Lokka's

[Bruce]

Looking up old posts there seems to have been a few problems with Lokka's.
To those people who have or had them fitted how are they going?
Can not get any drive from my front end in hill climb situtatons with both wheels firmly on the ground, so am looking to improve this.
Cheers Bruce.

[geeves]

If Im reading this right You have sufficiant traction on both front wheels but no drive to either. Most likely cause of this would be a bad free wheel hub so all drive goes to the broken hub and no further.

[Bruce]

Hi Geeves, What I should have said, I get traction but only from one wheel (normal for this sort of set up) and when the surface is smooth the power is only going to that wheel which is not enough grip to get up some of these inclines, does this make sense.
Cheers Bruce

[geeves]

Been there done that. Putting an Lsd in the back made a huge difference, Still too broke to buy a locka

[justin]

Bruce, I've had my front lokka in for over two years now and never had an issue with it. It makes a hell of a difference in hill climb situations as we have proved on a few club day outs matching against standard diffs. Tyres and articulation also play a big part in traction, but seeing as you run the same set up as me then a locking diff in the front would improve this. As for the downside well I have busted a few inferior quality CV's where the wheels are hard jammed and the diff don't give, but since using genuine recycled CV's I've had no issues. Yarno's air lockers were seriously amazing when he was running amongst the semi normal MU owners. J

[HiMuZuLux]

Just a note here - I've been supplying Lokkas for a while now, mainly into Hiluxs and Prados... never had a problem with any I have supplied, although 4WD Systems did get themselves a bad name for not being able to supply product a while back I understand all that is sorted now. Out of interest what do you Aussie guys pay for them? Last one I supplied to Oz worked out at about $450AUD + tax... much cheaper than here where they come in at about $550NZD + tax... freights a killer.

The front diffs and CVs in most trucks are not really up to lockers due to the huge strain they can put on them by supplying all the driving force through one side rather than sharing (or releasing it totally which is normal when you lift a wheel) the energy - be wary of the loud pedal with a front locker... its not pretty to have all the mods but have to be towed out ;D

Steve

[Bruce]

Thanks everyone for your opinions. Now how much work to fit a Lokka? and if the cv's are a problem what do you replace them with? (believe Justin had something in an old post on his replacements)
Cheers Bruce.

[justin]

Bruce my lokka cost about $550 Aus and I dropped the front diff for the mechanic and he assembled the internals and charged me $200. There is a reasonable amount of labour involved, (I would guess around $500), and make sure you get someone who knows diff assembly as it is easy to stuff up. As for replacement CV's, someone was looking into uprated ones and I remember reading that bighorn CV's were more robust than MU CV's but as I said all the ones I broke were Repco non genuine, (3 of), and I've yet to break a genuine. J

[Bruce]

thanks for that mate

[Bruce]

Does anyone know if there is a Lokka available for the back? and also do Detroit make a locking diff for the MU?
Cheers Bruce.
PS Has anyone been able to put a LSD in the front diff?

[geeves]

At present no locka for the back but I belive there may be plans afoot for one. Watch this space. I have heard of lsd in the front but no more details. Certainly a big improvment in the back

[Bruce]

Talking to a guy this morning who had aLSD in the front diff of his F100 said it was great, he also had a couple of ARB air lockers and said he would not go that way again said his Detroit in the back was the best.
Bruce

[Pissy]

I got a lokka in the front but an open rear, I said to my mates when I got the front one in (not realising the way I said it of course) "I'd love one in the rear" , let's just say that I still have not lived that comment down yet, BUT the sad truth is no one makes them (excluding Airlockers).
I personally have emailed about 5 different makers of auto lockers in the US and all have said NO. I even tried the US ISUZU club and found that they there too are trying to lobby to a company to make them for 26 spline diff. But last reports is that they gave up.
IF one does come on the market I'm sure someome will find it and post it,...until then I can only dream of getting one the rear ,...sorry people I could help the bad jokes. ;D ;D

[Bruce]

Hi Pissy have you had any probs with your cv's because of your lokka? and do you have alsd in the rear?

[Jimmu]

I have a Lokka in the front of mine for about 6 months now I suppose.
I fitted an LSD at the same time to the rear.

It made a massive difference.

I do have an issue with the front end where the vehicle jerks to the left when changing gears (front hubs locked in 4wd at speed 40kmh+)

But I think it is more likely an allignement steering issue just being amplified by the locker that the locker itself.

I would not bother fitting it yourself. I got the guys at superior engineering to do it for me and they were quite reasonable in price. They also rebuilt the LSD and checked both diffs at the same time)

For the difference it made, I would buy one again 3 times over.

Jimmy.

[Pissy]

Bruce,

No problems yet with CVs but I did have to replace one before I got the locker. As everyone here has stated get the reconditioned genuine CVs and not the aftermarket ones. Mine cost me $198 for one CV in Brisbane plus fitting.

As far as driving with it, I have found (last weekend at LCMP) that I didn't need half as much speed to do the stuff that I "could not do" last time with out one. Rule of thmb with front lokka is to take it easy and not to YaHoo over everything as it will likely cause front end to get air born and chash down and break a CVs, as I am sure that some of the more experienced boys can confirm.
Steering is much heavier especially when turning hard, slight clicking due to lokka cogs/teeth overlapping allowing the far wheel to rotate more and a wicked return to center if you let go,..hehe.

Unfortunately NO LSD in rear, which is why I'd really love one the rear, a lokka that is.

Starting to think about trying to get aN LSD for rear to complete the car. Have NO idea where to get one , eg TF rodeo but did get a quote for a new unit (In OZ but imported from US) for 950 plus fitting (for that price better off gettting air locker).

Stilling looking?

[namic69]

Where can I get a Lokka for my Bighorn in Auckland?

[Dave]

Don't know about Auckland, but try here if you can't track anyone down.
www.genie4x4.com/diff_lockers.htm


Dave

[HiMuZuLux]

Not sure if this is ok to do, and don't want to get my hand smacked, but hey I'm doing them at a special price for clubisuzu members so here goes...

NZ$550 inc GST for an Isuzu front Lokka, avail ex Chch in about 3 weeks.
AUD$490 inc GST, should be able to swing it so you can collect from 4WD Systems direct rather than freight it back and forth over the ditch.

Please keep those prices on the board... retail here will be $650 inc which compares with what everyone else sells them for.

Also, had a lengthy discussion with Tom from 4WD Systems and it seems there is a rear Lokka in development. 6-12 months away from being a reality apparently. I'd like to guage some interest in a rear lokka... its possible I can get it bumped up the priority list if we can make enough noise... can I have a show of hands who would consider one, and who would definitely buy one?

Also, on the LSD rear option... I am currently running a 4.88LSD rear axle assy from a Surf, as many of you are aware. I'm just completing the disc brake conversion on it at the moment, and it looks like the entire setup will come in at around $750 all done. They fit nicely under the leaf spring trucks, as the spring perches are in the same place, and if you want to do a spring-over then the perches are perfect. The adaptor to mate the driveshaft to the diff (in my case the driveshaft to the output flange as I run Hilux d/cardan driveshafts front and rear) was about $80 to be machined up, but could be done simpler and cheaper now I have thought about it a bit more. Might be a good option for those who are looking for an LSD, as Hilux ones are a dime a dozen and come in 3.9, 4.1, 4.3, 4.5, 4.8, 5.3 and 5.7 ratios! heaps to choose from

Just some random thoughts

Steve

[Dave]

Sorry Steve, would've put your contact details up but thought you were still mainly selling the hilux lokkas


Dave