[RyanAndJenn]

Hey i was reading up on lockers and im interested in the aussie locker for the front of my 99 tacoma 4x4. Its the 4cyl and i have manual locking hubs. Everybody says the steering suffers with the aussie locker upfront and they mention that it has to do with the auto hubs. If i installed it and unlocked my hubs manually the front diff shouldnt be recieving any power in 2wd and therefore not causing the locker to "lock" and make steering difficult. Is this correct? I did search and search but it wasnt ever directly stated. probably cause its a no brainer but hey im trying to learn

thanks in advance everyone.
ryan

 

[Dunk]

With a locker like that one you will be ok with manual hubs... as long as they are unlocked while on the street. With them locked the automatic locker will want to distribute traction and will definatley be harder to steer.. and on the dry street might break something. Hell, you can break something by just running regular 4wheel drive on dry pavement. Off road it still will be harder to turn, and you might experience an axle failure depending on how hard you wheel it. I have an ARB locker up front and its very nice when needed... However, it takes a discerning driver to know when and when not to engage this selectable type locker... and even then.. shit breaks. Either way carry a couple spare cv's once you have it in. From what Ive read the aussie lockers are a good cheaper solution for a Front locker. I think parts alone were 850 or so for my ARB.

In short the locker will not effect you in 2wd with the hubs unlocked.

 

[BigMudTruk]

I have a Lock-Rite in the front of my truck, manual hubs. W/the hubs locked in you have to really listen to hear it ratchet while turning. Its transparent really. Doesnt affect the trucks road manners at all even w/hubs locked in on the street, it also will not break anything like this as it's not getting power from the t-case. The only time you'll notice it is in 4wd. I LOVE mine! Its really amazing how well it works, I have noticed only a minimal difference in steering effort, hardly noticable. I just carry a spare CV just in case.

 

[Wes]

Granted, I've got an axle up front but I have an aussie in it and love it.
Little tougher to steer in 4wd, but not that significant- it just understeers since its trying to drive both wheels the same with power to them.
Aussie is a quiet mother, my noslip in the rear raises all kinds of hell on the road (relative to what its supposed to) never a peep out of the front on the trail.
If you were really crazy about having the same steering you could always twin stick or put a crawler in it so you'd have low range just in the rear and be able to get in and out of 4wd on the trail for smooth turning.

 

[TACO 4X4]

Granted, I've got an axle up front but I have an aussie in it and love it.
Little tougher to steer in 4wd, but not that significant- it just understeers since its trying to drive both wheels the same with power to them.
Aussie is a quiet mother, my noslip in the rear raises all kinds of hell on the road (relative to what its supposed to) never a peep out of the front on the trail.
If you were really crazy about having the same steering you could always twin stick or put a crawler in it so you'd have low range just in the rear and be able to get in and out of 4wd on the trail for smooth turning.

Wes, do you prefer the Aussie over the Lock-rite up front?

 

[Interex]

I've got an Aussie up front and it's been amazing. Just have to learn how to wheel with it as you will snap CVs if you aren't careful on the skinny pedal.