Author Topic: Air Locker Question  (Read 4225 times)

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Offline chrisj1982

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Air Locker Question
« on: October 01, 2011, 11:27:32 PM »
Hey all. Starting to look at mods for my 4WD and the first thing i have looked at is Air lockers for a 1992 GQ Patrol. I have looked at a few sites and from what i can tell. The GQ Patrol has a very reputable LSD in the rear and many people recommend only getting the Air locker in the front diff. What are your thoughts? best explaining in Laymans terms as well guys. Only a newbie to this sort of thing so dont want to spend money on things i dont need if i can get away with it.

Offline theflyingbadger

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Re: Air Locker Question
« Reply #1 on: October 01, 2011, 11:41:47 PM »
unless you're going to be being very silly, a front locker is *more* than adequate given the patrol's excellent LSD.

Personally, i've gone for winch before locker - if you've already got a winch in it, then fair enough!
Jon

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Offline chrisj1982

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Re: Air Locker Question
« Reply #2 on: October 02, 2011, 12:50:03 AM »
Hello Badger...yeh it already has a 12000 pound Winch in an ARB bar. so either a 2inch Spring Lift with 31's/33's is first of the rank or a ARB Air locker in the front....weighing up the options at the moment

Offline Squalo

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Re: Air Locker Question
« Reply #3 on: October 02, 2011, 03:26:56 AM »
Lift and 33" tyres for sure (forget 31"). A GQ will go almost anywhere on that combo. 3-4" is even better but it costs a lot more to go that extra 1" or more higher - panhard rods, camber correction etc. need to be sorted out. Personally I wouldn't bother unless you want to go into the hardcore offroad tracks. For touring, 2"/33" is the best option by far.

The front locker is nice to have but in all honesty (and I say this having bought my first 4WD with dual Air Lockers) you will learn far more about driving the car, and placing the wheels, with it stock. I realised this early on and started driving with the lockers off as much as possible, it makes a hell of a difference to drive the car to its limits and learn accordingly.

The main thing that you need to understand about lockers is that when they are switched off, you have a single-wheel diff. This means that the moment you lift a wheel, or simply lose traction on that wheel (mud), the power goes to that wheel and spins it while the one on the ground/hard surface simply sits there, waiting to be used. Which is exactly how the stock open front diff behaves, because if it was either fully or partially locked, it would be a pain in the arse to steer the car.

This is offset by the quality rear LSD that the Patrol has, though. It will send the power to both rear wheels and when one wheel starts to slip it will direct power back to the one that has not lost traction, so forward progress can be expected - but there are limits (hence the L in LSD). Too much traction for the wheel that has grip will see the power going back to the one in the air/mud! Sounds crazy but that's how it goes!

A locker will send equal power to both wheels, regardless of conditions, so when one goes into the air, the other just keeps driving. So a front locker combined with a good LSD in the back (as the Patrol has) will see it climbing/carving through almost anything, so long as the diff housings don't ground out.
« Last Edit: October 02, 2011, 03:38:43 AM by Squalo »
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Offline D4D

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Re: Air Locker Question
« Reply #4 on: October 02, 2011, 05:47:39 AM »
To answer your question, in a GQ front locker and working LSD, that's what I had in my GQ and it was awesome.
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Offline Prado BB

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Re: Air Locker Question
« Reply #5 on: October 02, 2011, 08:04:24 AM »
Agree with the recommendations posted so far.  I had the GQ, TI which came with the rear sway bar disconnect (from the driver's seat).  This feature alone gave better traction and a much better ride on rough corrugated surfaces, something to think about!

miss my trol :'(
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Offline Gunna Do

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Re: Air Locker Question
« Reply #6 on: October 02, 2011, 08:20:57 AM »
I fitted a front locker to my GU Patrol, knowing I had the LSD in the rear.  Whilst it is an expensive addition, and something you may not use much,  when you get to a tougher section of track you will be glad you fitted it.

Depends how tuff the tracks are that you normally travel on.  If you spend most of your time on gravel roads it'll be a waste of money, but if you get off the beaten tracks regularly it'll be money well spent.

And the bonus is you get a brilliant compressor with it.  Just make sure when you order the locker you ask for the high volume compressor not the smaller one.

Offline cdustbehindme

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Re: Air Locker Question
« Reply #7 on: October 02, 2011, 08:26:48 AM »
yup, cant go wrong with lift and decent tyres (Although you dont necesarily have to go bigger, just better!).......  i have a 2" lift and thats got me through a few tricky spots already, need to be wary that you dont have a car that will take you into spots well beyond your experience(saying you were new to scene), apologies if you take that the wrong way but a cranking 4x4 can get you in some very dangerous spots if your not carefull   ;D   dont forget when going with bigger tyres it reduces your power to the ground and puts more strain on your brakes, plus you have to be carefull with whats rd legal (think they have got even tougher on this in vic lately)... plenty to consider  :cheers:  still very nice to have something you can go anywhere in and looks great!!  :cheers:
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Offline TOY80ST

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Re: Air Locker Question
« Reply #8 on: October 02, 2011, 08:33:53 AM »
I put it in the front even in my toyota. The 80 series has a poor LSD and was still advised to put it in the front even though the LSD was not great, the LSD would be helping a bit.
It made a notable difference and I have since done the rear. Just need to redo the suspension and it will be great.
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Offline bullfrog

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Re: Air Locker Question
« Reply #9 on: October 02, 2011, 08:38:25 AM »
Gday chrisj
My thoughts are that if you have to pick locker or suspension / tyre upgrade, I would do the suspension 1st. A locker you may only use every so often ( depending on what /where you use the GQ),while a suspension upgrade you will feel the benefit every time you drive the thing. If the $$ aren't an issue, go for it & do both.  It might be a case of the lift & winch getting you through 99% of what you want to do at this stage. As the bug bites harder & you find yourself wanting to do more, fit a locker into the front then. If the LSD is in good nick, the combo  will take you nearly anywhere. :cheers:
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Offline Apollo

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Re: Air Locker Question
« Reply #10 on: October 02, 2011, 09:27:19 AM »
Agree with the recommendations posted so far.  I had the GQ, TI which came with the rear sway bar disconnect (from the driver's seat).  This feature alone gave better traction and a much better ride on rough corrugated surfaces, something to think about!

miss my trol :'(

Same here with our old Ti GQ.  I was amazed what a difference disconnecting the rear sway bars made to its capabilities.  Just pull the lever and away you went.  At the other end, release the lever and all connected up again.  We had air lockers on th front and it was a very capable unit.

Sometimes wish we never sold it.

Offline chrisj1982

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Re: Air Locker Question
« Reply #11 on: October 02, 2011, 02:10:16 PM »
Thanks for all the replies and advice guys....The main role of the Patrol is as a tourer for our Big Lap at the start  of 2013, not really interested in doing all the hardcore tracks ect. just having a reliable tourer that will get us to all the places we want to go.

I'm Thinking the 2" Lift and 33's might be the first on the list of mods.

Offline theflyingbadger

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Re: Air Locker Question
« Reply #12 on: October 02, 2011, 02:37:29 PM »
deffo 2" lift and 33s before lockers. that being said, i'm stubbornly sticking with 32s!
Jon

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Offline Squalo

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Re: Air Locker Question
« Reply #13 on: October 02, 2011, 03:53:34 PM »
deffo 2" lift and 33s before lockers. that being said, i'm stubbornly sticking with 32s!

Like most people with "33s"  ;D Tyre diameters vary enormously across manufacturers and models, even when the nominal diameter is the same.

My STTs were closer to 32" than 33", and the KM2s aren't much better - both 285/70R17.
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