. I would besurprised if they have one by then from the way he push the subject away.
Cheers Bruce

[mooman]

Ok... sounds like something to think about. C.V's are not cheap so does any1 know (on average) how long the cv's might last?.. And is there another alternative for more traction thats not better tyres?
Cheers

[mudgrip4]

The local cantab club trucks with front lokkas are all 87-92 bighorns which evidently have heavier cvs than later mus or bighorns, but if your mu is a 90-93? (2.8) I think you might also have the heavier cvs. The local trucks don't bust cvs unless really mistreated - other trucks are also busting them in the same extreme conditions. I think the guys had broken one cv apiece over many years, but the good thing is you can pick up good second hand outer cvs from wreckers for about $50-60. Most NZ 4x4s have done little 4wdriving so their cvs are often in mint condition. Cost is not a big deal. Just don't use aftermarket ones - often chinese crapmetal and easily broken on any vehicle.

You could also get a 2nd hand LSD and maybe have it tightened up a bit - put it in the rear. This really lifts traction esp over uneven ground. The local trucks with front lokkas also have lsd in rear and they sure go well.

Mike

[geeves]

second hand cv joints are fairly cheap
Fitting takes a little over an hour. (have seen done in 30 min) so not a huge issue just more spare parts to carry.
As long as you dont have the power on when an airborn wheel touches down or too much power turning you shouldnt break the cv but of cause driving like that is no fun.
The advantage of the locker is that you can still use the traction you still have with a wheel in the air and crawl quitly over things. Its only when you drive the old fashioned way (rip .... and bust)with a locker that things break.

[mooman]

Soooooooo, Can they be engaged and disengaged via a switch of somesort or are they locked full time?..

[geeves]

Manual lockers are switched via a switch. The arb ones use solinoids and air pressure to do the work.
Auto lockers like the Locka are a funny beast but they work. Sort of a cross between a LSD and a backwards diff in that they sort of apply power to the slowest moving wheel. Its done with a very fancy ratchet but if you want to know more youll have to look at there website. I couldnt describe them better without useing terms like "black magic" They do work There only faults which dont happen to everyone is clicking while turning (with a front locker only this isnt a problem as on road you disengage the free wheels) This is more noticable with a rear loka and swb. The second fault is they can affect steering in very slippery conditions Some people have removed there front auto lockers very quickly and describe them as highly unsafe others say the effect is almost unnoticable. I dont have a locker of any type yet so am just reflecting other peoples comments

[mooman]

decided against the lockers, made some calls to a few clubs in nz and oz.. they dont really recommend them for swb turbo mu's... they all seem to say the front leaves the ground to much when the tubo kicks in and does to much damage.. A few mu owners say they swear by them.. but those are the guy's who changed from pleasure trucks to tuffy's..

[daniel]

bruce2 said:

4WD Systems told me, when I brought my front one , that they won't have one untill at least the middle of next year. I would besurprised if they have one by then from the way he push the subject away.
Cheers Bruce

What do you think of the performance of you're lokka bruce?

I've been planning on getting an auto locker for the front, and eventually getting an air locker for the rear.

[Bruce]

Would not know its the same truck off road, some places I go now I would not have thought about before the Lokka ask Jimmy. And it is not as hard to steer as others would tell you, hardly noticed it in soft sand.
Cheers Bruce

[Jimmu]

Front leaving the ground? I dont know what they are talking about!

video.google.com/videoplay?docid=483421298656740126

I would however totally disagree about not reccomending them for a MU. The Turbo does not really 'kick in' that hard and the Lokka makes a massive difference to the trucks capability and from my perspective how safely you can traverse the really rough stuff. They are the only counter to the total crap that is IFS off road.

Jimmy

[mudgrip4]

From my experience, would agree completely with Bruce and Jimmu above. With an aussie auto lokka in the front, my truck is a bit harder to steer but you get used to that very quickly. And the idea you can't use one because the turbo kicks in too hard is just cr*p. You in fact get a HUGE increase in climbing ability, and need far less revs and speed than before.

Just done long weekend in southern mountains round Alexandra with my club - in bogholes and snowdrifts on the Old Man range etc and no problems with slippery conditions with lokka. And in an extremely steep shingle 75 meter hillclimb which a number of trucks failed, the swb bighorn with front lokka and rear lsd walked it - it was so easy it didn't even spin. I think this little bomb would climb a wall now - the lokka has had a huge impact.

If you take a few weeks to get the feel of it off road in different conditions, don't put hard power on in full lock, and don't bounce the front, you'll have a lot of fun with the lokka in the front of a mu. From my growing experience much of the negative comment is plain misinformed.

Mike.

[Bruce]

hear, hear Bruce

[mooman]

Ok.... so they sound like a go again.. i think.. the comments on here are the same as the comments the tuff truck guy's where sayin.. nothin wrong with lokkas if ya know how to use em.. I dont really know the do's n dont's with the lokkas so didnt really wanna take any chances... Think i'll look into them again..
Cheers guy's.