1997 Auto 4WD locker question.

[joe_dejesus]

I am a little confused... When adding a Aussie Locker to the front of a 97 explorer why is it so important to do the brown wire mod to disable 4x4???

on the trails 4x4 will be on.. with no damage or problem to the Aussie on both front and rear...

on street, Isnt the front Aussie suppose to act like the back Aussie? (when rear becomes available)

Or is it the unpredictable engagement of the auto 4wd the problem?

Can someone clear this up for me, other than front end will grenade if left on auto...

 

[Alec]

If the 4x4 engages on the street and the locker engages, the stress of unequal rotation will force something to break. With the brown wire mod, the system remains with an outlet for the stress.

 

[JDraper]

The other issue with a front auto locker on the road is that having a front axle locked on pavement will not allow the truck to track properly through a corner, messing up your handling badly. Auto lockers release when the power is removed from the axle. When the axle has power applied to it, the locker will stay locked, even when turning. That causes the front to "plow", and you can't corner well. Doing the brown wire mod removes all power from the front axle, therefore letting the locker release.

 

[joe_dejesus]

JDraper, I agree and understand what you say 100%!

but why do people say your front end will grenade if left in auto... (Look at Alecs responce above as an example) Is it the "type" of locker used that may cause damage? Other than the steering I cannot see how using an Aussie Locker in front can damage the front in the street... Maybe I am not seeing something...

Remember I am talking Aussie type Lockers.


Thanks!

 

[JDraper]

When you have an autolocker in the front and you leave it in 4wd auto, there are times when power is being applied to the front axle. If you corner with the power applied, the locker will remain locked, forcing the wheels to turn at the same rate. Since the outside wheel must rotate faster than the inside wheel when cornering, something has to give. Most of the time, the wheel with less downforce on it slides. This puts a tremendous stress on the drivetrain, and sometimes the axle grenades instead of the wheel sliding. Remember, the front axle in the X is not that strong, it has an aluminum cast housing. I just had to replace the front axle in ExplorerEB96's truck because the axle tube snapped off when the CV joint bound up.

 

[joe_dejesus]

>>aluminum cast housing.

Ohh!, ok Understood now i see the reasoning...
weak housing!

thanks guys, now that I understand 100% I feel better.

 

[Robb]

Don't look at as a flaw in the Explorer. You are asking for something that the auto locker isn't designed to do. Putting drive power on an auto locker, while turning on pavement will eventually destroy something, whether it be the housing or the locker itself. When the locker "locks", it acts as a coupling between the two axle shafts. If one axle is turning faster than the other, as it does when turning, something has to give.

 

[joe_dejesus]

So if this is the case why are people using these type lockers in the rear and driving in the street... Is this a problem waiting to happen then......


Cause I know I wont always be able to 'coast' in turns without giving some gas...

 

[JDraper]

The rear axle is strong enough to handle the auto lockers. It's the front axle that is weaker.


The primary reason for not putting an auto locker in the front has always been handling. Having both front wheels locked together makes the truck very difficult to drive.

The only reason I removed the Powertrax from the rear of my Explorer is that I am no longer wheeling it. I have no reservations at all running one in the rear axle. I don't believe it will significantly shorten the life of the 8.8. I now have a powertrax in the rear of my Sammy because that's my wheeling vehicle, and the axle in the sammy is considerably weaker than the 8.8.

 

[joe_dejesus]

Cool,


I am not hardcore into off roading, what pisses me off without a locker of some sort is the famous one wheel spinning in the air... be it front or rear sometimes both, since its not mud, i change approach and continue..

So basically i need a locker with street bahaviour in mind.