Hi all, sorry this is so newbie, but iam new to the lockers thing. Can someone just give me a brief explantion about lockers? what they are? what they do? what are benefits/disadvantages? thanx

 

I'll throw you my explanation but someone may explain it better. I'll try for a short sweet deffinition.

Lockers are a type of differential that provides power to all the wheels all at once. So, they will not slip like they normally do when you drive around corners. The problem is that open or limited slip differentials will not provide power to that one wheel that has traction but it will provide it to the wheel in the air. The great thing are selectable lockers. They are open or limited slip for normal use but lock when you push a button or flip a switch.

Benefits are that they won't slip and you can get through some hairy stuff that others cant. Selectable lockers are great.

Disadvantage is some wheelers think they are unstoppable. Lockers aren't great for every environment, they can be an expensive upgrade.

 

Thanx for the explanation, so with lockers when i flip a switch then i spin both wheels together? no matter if one is in the air? isn't that the lsd thing we have?

 

Sigh.

Well, the locker changes the way your differential works, so that you get better traction.

The normal differential (diff) is an OPEN diff...just like on cars, etc.

Ever notice how at a track race the runners on the outside lanes get a head start?

Its because the guys on the outside lane have to go around a bigger circle than the guys on the inside lanes...they have to go further because they are running on the outside.

An open diff is designed to assume that the faster tire is on the outside of a turn you must be making, and therefore, sends all the torque to the outside tire, and lets the inside tire coast.

Off road, any time one tire goes faster, the diff assumes its making a turn, and does the same thing, makes the faster tire get all the go go juice, and lets the slower tire coast.

The problem is that off road, you might have simply hit a slippery patch with the one tire, or gotten one tire hung in the air, etc......so it spins when it loses traction....going faster.

When it goes faster, that means it gets all the go go juice...even though it has the least or NO traction....and, as your OTHER tire is now coasting, you essentially are without a means of propulsion on that axle.

So, the tire w/o traction gets all the torque, and just spins.

The tire WITH traction just sits there, laughing at you...but not helping you move, as it has no power to it. (Being mistaken for the inside track of a turn...)



What a locker does, is make both sides' tires rotate at the same speed, no matter what...so even if one has traction, and the other is in mid-air...the other tire keep moving you along.

Some lockers unlock, and let the diff differentiate, so the "outside" tire gets to go faster and get more torque IF YOU ARE turning, and the inside tire coasts...but not if going straight....even if one goes faster.

The Aussie locker goes one further, and gives the outside tire more speed to make it around that longer outside track, but NEVER lets the inside tire turn at less than your gear driven ground speed...so you stay "Locked", but still actually turning.

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Most Limited Slip Differentials (LSD) essentially act like a locker all the time, but, have what's called a break a way torque (BAT), at which they let go, and act like an open diff.

So, if you are driving in a straight line, and a tire losses traction, it still sends power to the other tire...until its too hard to hold on, and it just lets go (At its break a way torque...)

Same on a curve...it holds on until it lets go.

Some LSD's have such low BAT that they are all but worthless, some can hang on until they are not completely worthless.



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Most Traction Control systems use your brakes to stop a spinning tire...so they do not make the tire move you more, they just stop it from going faster for no reason.

This can work on some surfaces, and some are programmed better than others...I was with a Montero that just sat there, shuddering, as each tire slipped, was breaked, slipped, was breaked, and the damn truck was still stuck...paralyzed by the traction control idiot.

On the other hand, I saw an Xterra nibble its way across some really slick stuff because it had decent programming...and, the JK has decent programming from what I've heard.

The good programs essentially allow a little spin, just enough to make sure you don't just sit there shuddering, etc...depending upon the terrain, and also sense if you're actually moving or not, so if its working, it just keeps going, etc.



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Hope that helps a bit.

 

An electeirc locker = a solid spool when locked, and an open differential when not. Simple enough?

 

LOL....he didn't know what a locker is...a spool is now simple to understand?



(A spool simply makes the diff ALWAYS locked, and on turns, it will NOT differentiate)

Actually, some of the ELECTRIC lockers act as an LSD when turned off, and a spool when turned to LOCK. (ECTED, etc...)

So, there are many ways to lock/unlock...a selectable locker...meaning you can MAKE it lock or unlock with a control.

Some use air pressure (Air-locker), electricity (Electric Locker), a cable (OX Locker), and so forth...to make the locking action selectable....and typically, more expensive, but more flexible depending upon your conditions, etc.

 

Damn TEEJ thanks for the great explanation.even i am beginning to understand now.

 

Read this to understand how differentials work: http://www.howstuffworks.com/differential.htm
It has diagrams that show you the spinning parts, etc...

Also, keep in mind that not all lockers really turn your diff into a spool. Air lockers are dependant upon the flow of air to keep them engaged and have a point at which they will no longer hold. E lockers act more like a spool, but tend to be not as strong as Air Lockers and Air lockers are generally considered the best. LSDs tend to be mostly worthless off road. Most use a clutch mechanism to maintain traction to both wheels and they don't tend to have much in the way of holding power - not to mention that you'll have to replace the worn out clutch discs in the LSD after a while. LSD's are best suited for keeping traction on slippery roads.

 

The best unit for MY money is either the Aussie or a Detroit locker.

 

I know it doesn't have a jeep in the vid, but I think it's a pretty good example of the benefit of a locker.

h ttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-rQTHMVAuw&feature=related