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Only 1 Locker -- Front or Rear?

If you could only do 1 locker better to do

  • Front

  • Rear


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Sweetums

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There's a reason every automaker installing one locker puts it on the rear. Locking the front has a serious negative impact on steering - even when using dual lockers, I will only engage the front to climb an obstacle and then immediately disengage it while leaving the rear locked for much longer.
I've driven a vehicle for 15 years with only a rear locker, only a few times have I wanted a front lock in addition to the rear. I've never needed a front locker without a rear.

If you've ever tried to do a steep climb with dual lockers on followed by a sharp turn at the top, you will know why putting a locker on the front only is a bad idea.
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Stuntman Mike

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My Gladiator has the LSD in the rear and since I am not using the car seriously off road I think that would be sufficient.

My lately acquired TJ has non and I am planning to install a locker at the rear.
And if this is not fullfilling my requirements the front will follow.
 

Sweetums

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LSD is certainly better than open diffs.
 

BearFootSam

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Rear is going to be more useful. I figure most circumstances you need a front locker it would have made sense to have switched on the rear already.

Thinking mud or snow, you might have the rear locked for traction and the the front starts slipping so then you’d use the front locker just to get going again.
 

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Wilsonb80

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Thank you all for the input now to see what Christmas leaves me in the bank and the local shops prices do.
 

Hootbro

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This is not the first time this subject has come up here. Even ARB that makes and sells lockers recommends that if only one axle is to be installed with it, make it the rear one.
 
 







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