Installing lunchbox locker in front diff

There any write ups on installing a locker in the front of my 96? Searching and I only come up with ones for the rear.

 

Not that I know it. Th front diff is a bitch compared to the rear though. Just more shit to remove.

 

more? I was thinking unhook lbj, tie rods. pull cvs from diff, driveshaft, connectors, drop diff. from there im not familiar with the disassembly and reassembly.

 

Don't have to do the tie rods. Just pull the cvs like normal and drop the diff.

It's just a pita. Major pain compared to the rear. And the clamshell is just odd.

But yea not much too it. Go for it. I'd never run a lunchbox up front though unless you're manual hubs and even then probably would either.

 

select able lockers like the arb are just out of my price range. Im really liking the no-slip in my rear end and ive been in a couple situations already where a front locker would have saved alot of trouble. From what i know the front axles are disengaged when in 2wd so it shouldnt cause any problems there. I will however take extra caution to not turn on pavement with 4x4 engaged if i end up getting one.

 

Same here. Looking at getting an Aussie and changing the oil pan gasket when I'm in there.

 

Do you have manual hubs or ADD?

If you have ADD, and instal a lunchbox like the Aussie, you will essentially be in 4wd all the time. CV's turn, which in return turn your locker. When you go from 2hi to 4hi, all your doing in engaging the stubshaft. (The right axle).

At least that's how I understand it....

 

Is the front diff not dissengaged at the transfer case as well as the the front passenger cv?

 

My understanding of the Aussie lockers and all other same style 'lunchbox' lockers is that they do not engage until power is applied. So as long as you're not in 4wd they will not bite. ADD nor manual hubs matter, albeit with ADD it will be spinning but the internal springs will keep it disengaged until power is applied.

At least that's what I've researched and the reason I'm leaning that way. I can afford a normal locker, but in the front it doesn't really matter. A conventional locker is just another thing to maintain on: air or electric. The Aussie seems more worry free and being not as easy to access, tends to be a no brainier for myself since I don't have snow to drive in here. A rear conventional locker is easier to get at and more ideal for day to day driving.

 

This would be my concern, i know all is dissengaged at the transfer case but everything is still turning inside the front diff albeit just not getting power. Would nothing inside the diff cause this to lock up on the pavement even when not in 4wd? And would it be that detrimental if it did?

 

I've never been around one personally, but it's supposed to make ratcheting sound when disengaged and the opposing wheels aren't turning the same speed like when turning.

 

On 2nd gens, the front diff is still in motion even if your 4wd isn't engaged so essentially, you would have your two front tires turning at the same speed, even when you're trying to turn.

The only way that I know of to get around this is
ARB locker which keeps your front diff as an open diff until you lock it using air,
Or
Buy a locking front diff from a Hilux and install it, and it would be an electronic locking front diff. Much like the rear locking diff on the TRD Offroad models

Both are expensive and require a lot of work that probably isn't for a novice mechanic

 

Right, so nothing is keeping that lunch box locker from locking up essentially?

 

You're thinking these lockers act like a spool, when they don't.

http://www.aussielocker.com/index.php/how-it-works/

 

Me? A spool is locked up all the time and should only be used on a dedicated and trailered trail rig. These lunch box lockers lock up when one side starts to slip correct?

 

According to aussie they can be used in some part time 4wd front diffs. Atleast thats my interpretation of the statement.
Constant 4WDs
Like all automatic lockers, the Aussie Locker cannot be used in front axles of constant 4Wheel Drive vehicles. (such as a land cruiser) Some vehicle manufacturers offer a part-time 4WD option and automatic lockers can be installed. Some vehicle owners install part-time kits or use free wheeling hubs.

 

Right. You wouldn't want to run these in an AWD vehicle. A hi/lo option would make it full time 4wd.

 

So essentially you could run one in the front of our trucks? Sure. I think drive-ability should be alright and would not risk hurting anything internally. Not necessarily something i would run in my front diff.

 

Down south I don't think it'd be an issue. For our Yankee brethren using 4hi on winter roads, it's not a good option. Strictly offroad, it should be good to go.

 

I would not install a LB locker in the front
unless it had manual hubs/axles.
Even then... one need be mindful of bind when articulating.

If using ADD... an air locker is the smarter call IMO.

Even though I still have ADD...
Having manual hubs could keep the vehicle rolling
even if a cv axle needed be removed.

But with ADD...
if ya needed remove a cv axle to get off the trail
your hub/wheel would fall off before ya rolled 20ft
and that would be bad... and could hurt.

ADD is great if 4x shift on the fly is yer need...
But IMO it's a terrible design for a dedicated off road rig.