Aussie Locker coming out in July?

jsc7002 · **Posted:** Sun Nov 16, 2008 11:11 pm

wheres the pics of the install?? or the test run?

ya the stock covers are thin thats why I also have a crane diff cover on the way, you gotta protect your rear locker after you get it installed lol

2006 KJ · **Posted:** Mon Nov 17, 2008 12:03 am

awesome.. this is just want i wanted to hear... def. next on my list to buy for the KJ... thank you very much for sharing your experience!

nalu · **Posted:** Sat Nov 29, 2008 1:46 am

I'm still loving it! Clicking barely noticeable. Traction very noticeable. Sorry no pics. Installation was a piece of cake anyway and I'm not touching my Nikon with that much grease around.

Guest · **Posted:** Sat Nov 29, 2008 2:07 am

Wonder what my mom's planning on spending on me for Christmas :lol:

Time to send an email with a link!

Gopher · **Posted:** Sat Nov 29, 2008 2:51 am

Apparently, one of these is going to be waiting for me under the tree this year. :lol:

I'll try and remember to take pictures for ya'll

dieselenthusiast · **Posted:** Sat Nov 29, 2008 3:40 am

nalu wrote:

I'm still loving it! Clicking barely noticeable. Traction very noticeable. Sorry no pics. Installation was a piece of cake anyway and I'm not touching my Nikon with that much grease around.

Let us know what it does on icy/snowy roads…………hopefully it’s not a click and then off to the ditch. :shock:

HoppedUpOnGoofballs · **Joined:** Sat Nov 29, 2008 10:36 pm **Posts:** 203

dieselenthusiast wrote:

nalu wrote:

I'm still loving it! Clicking barely noticeable. Traction very noticeable. Sorry no pics. Installation was a piece of cake anyway and I'm not touching my Nikon with that much grease around.

Let us know what it does on icy/snowy roads…………hopefully it’s not a click and then off to the ditch. :shock:

You wont have any trouble with it if you know how to drive. I wouldnt recommend installing one this time of year unless you have driven a vehicle with an automatic locker in it before - wait for spring if you havent. It will be a lot safer, and allow you to get used to the way it handles before having to worry about slippery conditions. Other than that, it handles great in the snow with a lot less tire-slippage.

..Anyways, I picked my Aussie up from Bill (president of the company) on Friday 11/14, and installed it on 11/15, in the cold and rain because I didnt have enough room in my garage at the time. Install was easy, and the only snag involved my bottle jacks that both sagged (?) about 1/2-3/4 inch during the install so that the tires wouldnt go back on when I was done. Every thing else went smoothly.

Took it out for a short spin and it behaved properly. It was much quieter the the Lock-Right in my Ranger (oh yeah, this wasnt my first dance at the locker ball), but otherwise acted the same.
..As for the snow and ice, I went to the Adirondacks to visit my sister-in-law for Thanksgiving (approx. 340 miles each way), and got caught in a nasty snowstorm. Other than very limited visibility and having to slow down to 30mph, everything was fine. No slipping or sliding, or locking up when it shouldnt.
..However, after about 1000 miles or so that I currently have on the Aussie, it is noisy. Although it started out quiet, it now is as loud as the Lock-Right in my truck. It still is functioning properly, just much more loudly. I will check it more closely when I install a new diff cover in a couple weeks, but I doubt anything will be amiss; tis just the nature of the beast.
I have not had the chance to test it out off-road yet, and probably wont until after winter relents its grip next spring, but I am not expecting any surprises.

..Any questions, feel free to ask and I will try my best to answer. And if anyone around Buffalo (or Rochester for that matter) wants help installing one, let me know - you buy the pizza.

-Jeremy

..Oh yeah, and 'hi'.

2006 KJ · **Posted:** Sun Nov 30, 2008 9:17 pm

that was one good first post..

i'm looking to buy one of these soon.. it will be my first experience both installing and driving with a lunchbox locker. when you say it has gotten "louder" exactly what do you mean? i know your probably referring to clicking.. but could you please describe it more or when it happens.

HoppedUpOnGoofballs · **Joined:** Sat Nov 29, 2008 10:36 pm **Posts:** 203

2006 KJ wrote:

that was one good first post..

i'm looking to buy one of these soon.. it will be my first experience both installing and driving with a lunchbox locker. when you say it has gotten "louder" exactly what do you mean? i know your probably referring to clicking.. but could you please describe it more or when it happens.

Yeah, I was referring to the clicking when turning (sounds kinda like a bad cv), and it is probably just because the grease that is used during install starts to come off the locker and is no longer damping the sound. It isnt anything to worry about, though, but I suppose some people may find it annoying - just turn up the radio or get a louder muffler; thats my suggested fix.

Install is easy, but the instructions arent diff specific, so it may be helpful to go through them first and mark the steps that will apply to your install to make it easier when you are crawling around covered in grease. It took me maybe 2 to 3 hours (though it wasnt my first time poking around in a rear end), but it was spread out over about 5 hours because I have a short attention span (and was watching my daughter, also). There arent any particularly tricky parts, but I would set aside at least a day for it, just in case (ie. dont plan to start installing it 4 hours before you need to be at work; learned that lesson on the Ranger).

dieselenthusiast · **Posted:** Sun Nov 30, 2008 10:45 pm

HoppedUpOnGoofballs wrote:

dieselenthusiast wrote:

nalu wrote:

I'm still loving it! Clicking barely noticeable. Traction very noticeable. Sorry no pics. Installation was a piece of cake anyway and I'm not touching my Nikon with that much grease around.

Let us know what it does on icy/snowy roads…………hopefully it’s not a click and then off to the ditch. :shock:

You wont have any trouble with it if you know how to drive. I wouldnt recommend installing one this time of year unless you have driven a vehicle with an automatic locker in it before - wait for spring if you havent. It will be a lot safer, and allow you to get used to the way it handles before having to worry about slippery conditions. Other than that, it handles great in the snow with a lot less tire-slippage.

HoppedUpOnGoofballs, the KJ is my wife’s daily driver, so I’m going with the ARB lockers. My wife doesn’t like “on-road” surprises, :shock:

so obviously an automatic locker isn’t what she needs. Actually, I was thinking of her when I made the comment above. :lol:

At least I can teach her how to turn “on” or “off” an air locker, no surprises there! :wink:

HoppedUpOnGoofballs · **Joined:** Sat Nov 29, 2008 10:36 pm **Posts:** 203

dieselenthusiast wrote:

HoppedUpOnGoofballs wrote:

dieselenthusiast wrote:

nalu wrote:

I'm still loving it! Clicking barely noticeable. Traction very noticeable. Sorry no pics. Installation was a piece of cake anyway and I'm not touching my Nikon with that much grease around.

Let us know what it does on icy/snowy roads…………hopefully it’s not a click and then off to the ditch. :shock:

You wont have any trouble with it if you know how to drive. I wouldnt recommend installing one this time of year unless you have driven a vehicle with an automatic locker in it before - wait for spring if you havent. It will be a lot safer, and allow you to get used to the way it handles before having to worry about slippery conditions. Other than that, it handles great in the snow with a lot less tire-slippage.

HoppedUpOnGoofballs, the KJ is my wife’s daily driver, so I’m going with the ARB lockers. My wife doesn’t like “on-road” surprises, :shock:

so obviously an automatic locker isn’t what she needs. Actually, I was thinking of her when I made the comment above. :lol:

At least I can teach her how to turn “on” or “off” an air locker, no surprises there! :wink:

Haha.. I use the lockers as an excuse to keep the missus from driving my vehicles.
I would think the TruTrac might be better for your app, though, than the ARBs? (Sorry if I missed that discussion somewhere)

Anywho, this threads bout the Aussie Locker, so I will stop getting off topic.

HoppedUpOnGoofballs · **Joined:** Sat Nov 29, 2008 10:36 pm **Posts:** 203

..Just a further update. The locker (clicking) has quieted back down, and I now attribute the increased volume to the heating (thinning) of the gear oil through 7-8 hours of straight driving. Will be switching to synthetic once I get my new cover.

..And two quick notes:
-Use 85w140 gear oil, regardless of the type of the driving you do (light or heavy-duty/towing). I forget if the manual states this, but the heavier oil will help deal with the additional heat generated by the locker.
-The c-clips did not need to be ground down at all, and just dropped right in once the slots were properly lined up. (Might not be a big deal, but I can see where grinding c-clips may cause some people a considerable deal of consternation).

..Im sure I will think of more things as time goes on, and I will post if I do.. Will also make updates as needed to share any other discoveries made during the operation of the locker.

2006 KJ · **Posted:** Fri Dec 12, 2008 11:11 pm

FINALLY!!!!! just got my aussie locker and installed it tonight ( as well as parking brake pads) what a great locker! install was very easy.. i didnt even take out the carrier to install it.. just take off the diff cover/brake calipers (if disk) then remove the c-clips/spider gears/axles .. put in the aussie and re assemble!!! plus i ordered it tuesday.. and it's here today (friday) which is outstanding service for UPS ground shipping.

we also got about 3 inches of snow so it was great for testing.. as soon as i pulled out of the shop i busted out a few "perfect" donuts to make sure both wheels were cranking... it made life so much easier in snow and if you drive like a normal person you dont know it's back there. real tight turns it clicks.. that's the nature of the beast. the difference is almost the same as going from 2hi to 4hi... it's really that much of an improvement.

my jeep has traction control.. with it on it acts like traction control but instead of using the brakes on the back to share power between one wheel or the other it just limits the power to the back but doesnt kill it.... with the traction control off it's like it's completely off.. both wheels will spin as fast and for how long you wish.

Diggerfreek · **Posted:** Fri Dec 12, 2008 11:38 pm

does any one have pictures?

dieselenthusiast · **Posted:** Fri Dec 12, 2008 11:42 pm

Great news 2006KJ, I'd say this would be a choice affordable locker for many.

Prospect62 · **Posted:** Wed Dec 17, 2008 12:48 pm

HoppedUpOnGoofballs wrote:

if anyone around Buffalo (or Rochester for that matter) wants help installing one, let me know - you buy the pizza.

Oh yeah...I'm going to be calling when the snow melts buddy. You up for a drive to Utica?

HoppedUpOnGoofballs · **Joined:** Sat Nov 29, 2008 10:36 pm **Posts:** 203

Prospect62 wrote:

HoppedUpOnGoofballs wrote:

if anyone around Buffalo (or Rochester for that matter) wants help installing one, let me know - you buy the pizza.

Oh yeah...I'm going to be calling when the snow melts buddy. You up for a drive to Utica?

Haha.. Depends what my schedule is like at the time. Worst case, I can PM you my number and walk you through it if need be.

Let me know.

Gopher · **Posted:** Sat Dec 20, 2008 10:49 pm

Has anyone else noticed aussie lists a locker for the front of the KJ? It's listed as a D30 front, not the D30a. Has anyone bought one of these and tested it?

Inc · **Posted:** Sat Dec 20, 2008 11:27 pm

Gopher wrote:

Has anyone else noticed aussie lists a locker for the front of the KJ? It's listed as a D30 front, not the D30a. Has anyone bought one of these and tested it?

Will not work, go with the DTT.

InCommando · **Posted:** Sat Dec 20, 2008 11:36 pm

I emailed them...they don't have time to correct their website. They have many bad or confusing app. listings.

Aussie Locker coming out in July?

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