Aussie 8.8 locker MIA?

[Ritsui]

After a year or two of 'thinking about it', I finally set aside a bit of cash and decided to put an Aussie in the back of my Sport . That was about two months ago. Now, after four unreturned phone calls, three unreturned emails and dozens of trips to the web site, I'm starting to think these things don't actually exist . I heard so many stories about Torq Masters great support that I couldn't believe their phone staff repeatedly saying "we'll have someone call you back" would be outright lying to me or that all my emails would go un-returned... yet that is exactly the case.

At this point, I'm considering writing them off completely. No stories about their support can sway my concern about what kind of post sales support or longevity to expect from a company which doesn't appear even mildly concerned with pre-sales assistance to someone with cash in hand and finger poised waiting to hit the order button. And it's not just about availability. A simple "we don't know when it'll be available" would be FAR more than I've received... which is absolute SILENCE.


The good news of course is the longer they continue to ignore me (and all 8.8's according to their staff and site) just a little longer, I will probably have time to set aside the money for an Ected or maybe even an ARB .

/end rant

 

[Tbars4]

i noticed they were back ordered on the 8.8 for awhile...i am currently waiting for my aussie for the front dana35...i ordered it last monday at noon and it shipped out sat. at 2:30 a.m....i just confirmed this a.m. thru ups online that it should arrive this friday...i know this don't make you feel any better but i will keep an eye out for you about aussie...i have had no contact with them other than ordering directly online...

 

[Stic-o]

or you could just order a lock right

 

[schmidlkofer]

weld the gears lol.

 

[Ritsui]

or you could just order a lock right

weld the gears lol.

DD. Mountain roads. 30% wife driven. Weld/spool or 'hard' lockers are pretty much out of the question.

i am currently waiting for my aussie for the front dana35...i ordered it last monday at noon and it shipped out sat. at 2:30 a.m....i just confirmed this a.m. thru ups online that it should arrive this friday....

Good to know they are at least still shipping those. I know the front would be the better end to lock, but I can't convince myself to give up auto-4wd for the same reasons as above.

I'm really a prime candidate for waiting and getting selectable lockers or LS on both ends... I just don't like the waiting bit

 

[mynameisaric]

try talking to them on pirate4x4. They don't take kind to bad vendors over there.

 

[Stic-o]

DD. Mountain roads. 30% wife driven. Weld/spool or 'hard' lockers are pretty much out of the question.

You harly even know the lock right is there. Only time I notice is on rainy days

or that was the time by my bosses house in the hills on the steep payved turns. urt, urt, urt:

 

[DeRocha]

I noticed the 8.8 was backordered as well. I contacted them via cust support on June 7th (aussielocker@offroadlockers.com) and receive the following from them on June 8th (1/2 a day later )

The XD48831 Ford 8.8 Aussie Lockers are expected to ship to us the end of June. There may be an improvement on this as they are working overtime. We apologize for the inconvenience.

 

[Ritsui]

Interesting. Maybe it's just ME they don't like ?

Thanks for all the input

 

[RangerX]

Here's a couple threads you can look at. http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=77750&highlight=aussielocker
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=136355&highlight=aussielocker

 

[Tbars4]

just read thru both of them...sounds like to me they only do certain quantities on production runs...just my opinion though...i looked and aussielocker has not been online here since may...

 

[MountaineerGreen]

I'd heard that they had been backordered for some time- didn't know it would be this long. I guess I got almost the last one they had for an 8.8.

I just had to remove it for outer axle bearing service and it is holding up well. No wear on the mating surfaces even though I drive it 95% street I don't even notice it anymore except pulling out of somewhere on gravel whilst turning sharply. Its great.

 

[Ritsui]

I just had to remove it for outer axle bearing service

Might not want to take your eye of it you know

Good to hear that it's wearing well. It's these kinds of reports that had me leaning toward the Aussie in the first place.

 

[MountaineerGreen]

Oh, don't worry, it went right back in- you'd have a hard time getting to it now.

 

[ProjectAviator]

Why not just repack the factory LS.

Tim

 

[sn0border88]

talk to them on pirate for sure, I talked to the guy and he told me my 44 locker was back ordered, and updated me when a shipment was coming in so I could pre order and make sure I got one.

 

[DB_1]

Ritsui,
That's too bad you're getting the run around from them. I've had good service from them when I ordered mine (D44). I ordered online on their site and it came in about a week. I couldn't be happier with the performance of the locker and the price can't be beat.
Anyways, I do think in your case you would be better off with a selectable since this is your daily driver and in the winter time those twisty roads covered in ice and snow can make for a squirrly ride with an automatic locker.

 

[Ritsui]

I do think in your case you would be better off with a selectable since this is your daily driver and in the winter time those twisty roads covered in ice and snow can make for a squirrly ride with an automatic locker.

I get the feeling most of people who say "I don't even know it's there" don't often have the need to pull out onto the highway from a dead stop... at a right angle... uphill... in the snow. The whole 'walk it sideways to turn' thing really doesn't appeal to me even if it's just a month or two in the winter.

 

[GJarrett]

If you cannot get an Aussie why not just get a Powertrax NoSlip? It operates every bit as forgivingly as an Aussie and to the best of my knowledge you can still get one. I've been extremely satisfied with mine..... and yes, also in snow and uphill, etc. However I do agree that if you're very concerned about winter conditions then you need to wait until you save enough for a selectable.

 

[FROADER]

Nice!!

right click "save as"