Courier front diff locker, Getting made!!!!

[oldcourier]

After a few recent trips playing in the mud and on some steep rocky tracks I have realised how badly I want a front locker. Now before everyone starts, I know it's just a Ford Courier. But, it's served me well so far so at this stage I can't see the need to trade it in.

I have searched this forum, other 4WD forums, HEAPS of websites, sent quite a few emails and talked to a fair few 4WD parts suppliers with no luck . So far I know ARB only makes a rear diff locker, Apparently detroit used to make one but don't anymore and Lock-right and Lokka don't make them.

Does anyone know if there is a diff lock available, if anyone has done a conversion, know of any diff specialist worth trying, or if a different vehicles diff could be fitted under my Courier.

Any help or advice would be much appreciated.

Cheers,
Adam

[landcrusier ute]

anything is possibile in the world of 4wding if you cant get an aftermarket one mig it up like i did in my old bravo worked awsome

[02-SR5]

Surley something might be available.

If not, maybe a CIG locker, engage the hubs when you need to, then disengage with you dont need them.

[oldcourier]

Yeah, that is an option!!! :D

But I'd prefer to do the job properly if I could! It's just bloody hard finding after market parts for a less common vehicle!!! :crazy: :crazy:

[wado]

yeah stick with it. you don't want to be a hilux clone.

[Green X]

What Diff does it have upFront mate ?

it's not a Dana 28 or 35 is it and if so how how manny spline is it.

Cheers.

[oldcourier]

What Diff does it have upFront mate ?

it's not a Dana 28 or 35 is it and if so how how manny spline is it.

Cheers.
I couldn't tell you to be honest! I haven't pulled it out! It's just the stock as a rock diff from the factory! I will try to find out!

[Green X]

It's possible that a locker for the U.S Ranger or Mazda Equivalent will fit, as they are similar to the Courier.

Lockers are available for the U.S ones made by both Detroit and Powertrax I believe for around 300U.S, if the diff is A Dana 35 or 28 you are set.

Cheers

[oldcourier]

It's possible that a locker for the U.S Ranger or Mazda Equivalent will fit, as they are similar to the Courier.

Lockers are available for the U.S ones made by both Detroit and Powertrax I believe for around 300U.S, if the diff is A Dana 35 or 28 you are set.

Cheers
Thanks for that Green X. I can't find any info on the specs for the Ford/Mazda diffs on the net. If I can't find any info I'll make a few phone calls tomorrow and hopefully find out what they are!

I know the lockers are available for the Dana's.All the diff places I have spoken too so far have siad they are not available, so I'm guessing that the diffs are different!

Thanks again for your input! :thumb:

[Oldfella]

Hi Guys Detroit haven't done a front locker for courier\ bravo for the last 5 years. as popularity is low with these vehicles. Yeah Im searching for a locker for my boss girl too. The diff is a real one off in the mazda \ courier Im now searching the older Mazda cars like RX7 for an Lsd I can pull out and retro into mine. Lock Right stopped making the locker about the same time as Detroit and I've been hassling everyone including ARB for a front locker and all they say is you really need a locker for the rear not the front... I think that guy is playing with something that is not a banana.

[oldcourier]

Hi Guys Detroit haven't done a front locker for courier\ bravo for the last 5 years. as popularity is low with these vehicles. Yeah Im searching for a locker for my boss girl too. The diff is a real one off in the mazda \ courier Im now searching the older Mazda cars like RX7 for an Lsd I can pull out and retro into mine. Lock Right stopped making the locker about the same time as Detroit and I've been hassling everyone including ARB for a front locker and all they say is you really need a locker for the rear not the front... I think that guy is playing with something that is not a banana.


Atleast I'm not the only one having the same problem!!! :crazy:

I have emailed alot of distributors and asked if there is any chance of old stock being available. So far I have only had a couple replies and none of them were what I wanted to hear! :(

It's shame, I really like the Courier. I Like Hilux's, but I want soemthing different! It's just a bugger that there is such a small market for them.

[wado]

[quote=Oldfella;503844I've been hassling everyone including ARB for a front locker and all they say is you really need a locker for the rear not the front... I think that guy is playing with something that is not a banana.[/quote]

Yeah and I bet if ARB only made a front locker then they'd be telling you that all you need is a front one.

[Green X]

Hi Guys Detroit haven't done a front locker for courier\ bravo for the last 5 years. as popularity is low with these vehicles. Yeah Im searching for a locker for my boss girl too. The diff is a real one off in the mazda \ courier Im now searching the older Mazda cars like RX7 for an Lsd I can pull out and retro into mine. Lock Right stopped making the locker about the same time as Detroit and I've been hassling everyone including ARB for a front locker and all they say is you really need a locker for the rear not the front... I think that guy is playing with something that is not a banana.

The only reason I brought it up was my U.S Parts catalogue list’s front Lockers for
Mazda
B2600
B4000
B3000
And
Ford Ranger

All US Car’s but all very similar to the courier, so this is Why Austrian distributors wouldn’t have a Part Listing showing up.

Hear is their Links for the on-line store

MAZDA B Sires
Differential Carriers - summitracing.com (http://store.summitracing.com/egnsearch.asp?N=700+4294925134+4294839047+42949188 87+4294902532+115+4294907824)

FORD RANGER
Differential Carriers - summitracing.com (http://store.summitracing.com/egnsearch.asp?N=700+4294925134+4294839047+42949188 87+4294902532+4294908331+115+4294907827)


Cheers.

[oldcourier]

The only reason I brought it up was my U.S Parts catalogue list’s front Lockers for
Mazda
B2600
B4000
B3000
And
Ford Ranger

All US Car’s but all very similar to the courier, so this is Why Austrian distributors wouldn’t have a Part Listing showing up.

Hear is their Links for the on-line store

MAZDA B Sires
Differential Carriers - summitracing.com (http://store.summitracing.com/egnsearch.asp?N=700+4294925134+4294839047+42949188 87+4294902532+115+4294907824)

FORD RANGER
Differential Carriers - summitracing.com (http://store.summitracing.com/egnsearch.asp?N=700+4294925134+4294839047+42949188 87+4294902532+4294908331+115+4294907827)


Cheers.

You bloody Legend! I will fire them off an email after I find out what spline we have on the Australian model!
I looked on this website a few days ago and found a 2" body lift kit for the b2600 extra cabs for $89.95 US. I didn't find the diff locks though!

Thanks heaps for that Green X, I will let everyone know what I find out from them!

[oldcourier]

hmmm, after looking at the specs and the "check to make sure it fits your application" it looks like it only suits the 91 to 93 model!

It doesn't mean that we are completely out of luck. just means I have more research to do! :thumb:

[familybus]

dont want to hijack your thread dude! but ive got a 97 mad courier and wanna lift it, how much lift is on yours and how is it done? thanks bud

[Green X]

Some lockers are only available on some models the E-Z for example is 97-2001 IFS, but the powertrax is available for 87-97 IFS, so you may need to go for a certain Locker.

Check em all out mate.

Summit are helpful but probably won’t be able to tell you if X Diff lock will fit your Australian Courier as the US hasn’t had corers for some time. best bet will be speek to Ford or a diff place or grab a workshop manuel.

But for example if you have a 27 spline DANA 35 with a 1.558in hub diameter than the Detroit E-Z "DTL-812A025"
will fit you diff.

it's just a matter of maching the numbers up
Cheers.

[oldcourier]

dont want to hijack your thread dude! but ive got a 97 mad courier and wanna lift it, how much lift is on yours and how is it done? thanks bud

I'm not sure of the suspension set up that's in it now, it was already in here when I got it. Hopefully after tax time I will be getting a RidePro suspension kit for it.


Summit are helpful but probably won’t be able to tell you if X Diff lock will fit your Australian Courier as the US hasn’t had corers for some time. best bet will be speek to Ford or a diff place or grab a workshop manuel.
Cheers.

Yeah, I was going to ring a few wreckers, Ford, get manual and find out about the diff before I emailed Summit. Cheers again for your help!

[Peter @ Aawen4x4]

After a few recent trips playing in the mud and on some steep rocky tracks I have realised how badly I want a front locker. .....

What exactly is it that makes you think you want a FRONT locker? If it's just getting air under 1 wheel up front, then the ARB guys are probly right that you'd be better off with a rear locker instead.

Seriously, think about it! When the vehicle is going uphill, most of the weight transfers to the rear wheels, so just about all the drive transfers to the rear axle, in fact about 70% of the drive comes from there when you are climbing! If you've got an open rear diff, then just one spinning wheel up the back reduces that instantly to ZERO drive available out of that 70%! With the LSD option, at absolute best it still reduces the drive available to less than half of the 70% being sent to the rear axle, or about 25% of the total drive available to the car. And with the 70% going to the rear axle, it leaves only 30% of the total drive available coming from the front axle, or about 15% of the total drive available coming from each wheel.

So it's not very likely that you are stopping or failing to proceed just because you've got 1 front wheel in the air, that takes away only 15% of your total available drive - you are more likely failing to proceed because the back has a spinning wheel, taking away either 70% of the drive with an open diff (ie all the available rear wheel drive) and leaving only the 15% available from the 1 front wheel on the ground; or with the LSD fitted, you loose about 60% of the total available drive (you loose all drive bar the max of 25% still avail at the rear, plus the 15% from the front) leaving only 40% of the total available drive left to actually get the car up the hill.

So fitting a locker to the rear increases the drive available at the rear axle in most uphill circumstances to ALL the 70% of the total drive available to the car, and that leaves you with 85% of the total drive available even with 1 front wheel in the air! One rear wheel in a hole or even in the air won't change that when you've got a locker fitted, it just means that the degree of traction available from the single tyre on the ground at the rear comes into play more! There are very few circumstances where a front diff lock will improve on that 85%! So it could well be that you really WOULD be better off fitting the locker to the rear!

Now I'm not one to recommend anyone put an ARB Air Locker anywhere, but in this case, I think you'd probly find that it will improve your traction and driving ability way more than putting anything, especially a CIG Locker up front! Fit the ARB Locker to the rear and enjoy the gain in traction and where you can go!!

Cheers!

ps BTW, when you are coming down hill, having a rear locker will stop the potential of having a rear wheel in the air spinning backwards (the open or LSD diff lets it do that!) and allowing the car to lurch forwards without control, and besides, the weight of the engine is helping to hold the front of the car down onto the front tyres, so the need for a front locker is actually lessened, but that rear wheel in the air can be a real trap that the locker will solve - so it's still better to fit the locker to the rear!

[Mikey0211]

Go the couriers!!!! LOL, Keep us posted mate, did you say you can get them for the rear???? if so what $$$ were they

[oldcourier]

What exactly is it that makes you think you want a FRONT locker? If it's just getting air under 1 wheel up front, then the ARB guys are probly right that you'd be better off with a rear locker instead.
Peter, thanks heaps for your input, I appreciate you taking the time to type out your reply.
I already have a LSD in the rear, and this seems to work quite well. The problem I have is when I get one front wheel off the ground, there is no drive to the front. So I'm more or less running in 2WD as only the rear end is giving me any drive. As the front wheels are not driving I am just sitting there spinning the back wheels, and the front wheels are skipping.

If I had a front locker, the front wheels would still have drive, even with one wheel off the ground. This would "pull" the front end up, and help with the rear wheels pushing the vehicle up the hill. And give me back my 4 wheel drive.

Thanks again for you advice, and please let me know if this is incoorect.

Cheers,
Adam

[oldcourier]

Go the couriers!!!! LOL, Keep us posted mate, did you say you can get them for the rear???? if so what $$$ were they
I haven't looked too much into the ARB rear air lockers. Depending on who you get to do fit it, and what other work is required on the diff, you would be looking at around $1,900 to $2,000 drive-in drive-out!

[Peter @ Aawen4x4]

.... The problem I have is when I get one front wheel off the ground, there is no drive to the front. So I'm more or less running in 2WD as only the rear end is giving me any drive. As the front wheels are not driving I am just sitting there spinning the back wheels, and the front wheels are skipping.

If I had a front locker, the front wheels would still have drive, even with one wheel off the ground. This would "pull" the front end up, and help with the rear wheels pushing the vehicle up the hill. And give me back my 4 wheel drive.

Thanks again for you advice, and please let me know if this is incoorect.

Cheers,
Adam

While this is part of one of the never ending 4WD debates, the argument is that if lifting a front wheel and failing to proced is your only problem, then fitting the locker to the front will only add a tiny bit of traction, while fitting the same locker to the rear will largely stop the spinning back there and get you back driving! Basically your rear wheels are spinning because the LSD can't transfer enough of the drive away from the wheel with the least traction, so you go nowhere.

LSD's can ONLY transfer at absolute max 40% of the drive, so more than half of what drive is available to the rear, which is by far the greater drive available to the vehicle, has been lost, and that's why you sit there spinning back wheels with 1 front wheel in the air idly turning! By putting a locker in the back, that rear wheel spinning problem disappears and you get back the other half of that 70% of the total drive so you drive up the hill. By putting a locker in the front you only get a tiny bit more drive available, actually a little less than 15% of your total drive, so adding a front locker DOES NOT give you the equivalent of another wheel driving!! It's really only just over 1/2 the equivalent of another wheel. A front locker will make your vehicle a 1.5wheel drive while you've got 1 front wheel in the air! A rear locker will make your vehicle a true 2.0 wheel drive and that's all thru the wheels that are providing 70% of the driving force at the time!!

So if you put your locker in the front, you gain the equivalent of just over 1/2 another wheel, while putting it in the back gives you the equivalent of MORE than another wheel, AND it is also gives it to you where the vehicle needs it most, ie where the wheels are actually firmly on the ground!!

The argument the other way is that when you are climbing over a vertical step and the rear wheels are actually on a vertical face, the additional driving force is countered by the extra pull from the grounded front wheel, BUT it is STILL less than the equivalent of 1/2 an extra driving wheel.

In your case, where there IS a rear locking diff available, and there is a heap of good arguement out there that suggests you get the greater benefit from putting the locking diff in the rear, (even ARB recognise that it is better in the rear for most ute type bodies) then you really should stop the search for a lesser capable front diff, and go with the rear locker!!

You KNOW that you are going to get a benefit from fitting a locker, no argument there, and all the suppliers suggest that it is better in the rear, plus there is only a rear locker readily available, it really is a pretty cut and dried decision isn't it!!? You CAN get great gains from a rear locker because there IS ACTUALLY and PHYSICALLY ONE AVAILABLE!! You MIGHT get some gains from a front locker but not many manufacturers consider it a significant or worthwhile enough gain to make one, there MIGHT NOT EVEN BE ONE MADE!! Get the rear Locker fitted and see how much it helps. IT WILL be a massive improvement over what you are experiencing now, and it will almost entirely cut out the problems that you are currently experiencing!! And the longer you delay the decision, the more likely that the VERY LAST manufacturer of Courier Rear Lockers will give up 'cos there aren't sufficient sales of them so you'll miss out entirely!! Grab one while you can, then tell us how it goes, I'd be quite surprised if it didn't make your lifted front wheel issues a thing of the past!!

Enjoy!

[oldcourier]

Very helpful advice Peter, thanks again! I will certainly look into it. The bugger about the ARB lockers is the big dollars! 2 grand is a lot to me as I'm busily paying off the mortgage.

I will keep researching the similarities?differences in the Aussie and Yank B2600's and see what front and rear diff locks are available!

Would a Detroit or lock-right type locker be as good in the rear as an air locker? If these are available fron the states, it may be a cheaper option for me!

[Peter @ Aawen4x4]

Very helpful advice Peter, thanks again! I will certainly look into it. The bugger about the ARB lockers is the big dollars! 2 grand is a lot to me as I'm busily paying off the mortgage.

I will keep researching the similarities?differences in the Aussie and Yank B2600's and see what front and rear diff locks are available!

Would a Detroit or lock-right type locker be as good in the rear as an air locker? If these are available fron the states, it may be a cheaper option for me!

My personal opinion is YES, the Detroit Locker is BETTER!! They are quids ahead of any manual locker because they are STILL a fully operational diff!! That means that it does all the things your normal LSD does, EXCEPT that it gives you 100% drive when the surface is marginal!! And 'cos it's still doing the diff thing, if the surface is hard/good enough to warrant differential action, you got it, instead of stressing out the manually locked diff; while if it is marginal enough to warrant locker action, you got that too instead of thinking, "Is it bad enough, should I or ... ooops, too late!!" Way less breakages and way more benefits!!

Of course there are Afficionado's of ARB Air Lockers (and all the others) that swear by their preferred choice just as much as me, and I guess the only proof is only in the doing of your particular thing! The Detroit is by far the best option for what I do! And I have tried just about ALL the other options without anywhere near the same benefits too!!

The bad news is that I think you may well find that unless you can match your diff to that of a vehicle currently or recently available in the States, you won't have a great deal of joy in finding a Detroit to suit. I do have a funny feeling that I did this search before (although it may have been for an older version) without any Luck. I reckon that the ARB Air Locker is the most likely solution.

Detroits are usually not much below par with the Air Lockers in terms of $$$, but you do get a diff that will benefit you ALL the time, rather than one that spends the bulk of its time off, leaving you with an open diff! The last time I looked at Patrols f'rinstance, they were about $200 cheaper for the Detroit fitted, except that if the diff had done over about 100,000km, you are strongly advised to get the bearings and seals changed too. Now the ARB guys should recommend the same too, but it all adds up!!

Locked Drive Systems (LDS) are the company that was set up in 1989 to import the Detroit and they make most of the bits that get fitted to the imported centre that allow them to be fitted and used with Aussie spec vehicles. It might be worth giving them a ring and having a chat. I'm not sure who is there these days, they may all be new guys without the in-depth knowledge that the older fellas had, but persist, you should be able to find someone who can either tell you that they can actually still do one for you (or how YOU can get some bits engineered for your own) OR they should be able to point you in the right direction re Yank spec vehicles that are the same!!

LDS are at Granville NSW, phone no 02 9897 7912, website is at www.locked-drive.com.au (http://www.locked-drive.com.au)

Hope it all helps, and that you get the locker of whatever type sorted soon!

[oldcourier]

Hope it all helps, and that you get the locker of whatever type sorted soon!

Helps, that's an understatement! It has been a Massive help! :thumb: I will get onto LDS tomorrow and see what they have to say.

As for the "getting one engineered" I MAY have found a 4WD diff and trans specialist who can do the job. I stumbled across him today purely by luck. He reckons if I can get all the info on the diff than he should be able to make a locker. I have been chasing exploded views, part numbers etc this arvo. He told me he has made quite a few before, so lets keep our fingers crossed.

Cheers,
Adam

PS. IF, this Diff specialist can make me a locker I will let everyone know!

[Oldfella]

Mikey ARB do the lockers for Mazda \ Courier + you'll need a compressor and line.

When a Front wheel looses traction (open diff) with one wheel on the ground, which wheel will be turning? The wheel with no traction while the wheel on the ground has no drive thus a front locker for up hill is required.

[Oldfella]

Thanks for the info Peter but it still hasn't changed my mind about wanting .... no requiring a front locker on the Bravo. Assuming for a tic and working on your power figure split of 70 \30 with back wheels spinning and loss of power in the rear and with 1 front wheel off ground with that wheel now having 27% of the fronts power as it it spinning freely while the ground wheel will have about 3% power when it bites the ground (hope I'm making sense here).
Now with a front locker fitted ... the freely spinning wheel is now non existent as the locker has now come into play thus the power is equally transmitted to both wheels meaning the ground wheel now has 15% power as against 3% with out locker on. Which means to me 12% mincrease in the possibilty of climbing the ledge or obstacle as against no chance. But it also increases the possibility of axle or CV damage too. This is assuming drive is blocked in the rear. The best thing is a locker in the Front and Rear.
Am I off the track or what... feel free to correct me if I am wrong.

[Peter @ Aawen4x4]

I think you missed the critical bit Oldfella! (I'll write a bit to help us all along the way, but hang on to the end where I get to the critical bit!)

The drive available up the back will be reduced because of the spinning wheel at the rear, won't it? (an open or LSD will be spinning due to loss of traction under that wheel, just like the front one in the air) If you stop THAT rear wheel spinning by fitting a locker instead of stopping the front wheel spinning in the air, and convert the spin at the rear to drive, then you'll GAIN an extra 35% of the total drive available to the vehicle instead of the about 12% that you'd get from locking the front!

So given the choice of gaining about 12% drive from locking the front or gaining about 35% of the total available drive from locking the rear, which is more likely to improve your chances of getting up the hill?? That's why you too sound like you'd gain more from fitting a locker at the back than the front, BUT it really becomes a moot point doesn't it, (and here's the critical bit!) when it becomes clearer that there isn't an easy way to lock the front of a Courier or Bravo!! No-one makes or sells a front locker for them! There is a way to lock the REAR of the Courier or Bravo, in fact there is MORE THAN ONE WAY! A number of Lockers are made and sold, ARB, TJM, and I believe that looking in the states will reveal lockers for the rear too! Check out PowerTrax.

So given the choice of keeping the open front diff, or locking the rear diff, which one is going to help you get up those hills more?? I would've thought it was pretty obvious, and that once we all realised that there was no easy way of locking the front diff, we had only one solution!

LOCK THE REAR!





And if anyone finds a locker for the front, we can discuss it more if you like! I'm willing to be corrected on the availability of front lockers for the Courier/Bravo, but I still think you'll find that unless we start talking about vertical steps, the rear locker will give you the best chance of climbing the hills! Cheers

[oldcourier]

Just a quick update on the Front diff locker research!!

I have been racing around a fair bit the last couple days getting exploded view diagrams and details about the front diff from Mazda and Ford. I had them run me off a copy of the diagram and the list of part numbers.

This afternoon I faxed all these details to Brian, the 4x4 transmission and diff specialist. He is going thru the diagrams and details to figure out the best plan of attack.

I will hopefully get more info back from him either tomorrow or early next week. He reckons that he can make the locker, using a cam action to lock when the power is applied, and unlock when the power is backed off.

If he can get the rest of the details and measurements without my diff, then it should be as simple as him making it (hopefully) and me fitting it after. If he can't get the measurements, then I will either have to buy a second hand diff for around $450 so he can use that for measurements. Then I can fior the locker to this diff, and change the diffs. The other option is to rip my diff out and leave it with him and maybe rebuild it at the same time.

Thanks again for all the input and advice from everyone. I will keep everyone informed how things go. If it works out, I think there may be a few Couriers/Bravos getting a front diff lock! :D

[matt.s.FC]

Damn i hope it all goes through for ya oldcourier .. cant wait for the results .. and if there good i dont think it'll be too long b4 i do the same ... i've looked all over and always came up empty regaurding lockers. It gets a bit annoying running open's at both ends when offroad.

[oldcourier]

Damn i hope it all goes through for ya oldcourier .. cant wait for the results .. and if there good i dont think it'll be too long b4 i do the same ... i've looked all over and always came up empty regaurding lockers. It gets a bit annoying running open's at both ends when offroad.

Matt, if it works out I will definately let you, and the other guys know! If you have the open centre in the rear, why don't you look for a LSD at the wreckers!
I was quoted $450 for a second hand front diff, and $650 for a low KM inport. Not sure, but I can't see the rear would be too much more expensive.
Look into it, it shouldn't be too expensive. and it should be an easy afternoon job to change it over! :thumb:

[unitcourier]

this is an interesting post, i too would like to eventually fit lockers to my 2000 courier and without sounding lazy would appreciate you letting me know what you find out. i used to have a rangie and fitted a detroit locker in its rear and it went everywhere. thankx

[oldcourier]

Just a little update on the Front Diff locker. I took out my Front diff today and dropped it off at 4x4 Transmission. Brian will pull it down tomorrow and figure out how he will make the locker.
He showed me a couple of examples of other lockers he has made when I was in there this arvo. They look just like any other auto-locker, just custom made. He reckons it will be around the $600-$700 mark.

Here's a few pics of the what I did today.

To remove the diff, the hubs and CV's had to come out first!
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w276/adamireson/Diff01.jpg?t=1184671133

Look Mar, no diff!
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w276/adamireson/Diff02.jpg?t=1184671173

Looking empty!!!
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w276/adamireson/Diff03.jpg?t=1184671313

[oldcourier]

All the right side had to come out to give me room to take out the diff.
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w276/adamireson/Diff04.jpg?t=1184671434

All the bits after I took them out.
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w276/adamireson/Diff05.jpg?t=1184671473

And all the suspension hooked back up so that I can still drive it while the diff lock is getting made!
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w276/adamireson/Diff06.jpg?t=1184671693

[oldcourier]

hey someone stole ya springs!!!:crazy:
D'oh!!! I knew something was missing! :D

[utedriver]

Exciting times ahead Adman!!

[oldcourier]

Hehe! Yeap, certainly are Rich! :thumb:

[steelo]

Check out the add on pages 50-51, issue 109, for the Lokka Diff Locks. They're even in the City of Church's .:waycool:
Let us know how you go.:thumb:

[wado]

He has been there done that steelo :)

[oldcourier]

Check out the add on pages 50-51, issue 109, for the Lokka Diff Locks. They're even in the City of Church's .:waycool:
Let us know how you go.:thumb:

Cheers Steelo, I tried 4WD Sysyems a while back. I asked them about the lokka brand locker with no luck. I don't know if he had prank phone calls about them or something, but he very rudely said no and pretty much hung up straight away!

[oldcourier]

Update:

I spoke to the Brian (the Diff builder) today. He has pulled my diff down to figure out the best way to build this front difff locker. After looking at the webbing thickness of the standard carrier, which is only a two pinion carrier. He doesn't believe that the standard carrier will stand up to the stresses.
But, "not to worry he says" I will get some more measurements, and figure out how to machine up a whole new carrier. Not just thicker webbing, but a four pinion carrier. Hopefully by tomorrow arvo I should know if this is definately a goer.
Because the extra work is required to machine the new pinion carrier, the original cost of $600-$700 may blow out a little. "But", he says again. If you can get the blokes who claim they are interested together, I can make five of them, and this will bring the cost right back again.

Now, I will not be selling them and I do not know the exact price at this stage. Hopefully tomorrow arvo I will have an idea, and a price confiirmed. If there are any Courier or Bravo owners out there who are GENUINELY interested in buying one of these lockers (if they are able to be made) please let me know. As I said, I will not be sellling them, that will be brian at 4x4 Transmissions. but I am not going to get him to make five if I am the only one interested, also If the cost for a "one off" is too much, I may scrap the idea.

If you want to discuss the details further please call me on my mobile 0402 103 640. Or, if this is a goer you will be able to call Brian at 4x4 Transmissions on (08)8266 6288.

[Mikey0211]

Lookin good mate, If the price is in my ball park then I will definetly be interested!!!!!.

Are you gonna fit it yourself after he makes it or is he doin the whole lot??

[miyata610]

Does anyone know if the courier/bravo front diff is the same as the ranger/bt-50?

If so, I would be interested.

[oldcourier]

Lookin good mate, If the price is in my ball park then I will definetly be interested!!!!!.

Are you gonna fit it yourself after he makes it or is he doin the whole lot??
Mikey, as soon as I know the price I will let you know. I spoke to Brian this arvo, he is half way through making the 4 pinion carrier. He told me to drop down Monday or Tuesday to have a look at the carrier and his design for the locker.
He still can't give me an exact price for the work. I said about the original $600-$700 price, and he reckons it definately won't be too expensive at all. I think the way he's been talking that he is enjoying the challenge!

I will keep you in the loop as I find out more!

[oldcourier]

Does anyone know if the courier/bravo front diff is the same as the ranger/bt-50?

If so, I would be interested.

Sorry mate! from what I can find out they are different. The research I have done shows that the airlockers for the BT50 are under developement. The Courier/Bravo airlockers are already available. Which must mean that they are different. :crazy: If they had the same dimensions and splines etc they would just use the Courier airlockers.

Good news is, that it looks like ARB are making a rear airlocker, TJM are making front and rear airlocker and Lokka are making a front auto locker.

[matt.s.FC]

i am interested in getting a locker ... but i haven't got the $$$ atm :( and i just searched the business on yellowpages.com.au .. and its in SA .. so that would mean freight costs also. perhaps i may beable to find a similar business up this way who do similar work (SEQLD).. perhaps brian may have connections up here also?

i really should get some technical specs for my front diff as there could be variations from model to model ... eg .. diesel, turbo diesel, petrol.

and i dont wanna be paying for a locker and frieght for an incompatible design

[oldcourier]

That's cool Matt, I see what you mean. From what I know of all the diffs are the same! if you get info from Ford it says "87 on", there is never any "87-91" or "1990-2001" etc!
I'm not sure if he has connections, he may have. But the business is his own, not a chain or franchise etc.
As for the freight, I can't imagine a small locker and diff carrier would weigh much, or cost much to send snail mail.
I will keep posting threads as things happen to let everyone know how it is turning out!

[oldcourier]

Cheers Gus, I didn't think it'd cost too much!

[oldcourier]

I dropped down to see Brian this arvo to see how the new 4 pinion carrier and locker were going. I missed seeing the new carrier by less than an hour. :cry: He had already taken it down the road to the heat treaters. Ahh well, atleast it's getting there! :)
Lucky he is making a new carrier, because I'd be up for buying a new one anyway. The old 2 pinion carrier had HEAPS of play between the carrier and one of the gears. I'm suprised I couldn't hear it clunking with the amount of movement it had.
At this stage it looks like it might be ready by the end of the week. If it's not ready till next week I won't be too concerened. I have a heap of stuff to do around the house which I have been avoiding and going 4WDing instead. :D
I will let you all know when I get the diff back! I hope I can manage a few pics before it all goes back together.

[oldcourier]

good news old courier,
i'm guessing brian has done the hard work now & it should be pretty straight forward from here! how does it feel being the pioneer in courier auto locking front diffs???

it'll be good to see how it performs offroad:thumb:

mmmm, how does it feel to be the guinea pig??? Ask me that again in a few weeks!!!

As for the performance! it will be interesting to see!

[matt.s.FC]

i'm eagerly awaiting the results of this ... been checking this thread almost everyday :)

[oldcourier]

i'm eagerly awaiting the results of this ... been checking this thread almost everyday :)
Good stuff Matt!!! Here's your daily update to keep you in the loop. I spoke to Brian again tonight, All is sort of going well.
The 4 pinion carrier he made got an internal hairline crack after heat treating. the Xray picked up the crack, so he doesn't want to risk it breaking so he is machining a new one. Although it might be a little extra wait for the diff, I'm glad he is being pedantic and doing the job properly.

He is also trying to make the carrier to suit a larger bearing, rather than the little original sucker that is in there. All going to plan the new carrier and locker might be finished by mid next week!

I will continue to give updates as I find out more! :thumb:

[Baldricks_Mate]

I have a mate in our club who has F&R auto (un)lockers in his 90's Raider. He used off the shelf units from our local TJM store and had some bearing part machined inside his diff machined to size and bingo he's locked and loaded even though everyone said nothing would fit. If you score a zero with your other enquries I can ask him for exact info. I'll get a sensible reply from him, he's a machinist by trade. Mind you he's a bit gung ho and now has semi regular CV issues but that Raider can climb anything.

[slowlux]

look forwars to seeing how this turns out. We'll have to organise a drive sometime!

[saltyqld]

It's just bloody hard finding after market parts for a less common vehicle!!! :crazy: :crazy:

same boat as you mate, can be quite annoying, but hey, i like my truck :truck: :D

[oldcourier]

I have a mate in our club who has F&R auto (un)lockers in his 90's Raider. He used off the shelf units from our local TJM store and had some bearing part machined inside his diff machined to size and bingo he's locked and loaded even though everyone said nothing would fit. If you score a zero with your other enquries I can ask him for exact info. I'll get a sensible reply from him, he's a machinist by trade. Mind you he's a bit gung ho and now has semi regular CV issues but that Raider can climb anything.

Thanks Baldricks Mate, I don't know alot about the differences of the Couriers?Bravo's and Raiders. From what I understand they are the same vehicle. If you see your mate, just ask him what locker and what work he did to make it fit. It would be interesting to know.
So far Brian has been very helpful and cluey with the work he has done. I think this locker will turn out fine, but it's always good to have a plan B.

Cheers,
Adam

[oldcourier]

look forwars to seeing how this turns out. We'll have to organise a drive sometime!

Yeah I can't wait Slowlux! It'll be great to get out again and see how much difference it makes! :thumb:

same boat as you mate, can be quite annoying, but hey, i like my truck :truck: :D
As annoying as it is at times, it's good to have something that's just that little bit different!

[oldcourier]

All further updates and pics can be seen on my Build-up page!

http://www.4wdmonthly.com.au/forum/f27/firetruck-custom-locker-carrier-pics-36524/index8.html

Cheers for all the help and replies!

Adam

[Oldfella]

Hi Adam hows the locker working?

[HEM19X]

Guys,

Apparently Locca are in the process of releasing front & rear lockers.

These actually lock the diffs whenever the dif is locked [4wd is engaged] - as with all front lockers this can hamper steering.

Regards

Hem19x

[DTHCoCo]

i've got a lokka in the front diff in our Ra Rodeo and with the steering question it makes bugger all difference it steers a bit heavier but u certainly don't steer into trees like other people say...