aussie locker question

[reservoirdogg26]

yeah i know another locker question. ive been thinking about going with an auto locker in the front. got a dana 30 up front on my 06 tj (its a daily driver) so i dont quite know how much off roading i'm gonna be doing so i dont wanna sink a ton of money into till i get back stateside and theres more access to mods and parts so i was thinking about the aussie! looks easy enough to install and wont be engage unless im in 4 wheel so ive been told but i just wanted to know what you guys thought about the aussie. good bad and ugly.......thanks

[RescueJP]

easy to install quiet and bye far the best mod I have done to my jeep. Also assisted with a few installs in others jeeps and they are all pleased as well

[Jeffb_79]

I don't think I've heard any complaints on the aussie being used up front.

[bassackwards]

i herd that they make turning a pain. like if your running tight trails.

[HillBillE]

i herd that they make turning a pain. like if your running tight trails.

It will cut down your turn radius while in 4WD, however, it's not as bad in a short wheelbase rig, as it is in an XJ.

I have Aussie's front and rear in my CJ, and love them. Driving in 2WD (even w/the hubs locked) is no problem, don't even notice it.

As you stated, they only engage from the driveshaft putting power to the front axle.

I have a twin stick set up in the CJ, on real tight, twisty trails, I disengage the front axle, but for most trails, it's fine.

Well worth the investment, and they are tough!
So far on my CJ, I broke an axle shaft, and another time The cross shaft broke in 3 pieces. (both times it was the rear axle) And ZERO damage to the locker.

HB

[Bigskyxj]

I run an /Aussie in my D30 and I absolutely love it. Don't think about it bro, just buy it and we'll put it in.

[mako63]

I have been researching lockers and have decided to go with the Aussie up front and you guys just sealed it. Thanks.:beer:

[chucknes]

i am gonna install mine next week bro! i do a pick thread on the install! then when you get here me and big sky will come out and help you install yours! order now, mine took a week to get here to mannheim! too easy! cnat wait to have you boots on ground bro! we can plan that welcome home run too!

buy now!

[reservoirdogg26]

hey chucknes where did you order yours from?

[chucknes]

you can only order them from aussie (torq masters!) here is the link!

http://www.offroadlockers.com/home.php/TMbdf437/7aa2/.html

it took only a week to get here! and i got two stickers and two t shirts!
both essential to my heeps performance!

[reservoirdogg26]

ordered!!! thanks for the link...i even bought the t- shirt

[jawalterusmc]

I ordered mine from Northridge 4x4; $249 shipped. Installed in four hours and all the tolerances were within specs on the first try. I did the required break in period of 200 miles, actually 201.6 miles, and then off roading I went (this past weekend). It worked flawlessly. On the road you cannot even tell it is there. I don't hear the clicking that others have spoken about. On the trail I may have heard a few clicks in really tight turns but I was having so much fun I don't recall. And if I had any issues with limited turning abilities, they were minor, and again I was having so much fun.... In combination with my ARB in the rear I was unstoppable. I even left the ARB off in some cases and let the Aussie do all the work. Truly a great locker and cheap alternative to a selectable or higher priced locker.

[beecee]

I've had the Aussie in my d35 for years, and when I changed over to the 8.8, I installed one in it. Never a complaint about their performance. They do make a little noise around curves, but if you put some heavier lube oil, they quite down. I had originally wanted to put one in my d30, so I contacted the Aussie Engineers about it, and this is what they told me, "If you live in an area that has a lot of snow, they would not reccomend installing it up front on a d30, unless you want to remove it in the snowy conditions and re-install it during the dry months." Thus the reason I run open for now on the d30. I will be installing an ARB up front shortly.

[chucknes]

"If you live in an area that has a lot of snow, they would not reccomend installing it up front on a d30, unless you want to remove it in the snowy conditions and re-install it during the dry months." .


ummmmm? why? i dont get it!?

not trying to be a smart a$$ i am just really curious!

[HillBillE]

ummmmm? why? i dont get it!?

not trying to be a smart a$$ i am just really curious!


They can be bad in slippery conditions (I run them front and rear on my CJ, lots of fun in the snow!)

With any locker, you can break both tires loose while in snow or on ice, and loose your steering ability.

With an open diff, one tire will spin, while the other maintains it's 'track', allowing you to steer somewhat better than if both tires were spinning.

Thats why they don't reccomend it. With a little practice, it's easy to drive with a front or front and rear lockers in the snow.

If the snow is deep, having a locker is beneficial, as it powers you through the snow better, but if it's icy out, or the snow is 'slimey', they can be bad.

I've found that with both of my Jeeps, I don't usually need 4WD in the snow, (on the roads anyway:D) becuase the rear has enough traction to get me through. (my CJ has an Aussie in the back and front, my XJ has a 'Lincoln Locker' in back/open front)

[chucknes]

for the record, i grew up in central New Hampshire. that being said, i know my way around snow! god i miss those beautiful NH snow storms... well only a little!

ANY HOW, I GUESS I THOUGHT THERE WAS A "PROBLEM" WITH USING THE AUSSIE IN THE SNOW FROM A TECHNICAL/MECHANICAL STAND POINT. THANKS FOR CLEARIN THAT UP FOR ME, I KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN ABOUT DRIVEABILITY. I FEEL KINDA DUMB OVER LOOKING THAT! MAN I HAVENT BEEN IN NEW ENGLAND IN FAR TOO LONG!

ANY HOW, THIS THREAD HAS DEFINITELY DRIVEN HOME THE POINT THE THE AUSSIE IS AWESOME I THINK! I CANT WAIT TO GET MINE IN, AND PLAY!!!!

[farmboyqb]

Would an aussie locker be good out back of my YJ, the only other option i would consider is save up for an OX locker but if the aussie is going to be just as good when locked, then theres really no reason for me to spend the extra 500+\

[GOVT1911]

I'm thinking of throwing Aussies in both front and rear of my "play" jeep. If they don't mess with roadability too much, might throw a couple in my DD also.

thanks for the links/reports!

[Yakers]

This seals the deal for me! I am definitely going to order a set for my TJ. I have heard so many good things about these, and for the price I think its a no brainer for me! :D

[HillBillE]

Would an aussie locker be good out back of my YJ,

Yes. They are tough little buggers! As long as your not runnin 36"+ tires and lots of horsepower, it should be fine.

So far in my CJ (Aussie's front and rear) I have:

Broken the cross shaft into 3 pieces, (Rear)

Broken an axle shaft (rear)

And sheared off the rear out put shaft of the D300 T-case.

All with NO damage to the Aussie locker!!

If you plan on running one in an AMC Model 20 rear diff, buy a Zytanium (hardened) cross shaft, the stock one doesn't hold up.

Rear driveshaft and T-case yoke:
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n274/hillbillecj7/Crawl4theCure%2008/C4Cure08017.jpg

T-case:
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n274/hillbillecj7/S5300008.jpg

Rear axle:
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n274/hillbillecj7/Broken%20Jeep%20stuff/CJaxlebreak010.jpg

Cross shaft:
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n274/hillbillecj7/S5300003.jpg

[swarrick]

Mine should be here Friday.

[jeepmudbogger]

is there any particular reason why you wouldnt use more than a 36" tall tire on the aussie?

ive been reading this and really thinking about putting one in the back of my cj but eventually i plan on going bigger than a 36.

[Scottie]

wow.... seems like a lot of wheelers here use Aussie locker. I know Bill, the company owner, and he is still a member of my old club. I am going to see if he would be interested in being an MJ vendor/sponsor.

[Doppler]

Check out the pics of me running Little Blue this weekend in my '06 TJ. Last pic the front right is flexed so much that I dislocated my front coil. I'm running Aussie's front and rear and the only thing that stops me is lack of center clearance when the OEM shovel grabs on to something. Even then if I can bite onto something with one wheel the Aussie gets me moving again real quick.