I have seen by the threads that many wonder which locker to buy. So I figure I would give my first impression of my first locker install.



Well I was surprised there was not much to the thing..LOL Read the directions which were very easy to understand. Very simple instructions.

So at 8:15 I pulled the jeep into the shop.



removed the diff cover and realized I need to remove the short side axle out to install the locker.




Removed everything and started to install the locker. About 1/2 hr in the job.



So cleaning the gasket surfaces and sealing it good. Off the jack stands and picked up tools. 1hr and 15min. Probably one of the quickest mods I have done yet. Very simple installation, especially for my first one.

REVIEW:

So first thing I did is lock it in of course in 4wd

Pretty quiet. Really did not notice anything different. Pulled up on my rock pile and climbed a boulder than normally would have stopped my open diffs dead in their tracks. Definitely locked the front end up as stated. Now though I have to be careful that with the front locked I dont slide off the rocks which never happened with open diffs. But it definitely locked with only one wheel touching the ground. So it works as listed.

Road manners. To be completely honest I was worried. I have read where they were very noisy and annoying. So I figured if this was the case I just would get rid of it eventually when I could afford a quality locker.

I was pleasantly surprised when I literally could not tell the difference in 2wd from my stock open diff. Not a click or a pull on the pavement? Smooth as silk.

I lubed all the parts with gear oil before I installed them, and overfilled the diff on purpose with HD gear oil. Other than that its normal.

So far its a no brainer. No difference street driving and it locks as advertised. This coming weekend I will give it a thorough off road test and report back.

Disclamer. I am a mechanic, so this probably added to the time factor. Still though it was a very easy install.

 

Finally came to the light eh?

 

Yes I did. Why I was so cocky with my open diffs is because I was getting them to lock enough to wheel pretty well. Little did I know that this means broken spiders, shortly after.

So yea, everyone was right, as far as lockers are the way to go.

So far? we will see once I get some miles on them.

 

^^x2 my spartan makes me happy !!

 

yup. I was also pleasantly surprised to find that they are invisible in 2wd
glad to see you owning up to this. enjoy that thing man
didn't see if you mentioned this in the write up but you are using RTV instead of a gasket (no gasket right?). for anyone who was wondering, RTV is the right way to go

 

Aussies are the same way, i love mine

 

Yes. Rtv by itself works great. No gasket required. The black oil resistant rtv.

 

I don't see where it says if this is an automatic locker like the aussie or a full time locker?

 

Its the same as the loc rite and Aussie. Although in my op its design is a little better.

Its an automatic locker. It works on pressure. So when you are in 4wd it locks the wheels. In two wheel drive it disengages. Now I am talking front axle only.

If you use it in the rear it will lock under pressure whether in 2 or 4wd.

This is why I don't want one for the rear. I enjoy the nice ride I currently have. I will get a selectable locker or tru trac for the rear.


Again, using the Spartan in the front axle in 2wd its completely undetectable.

 

What'd that run you?

 

269 shipped from Amazon.

 

Pretty cool to hear a good review. I want a something lockable up front but I don't want to waste the money on the D30, might go this route.

Whats you ride set up? Lift, tires, gear ratio?

 

Lift is 2.5 in Maybe 3 by the end of the week.

32" federal couragia mt's. no swaybars. 3:55 gears.

 

Can't this cause issues or damage when making a tight turn in 4wd?

 

Makes it tougher to turn the wheel. I imagine if you decide to run huge tires and go heavy on the skinny in a tight turn, you'd break something.