Hey guys,

Just reading up on lockers and I'm going the cheap route

I've read a ton of threads now and their website, and correct me if I'm wrong, but Aussie Lockers are NOT available for 3rd gen 4runners. True?

For those of you who have installed the Aussie lockers, I'd sure like to get some opinions of what you think, pros and cons. I'm also looking for feedback on installation. I've read their website and they say that anyone who can change brake pads can install this locker. True? I recall Nathan had some difficulty but other opinions would be great.

Thanks,
Bob

 

Knowing you, you might want to look into the trutrac rather than the aussie or lockright.

As you know, a TRD or ARB is the best, but for you the TRD would be cheaper since you can install it yourself if you get the whole 3rd member from some place like inchworm gear.

By the way, wrong forum newbie!

 

steve,

awe crap, busted!

got a link for inchworm gear? and after all ive read about autolockers, ive only read positive things about aussie and the price is right

who has a true trac that we know?

bob

 

the Aussie is essentially a lock-rite style locker, i put one in the front of the runner, its pretty easy, Ive never had a ifs front diff apart, so I'm not sure if it uses shims or adjusters to set backlash, if its got shims, all you do is split the case, remove the carrier, mark and remove ring gear (only if its in the way of the cross pin, remove cross pin, remove pinion and side gears, install locker according to the directions, reassemble, but if the diff uses adjusting rings, like the rear, then a dial indicator would be handy to set backlash the same as it was before you took it apart

 

wellll, thats easy for you to say! according to some write ups ive seen on these kinds of lockers, i'm sure its as easy as you say. but not having done this, i'm sure it will be a challenge and not to mention, ill take some extra time documenting it

bob

 

www.inchwormgear.com

I forgot if all pro sells them to and my work's filter seems to thing the all pro website is a porn site.

Yeah, the aussie is just a more refined lock right. The tru trac is like a torsen limited slip...gear driven, not clutch plate driven.

 

i have a aussie in ft of my truck. works awsome and is stong. as easy as any other lunchbox type locker to install. on mine i had to file the case to make it fit in. was touching a casting line.

ive broken 3 ft axles so far and no damage to the locker get the hardened pin upgrade right away.

 

from a pm I sent to aussie over on the pbb a while ago:

"Thanks for the follow-up Mike, but engineering has not released the V6 rear locker. What your friend may have been refering to is the new 7.5" IFS front Aussie Locker we have for your vehicle. I do not expect to see the V6 rear until Feb or March."

so hopefully that v6 will be out soon. He said they have several out in test vehicles already so production should be soon!

 

Aussie still doesn't have anything for the 3rd gen rear? Man, they were supposed to release that long ago!

Bob-

Have you considered an entire rear axle swap? I did the front and rear with hand tools on two different rigs in a 110 degree garage by myself. Just the rear would be cake!

Every now and then they come up for sale. You know, from guys like SKRALER. j/k

 

Actually, they make one for the front and rear of our 3rd gen's. It's just not the type of locker recommended for the front, because of our Auto hubs.

Chris

 

are you sure they have the rear out? I know they have the 4cy 8" rear.
and the 7.5" IFS front, but not the v6 rear.

 

My bad Mike. It's only for the front IFS, which isn't really recommended, but I'm seriously contemplating it, because I only drive mine a little no days.

Chris

 

that's right! who's the king?? hahaha j/k Chris! you could always do the hub conversion like steve s did. btw I'm looking forward to wheelin with you and all your craziness again!

 

Yeah, but after doing manual hubs, it's more expensive just to do a ARB i the IFS. I'm going to contact the Aussie Locker folks again, and see if they'd be willing to test it out in my rig. If so, I'll let you guys know how it goes. It's definitely cheap!

Chris

P.S. I can't wait to wheel either. It's going to be a great time. I've decided not to go to the Moab, and instead I'm going to buy a 210 welder this next week so I can' make sure all my projects are finished. I'm sick of having a bunch of unfinished projects.

 

Bob,

I noticed on Downey's site that they've got a cable actuator for the Toyota e-locker now, so if you found an axle with the locker, you wouldn't have to bother with re-wiring the ecu and all that stuff.

 

I thought you didn't need to mess with that stuff with inchworms wiring setup.

downey has had that cable actuator for awhile now, and I seem to recall it having some issues with engaging the locker properly, and if it jammed, the locker would remain unlocked until you fixed the cable

 

Wiring the e-locker swap is not all bad. I had a hard time because I was messing with the wrong two wires.

The hardest part was physically running the wires in a safe location, labeling them correctly, and making it look clean.

I bet I could do the whole rear swap including wiring in around 6 hours now that I have done it once.

 

See, Bob- just drive over to AZ and Christian will install it for you. I was having some issues on my drive to Alaska with the locker wiring, I'd consider going to a cable since I would think it would be less likely to fail on you (assuming Downey had the kinks worked out).

-David

 

This just in...

Open diffed 4 runners can share diffs 85 to present.

I too think you will be disappointed if you could get one.