Ok, so I just had my factory rubi lockers wired up this past weekend with the help of a fellow forum member (thanks OoPezoO) who is good with electronics. We soldered the connections and heat-shrunk them in mil-spec heat shrink, so the connections are good.

I was told "you'll know when they are working without a doubt", but I am not 100% sure if front is working. LOL. What is the best way to determine if they are working without damaging them? I think they are both working, but here is what has be a little confused with the front:

I tested them out (not hardcore, no burnout, etc.) on pavement by engaging them and trying to take a tight turn. With the front engaged, it seemed a little more difficult to turn, but it didn't feel near impossible, like some let on. I got a little "tire scrubbing" feel, but it turned and didn't bind up too bad (again I was doing this slowlllly...). With the rear engaged, it actually felt harder to make the sharp turn (I *know* the rear is working from the way it felt). I was being pushed straight when trying to turn and it was tough. I was under impression the front engaged would make it a lot more difficult to turn than the rear? Maybe not?

The other variable is I can engage them without being in 4WD, b/c they are wired outside of the system. Obviously the rear was being driven when I engaged the locker, but I primarily tested the front without engaging 4WD. Like I said, felt different, but not as bad as the bad on the turn. Would it get worse if I engaged 4WD, making that axle also powered? I actually did this one (in 4HI) and it didn't feel much different, but haven't tried 4LO.

Do you think the front is working or would it be much harder to turn than I am letting on if it was actually engaging? Can it "partially engage", I am guessing no? I guess the other possibility is that the switch they told me is "front locker" is actually rear, so what I thought was the rear engaging (very difficult to turn) was actually the front? I can pull the panel and look at the wires and see if I can figure out if thats the problem, but I'm at work right now...

 

With power stearing it isn't "near impossible" but you should notice a difference when in locked and un locked. Even on loose dirt the lockers should increas your turning ratious enough you can tell. Not doubled but if you just drive in a circle unlocked and then locked you should notice the locked circle is larger.

I'd say if you can feel a difference and you should be able to then it's working.

 

Ok, this circle test is exactly what I did to test the front and the one reason I thought they may be working just fine. I turned a very tight (for a 4-door jeep of course) circle in 2WD on grass/dirt, then locked in the front and turned the same circle... well, the circle was bigger (radius increased by 30% at least).

I guess it doesn't really matter if the front axle is powered (i.e. 4WD) or not if I lock it? It will lock the two sides together regardless of whether its powered or just being pushed? Just want to verify as I've seen people talk about the non-selectable type lockers (aussie for example) and they said the locker won't be engaged until in 4WD. But this is a different situation with a selectable locker...