Looking to buy a Sierra, but need advice please (lockrights)

[fervit]

I'm looking at buying a sierra but i would like to hear what people think. It's a little strange as it's an 84 body bolted onto an 89 chassis with a carby Vitara 1.6.

It has front and rear lockrights, however i found out that the rear has started making a strange noise and is apparently the pinion wheel which means the diff centre needs to be taken out and realigned? What is the pinion wheel anyway? How much can i expect this to cost? Is the car still drivable? Are lockrights alright on the road - i seem to be reading mixed things, some saying they're fine, others saying that a different driving style needs to be adopted. Are they meant to be noisy on sealed roads?

Also, what do people think of the car generally? As i said it's the different chassis, body and engine. The vitara motor has extractors and hyclone air intake. It's got the standard 1.3 gearbox and transfer case. It has had the dash from an 89 model fitted but it has not had any suspension or tyre changes.

ANY help would be appreciated, thanks http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/phpBB2/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif

[dank]

Outer Limits 4x4 Board :: Index (http://www.outerlimits4x4.com) go there and do a search in the suzuki forum. You will find a heap of info. Just read read read....

This zook sounds like a mixed bag....depending on where you are and what you want to do with it it might pay to start off with a stock one and build to what you need it for...If the rear diff is making noise then it could be a number of things....it could be as simple as wheel bearings or as complicated as broken teeth on the crown wheel or pinion....

Zooks are great as they are easy to work on and for their price will outperform other much bigger 4x4s. with dual lockrites and no power steering you will quickly develop massive arms when driving it off road. i have a front lockrite and when in 4x4 it requires a little bit of man handling....with a rear as well it'll be even harder to steer.

Lots to think about but hey...if it was me I'd just go straight for a stock or slightly modifed (and legal) car and build it to what you want it for...

[grimbo]

is the car legal, does it have all the appropriate engineering reports. All well and good for the seller to say its fine or that it has a dodgy rwc but an engine swap requires an engineers report and the body swap may (not sure on that aspect). What state are you in?

[GRPABT1]

Well the lockers will always make noise when going slow and turning like into car parks, that's just what they do. They should be quiet while at speed though. You do have do alter your driving style somewhat on the road, I have a rear locker and I can't accelerate much if at all while cornering or it will lock up the rear and tyres will slip. So basically you have to roll around corners off the go pedal. That said I would never have a fron lockrite, I would imagine it being a pain in the ass and affecting steering alot. I would rather an ir locker in the front, even if they are damn expensive.

[fervit]

Thanks for your replies. The car is in NSW and has the appropriate engineering certificates. It sounds like it is normal for the lockrights to make noise but i'm just not sure how much. I'll have to take it for a drive and see what the steering etc is like i guess. Will the difficult steering be obvious straight away?

[GRPABT1]

Should be with front and rear lockers, you will have very little amount of throttle that you can apply on tight corners before locking the diffs and wainting to do in a straight line.

[grimbo]

the front locker only comes into play when you have the hubs locked and are in 4wd so in normal road driving it wont effect the steering. Offroad you will notice the steering will be heavy and in some circumstances will actually hinder perfromance. But having lockers front and rear makes for a very capable vehicle.

I reckon a very capable vehicle in a begineers hands is probably not the best thing as it will put you into situations you weren't expecting and probably will struggle to get out of safely.

In my opinion for begineers it is better to start with a stockish rig, drive it and get a feel for the vehicle, its capbilities and more importnantly yours and then modify from there, matching your needs.