Prado Owners

[dooguss]

Afternoon everyone I"m just wanting to ask from prado owners how many of you have diff lockers?
I have a 2006 model, petrol 120series.
A: what brand lockers  do you own? and
B: which diff have you got it in?
 Im looking at getting 1 for the cape next year but am here different stories on whether to put it in the front or in the back, as i have little knowledge on this subject any input would be greatly welcomed thanks

[D4D]

If you're only going to get one, get a rear as the Toyota LSD is crapola. As for brand ARB or Lokka, both have their pros and cons.

[GU Rich]

ARB have a special on at the moment if you buy a locker they throw in the compressor. I heard it when I was on hold today to there HQ
Rich

[D4D]

http://www.arb.com.au/assets/home/promos/airlocker-2011/arb-airlocker-promo-2011.pdf

[dazzler]

Hi Greg

You will get a lot of discussion on this one.

Prados have a weak rear diff as you may know and a locker can help mainly because the carrier is stronger than std.

But you already have an LSD in the back which is better than nothing and works like an LSD should but not as good as a nissan one.

I would put it in the front so you can steer with it.  A good set of grippy tyres combined with a locker in the front will enable great traction.  Say you are in a rut and having trouble getting traction rocking the steering from side to side will cause the tyre lugs to bite giving some more grip.  This also causes the rear to kick to the side and also get traction.

So IMO the more this is emphasised the better.

Others will rightly think the rear is better.  There is probably no wrong answer.  But for me, a locker and an LSD is better than just a locker 

I dont think I have helped...

[D4D]

dazzler just as an exercise see if you LSD is working...

I found this method of testing - Jack one rear wheel off the ground and grab a Torque wrench, you need to find out the Clutch load for the LSD (Call the manufacturer) for augments sake call it 20Ft/Lbs set the toque wrench and attach to a wheel nut and try to turn the wheel. If the wheel turns and the Toque wrench doesn’t click your LSD is worn or stuffed.

[dooguss]

Thanks for the heads up on the special GU  and D4D I'll have to get in on the weeknd and talk to them about that, it sounds good as long as the price is right. Dazzler this is why I'm struggling 1 ARB store said to me at the camping show this year put it in the back, then my local ARB shop says  go the front. Yesterday at TJM i asked about the pro locker but they only make it for the rear which then makes me think no matter what put it in the rear
Thank you for the advice  so far but keep it comin please..

[dazzler]

dazzler just as an exercise see if you LSD is working...

I found this method of testing - Jack one rear wheel off the ground and grab a Torque wrench, you need to find out the Clutch load for the LSD (Call the manufacturer) for augments sake call it 20Ft/Lbs set the toque wrench and attach to a wheel nut and try to turn the wheel. If the wheel turns and the Toque wrench doesn’t click your LSD is worn or stuffed.

Interesting.  Will give it a try.

I think also that people misunderstand what an LSD is. Its not a locker and unless they are tensioned up high will not 'work' if completely off the ground. This is why they are so great in rally cars but less great in 4wd's.  I cant prove this, but I actually think that Toyota dont run tight LSDs in them so that they dont effect the handling particularly being constant 4wd and more car like.  The tighter the lsd the less stable the car is particularly with back off oversteer feeling - anyone who has driven a locked rally car on dirt would know the feeling.

The patrol is much tighter but less noticeable, it being more a truck than a car.

Hope that makes sense.

cheers

[Mallory Black]

spot on Dazzler, Gregnleanne for my money I'd go the rear - 2 reasons
Add strength the the rear diff assembly
you'll be taking the camper? in which case I'd say the rears would benefit from being locked if it all got pear shaped.
the LSD won't be a lot of help if you are crossed up at funny angles, the wheel with the least weight on it will still spin uselessly
My 2 cents - hope to catch up again at the next SEQ meet if someone plans one in the new year... near a big cool waterhole if anyone knows such a spot

[chester ver2.0]

For the cape i question why you would need 1 a decent set of maxtrax woul dso the job.

In most cases a persons confidence will usually give out before the vehicle does

I find that with a locker a lot of people get false confidence often reversing my above statement

[Alesco]

For the cape i question why you would need 1 a decent set of maxtrax woul dso the job.

In most cases a persons confidence will usually give out before the vehicle does

I find that with a locker a lot of people get false confidence often reversing my above statement

Have to agree.
Actually having a Prado and finding the Prado will walk up hills faster than the bigger 4WGirls.
Haven't heard this myth about the weak diff yet.  Must be a rumour started by the Missan drivers club.

Better idea would be only get a lokker after everything else as my work mates and I travel up the cape 4 - 5 times a year
without needing lokkers (Brammwell up to heathlands on the OTL then up to the old Jardine crossing) Most they use is a shovel and a winch, and a winch, and then again a winch. Full set of recovery gear is a must.
When you do get them you will only need them for the front.

If your diff breaks :'( then your eyes are too big for your stomach and you've bitten off more than you can chew.


Unless of course you've got bundles of cash then do both diffs. And I've got a spare diff that could use one.

 
Steve.

[whitey1]

Have a look on here http://www.pradopoint.com/forum.php you'll find some useful info on all things Prado

[D4D]

Have a look on here http://www.pradopoint.com/forum.php you'll find some useful info on all things Prado

and some not so useful

[dooguss]

thanks for the input guys ARB special is a good 1 though $3500 for both lockers with all the accesories and  fitting, but after talking to another myswagger he said he never really used his this year when they went and to use that money on other things that would be more needed for the trip. So i have till feb to decide with ARB but thank you all for your help.

[xvprado]

Have a look on here http://www.pradopoint.com/forum.php you'll find some useful info on all things Prado

seriously. :'(
Ive read plenty of uninformed and on occasions dangerous advice on there
Im sure there must be good stuff too, its the internet after all



Oh, and the diff question
My answer would be none, you run the risk of getting yourself into a whole bunch of different trouble with one locker and a bit of attitude that comes with them

If one only start at the back. It will suit the way you drive if youve not driven with lockers before and make the vehicle more user friendly

Just remember not to lift a front wheel whilst on the loud pedal, trust me on this you will probably break the front diff if you do, thats the problem with locking the rear, you will go harder at an obstacle, lift the front and bring a wheel back down with lots of torque and pop goes the diff

By locking the front only you start to limit the control you have in steering the vehicle, it will develop a mind of its own and you need to be in complete control of where you point the front, you will also be dragging your backside uphills, not necessarily what you set out to achieve

Did I mention you dont need lockers ........a winch, some maxtrax and stuff will do lall you need 

[ondaboat]

and some not so useful

I wonder why people would stay on a forum and post as often as they do if they thought it was not useful?

Personally I find Pradopoint quite usefull. Unfortunately there will always be stuff you have to filter through but as a source of information on Prado's it's very usefull.

In regards to your lockers I have been told to "do front" "do rear", but after being with people who have both, for the type of 4WDing I do I'm not sold yet. Plus just having spent 39k on a new camper the slush fund is a little low.......dam

Regards Adam

[D4D]

I wonder why people would stay on a forum and post as often as they do if they thought it was not useful?

 

[tinkera]

Thought you,d get a nibble. Tinkera

[dooguss]

I look through prado point when I"m looking at mods for the car i used it when I built my rear draw, other then that I don't go on there. As for this subject I'm now steering away from lockers and pricing winches. In the new year ringing Toyota to find a cradle for the sovereign bullbar to take a winch. Just want to say thanks for everyone's input.