Lockrite

What's the lockrite like on the road?

Kirkynut

The key difference between a Lockrite style locker and a KAM/ARB style locker is the way they operate.

A Lockrite locker is always locked, until the pressure causes it to unlock and release wind up. Therefore as you corner with it you can feel it unlocking and can hear it, varying from a "click" on a well set up one through to a banging on a poorly set up one. This means you always know its there and have to adopt your driving style a bit.

ARB/KAM lockers are manually controlled through Air or Electric operation. This means you can decide when select them or not. This has an advantage for on-road driving where you can select them off and not know they are there. Equally you can also switch them off when off-roading when a locked diff can cause you more issues than it prevents. For example, on a site I go to there are a number of chalk slopes which are like ice when wet. As you climb them you do not want the front of the car to start slipping around sideways leaving you across the slope! With a rear locker fitted both my back wheels are nicely driven meaning that it spins both rear wheels on the slippery slope which makes the rear of the Jimny snake around, forcing the front to start slipping sideways (gulp). Therefore on this site I often have the locker off to make the rear stay in line with the front.

Having driven both I would always go for ARM/KAM style if you can afford them. Lockrites are cheaper but can mean you lose everyday drivability.



Martin

darthloachie wrote:

kirkynut wrote: What's the lockrite like on the road?

Kirkynut

Not too bad but then we only use it to get to the offroad site (or the garage )
You can hear clunks and clicks (thought it was the suspension ) and in the wet you can feel it under-steer a bit but I don't know how much that is due to the special tracks, but in the dry its fine -but then we usually just trundle along at 30 (or 50 on a dual cabbage way)
off road with both lockers working the only time I get stuck is if the diff or radius arms dig in

I use mine to do big road miles on holidays to the Lakes, Yorkshire and Derbyshire each year, so would probably opt for a manual locker as Martin says but I've said that after some more aggressive tyres I'll not modify it anymore - but then I said that about not getting a cage and now look at it!

Kirkynut

darthloachie wrote:

kirkynut wrote:

darthloachie wrote:

kirkynut wrote: What's the lockrite like on the road?

Kirkynut

Not too bad but then we only use it to get to the offroad site (or the garage )
You can hear clunks and clicks (thought it was the suspension ) and in the wet you can feel it under-steer a bit but I don't know how much that is due to the special tracks, but in the dry its fine -but then we usually just trundle along at 30 (or 50 on a dual cabbage way)
off road with both lockers working the only time I get stuck is if the diff or radius arms dig in

I use mine to do big road miles on holidays to the Lakes, Yorkshire and Derbyshire each year, so would probably opt for a manual locker as Martin says but I've said that after some more aggressive tyres I'll not modify it anymore - but then I said that about not getting a cage and now look at it!

Kirkynut

you'll succumb to ARBs yet!

Oh don't - several people in my club take part in the Mission 4x4 winch challenge series and they are always asking me when I am going to take part - I refuse on cost grouns but all I need (he says as if it's not much) is a rear locker, internal cross brace for the cage, rear winch, maybe centre winch and more aggressive tyres and I have a challenge truck!

Resistance is futile but my Mrs wants to reproduce whilst I'm fertile! So it will stay as it is!

Kirkynut