I'm considering buying an FJ80 Land Cruiser. I really want one with lockers but they are hard to come by. I want to be able to do some offroading here and there. Would lockers provide a huge advantage, or would I be okay without them?
What would lockers do for me?
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Last: 10 yr ago by JSKolache
Open diffs in something taken offroad doesn't sound fun. Hell, open diffs in anything doesn't sound fun. Run LSD's at minimum.
quote:
Open diffs in something taken offroad doesn't sound fun. Hell, open diffs in anything doesn't sound fun. Run LSD's at minimum.
What are LSDs?
LSD = Limited Slip Differential.
Limited Slip is a bare minimum in the rear axle for any off-roading in my opinion. Hell, in the right situation, with open diffs, you could get stuck in wet grass.
Even in moderate off-roading, just a selectable rear locker would do you pretty well. Front lockers are for more "extreme" wheeling, but if the money is there, a selectable front locker is sweet.
Limited Slip is a bare minimum in the rear axle for any off-roading in my opinion. Hell, in the right situation, with open diffs, you could get stuck in wet grass.
Even in moderate off-roading, just a selectable rear locker would do you pretty well. Front lockers are for more "extreme" wheeling, but if the money is there, a selectable front locker is sweet.
Lincoln locker or GTFO
I have an FJ40 right now in which I have to "lock the hubs" before I put it in 4WD. Someone explain what that does please. I've off-roaded plenty of times in my FJ and never really gotten stuck.
If I was to do some mudding in an FJ80 without any lockers would I be okay?
If I was to do some mudding in an FJ80 without any lockers would I be okay?
The selectable hubs disconnect the wheel from the axle half shafts on the front.
- If they are in the open position & the FJ40 is in 2WD, the front drive shaft nor the front axles are spinning.
- If they are in the open position & the FJ40 is in 4WD, the front drive shaft is spinning, but the front axles are not.
- If they are in the locked position & the FJ40 is in 4WD, the front drive shaft and the front axles are spinning.
They were originally designed for old Jeeps that were full time 4WD to be converted for more civilized driving styles.
- If they are in the open position & the FJ40 is in 2WD, the front drive shaft nor the front axles are spinning.
- If they are in the open position & the FJ40 is in 4WD, the front drive shaft is spinning, but the front axles are not.
- If they are in the locked position & the FJ40 is in 4WD, the front drive shaft and the front axles are spinning.
They were originally designed for old Jeeps that were full time 4WD to be converted for more civilized driving styles.
FJ80 can be "triple locked"
An 80 has three differentials and is a full time 4WD vehicle, but the front diff allows the left and right front tires to spin at different speeds (while still providing drive to both), the rear diff allows the left and right rear tires to spin at different speeds (while still providing drive to both), and the center diff allows the front and rear axles to spin at different speeds (while still providing drive to both). But what can happen is that both the front and rear axles can get little drive force if just one wheel loses traction.
With a center diff lock, which can be put into an 80 (and was there be default on early 80's), you can lock the front and rear axles together so that they both spin at the same speed. So if you lose front traction and spin a wheel there the rear axle gets drive force. Between all time 4WD, and a center diff lock which is easy to put in if not already there, you have a very capable off road vehicle that will do 95% of what weekend yahoos like myself will take on even at an offroad park. A winch can help for those rare cases the center diff lock is not enough.
If you lose traction on both a front and rear wheel though, a center diff lock is not enough. You then introduce lockers to the front and rear which if all 3 lockers are engaged, force all 4 wheels to always spin at the exact same speed. I have full lockers but my rear wont engage due to being rusted out, but with just the front and center lockers engaged it is very difficult to drive. Due to stress on the drivetrain, and awful driving experience, they would only be engaged when you are stuck or about to try something extremely difficult.
It's cool to have one triple locked but they carry a price premium to acquire and are harder to find. It may be a good idea to get one cheaper without lockers, wire up the center diff lock if it isn't already, then go wheeling and see if you ever have a problem. If you do, then you can get after market lockers and your total cost at the end of that probably wouldn't be too different from having bought one with the factory lockers. Chances are you'll never find you need them unless you are a hard core wheeler.
An 80 has three differentials and is a full time 4WD vehicle, but the front diff allows the left and right front tires to spin at different speeds (while still providing drive to both), the rear diff allows the left and right rear tires to spin at different speeds (while still providing drive to both), and the center diff allows the front and rear axles to spin at different speeds (while still providing drive to both). But what can happen is that both the front and rear axles can get little drive force if just one wheel loses traction.
With a center diff lock, which can be put into an 80 (and was there be default on early 80's), you can lock the front and rear axles together so that they both spin at the same speed. So if you lose front traction and spin a wheel there the rear axle gets drive force. Between all time 4WD, and a center diff lock which is easy to put in if not already there, you have a very capable off road vehicle that will do 95% of what weekend yahoos like myself will take on even at an offroad park. A winch can help for those rare cases the center diff lock is not enough.
If you lose traction on both a front and rear wheel though, a center diff lock is not enough. You then introduce lockers to the front and rear which if all 3 lockers are engaged, force all 4 wheels to always spin at the exact same speed. I have full lockers but my rear wont engage due to being rusted out, but with just the front and center lockers engaged it is very difficult to drive. Due to stress on the drivetrain, and awful driving experience, they would only be engaged when you are stuck or about to try something extremely difficult.
It's cool to have one triple locked but they carry a price premium to acquire and are harder to find. It may be a good idea to get one cheaper without lockers, wire up the center diff lock if it isn't already, then go wheeling and see if you ever have a problem. If you do, then you can get after market lockers and your total cost at the end of that probably wouldn't be too different from having bought one with the factory lockers. Chances are you'll never find you need them unless you are a hard core wheeler.
I'm going to be rude, but if you don't even know what locking hubs means, you don't need lockers yet. I'd wager most people don't need them. They sound cool, though.
robert
robert
More to break.
quote:
I'm going to be rude, but if you don't even know what locking hubs means, you don't need lockers yet. I'd wager most people don't need them. They sound cool, though.
robert
Yeah, I just want to do some mudding and basic trails mostly at my friend's ranch.
e lockers hang off the diff like a big tumor
aftermarket ARB is the way to go, as long as your willing to rip it out and replace that o ring every 5 years
I have a fj80 w/ arb diff in the front of my disco after being unable to find e locker for a reasonable price (surprise, they copied rover and it fits)
aftermarket ARB is the way to go, as long as your willing to rip it out and replace that o ring every 5 years
I have a fj80 w/ arb diff in the front of my disco after being unable to find e locker for a reasonable price (surprise, they copied rover and it fits)
Lockers make you grow boobs.
Sure it wasn't the other way around?
Buy one without. You can add it later.
99.9% of what you are likely to do will never require you to lock your axles.
99.9% of what you are likely to do will never require you to lock your axles.
quote:
Sure it wasn't the other way around?
time travel?
mrmill3218
Joined:
Oct 10, 2008
How long do you want to ignore this user?
quote:It doesn't matter who did it first, Toyota has done it much better.quote:
Sure it wasn't the other way around?
time travel?
quote:
It doesn't matter who did it first, Toyota has done it much better.
Good grief.
He's trying to help you understand some very basic stuff here and pretty well informed, there's zero need to get all Toyota huffy.
quote:Good point.quote:
It doesn't matter who did it first, Toyota has done it much better.
Good grief.
He's trying to help you understand some very basic stuff here and pretty well informed, there's zero need to get all Toyota huffy.
quote:Just comes with owning a Toyota. They can't help it.
He's trying to help you understand some very basic stuff here and pretty well informed, there's zero need to get all Toyota huffy.
So we got the Jeep Brahs vs the Toyo Tatas?
quote:Do Toyota owners have a pompous air to them? I've really never heard this.quote:Just comes with owning a Toyota. They can't help it.
He's trying to help you understand some very basic stuff here and pretty well informed, there's zero need to get all Toyota huffy.
quote:More than most, less than others..quote:Do Toyota owners have a pompous air to them? I've really never heard this.quote:Just comes with owning a Toyota. They can't help it.
He's trying to help you understand some very basic stuff here and pretty well informed, there's zero need to get all Toyota huffy.
quote:Honestly yes. But as said it isn't as bad as some groups.
Do Toyota owners have a pompous air to them? I've really never heard this.
Tundra owners usually a mention the space shuttle, being made in Texas and being the most American made trucks. Not really too bad.
FJ owners like to say they are better than Jeeps.
Prius owners....well that is a huge level of smug right there that probably doesn't even need going into.
quote:quote:Honestly yes. But as said it isn't as bad as some groups.
Do Toyota owners have a pompous air to them? I've really never heard this.
Tundra owners usually a mention the space shuttle, being made in Texas and being the most American made trucks. Not really too bad.
FJ owners like to say they are better than Jeeps.
Prius owners....well that is a huge level of smug right there that probably doesn't even need going into.
Bingo
We don't claim Prius owners.
WHERE MY FERD FTEENTHOUSAND BROS
I just hate fanbois, in all forms. It ruins the forum.
quote:What about the Echo or all of the Scions minus the Subaru?
We don't claim Prius owners.
quote:
Prius owners....well that is a huge level of smug right there that probably doesn't even need going into.
I have two of them, does that make me a giant *****?
quote:quote:
Prius owners....well that is a huge level of smug right there that probably doesn't even need going into.
I have two of them, does that make me a giant *****?
Of course it does, you granola eating, frisbee chucking, cheebah monkey.
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