Those of you with Aussies in the front

[JMan689]

How bad does it limit your turning?

 

[sn0border88]

It aint good, but its not operating exactly as designed either. PLus I have a spool in the rear.

 

[IZwack]

I saw this thread this morning and said "naaaah, I dont have an Aussie, next thread! <click>". But tonight my brain finally caught up with me and I just had a revelation -- I do have an Aussie up front!

On pavement - it doesn't really limit the turning radius unless you're moving the vehicle with like 5 to 7 PSI of air, at which point the vehicle doesnt really turn, it crab walks sideways.

On loose surface (mud, snow, doodads...) - yes it increases the turning radius but some of this is also due to the Detroit locker in the back -- pretty much the same situation as sn0border88.

 

[JMan689]

So basically what i'm hearing its not bad enough to where it should stop me from considering it? Good.

How long does the install take?

 

[sn0border88]

2 Hrs give or take if you have all the parts you need on hand.

 

[FROADER]

tbars has the Aussie in the front (ttb) and the stock LS in the rear and his radius is bigger than mine. IZ remembers that from the Truck Haven ditches. I have Detroit in the rear and Tru-Trac LS up front.

 

[JMan689]

tbars has the Aussie in the front (ttb) and the stock LS in the rear and his radius is bigger than mine. IZ remembers that from the Truck Haven ditches. I have Detroit in the rear and Tru-Trac LS up front.

I have problems with LS's though, they're there untill you really need them. Thought about spooling the rear and doing an LS up front but since it's still city driven i know my tire wear would go out the window.

 

[IZwack]

tbars has the Aussie in the front (ttb) and the stock LS in the rear and his radius is bigger than mine. IZ remembers that from the Truck Haven ditches. I have Detroit in the rear and Tru-Trac LS up front.

I do remember that -- everytime FROADER was leading and took a sharp turn, a middle finger came out of TBARS' window.


Kidding :

 

[FROADER]

I have problems with LS's though, they're there untill you really need them. Thought about spooling the rear and doing an LS up front but since it's still city driven i know my tire wear would go out the window.

I have no problems with my LS. Cj Hill at Truck Haven, the Rubicon twice and Moab twice is proof of that.

Not trying to talk you into an LS, I was just saying what I have.

 

[IZwack]

I have no problems with my LS. Cj Hill at Truck Haven..

And that difficult dinosaur poop in the Thanksgiving run.

 

[JMan689]

Maybe my LS in the rear is just starting to go? I don't know if its around the price of the Aussie i'll probably go that route just to save my turning radius.

 

[IZwack]

Well if you have an LS rear, you have to change the carrier to an open unit before you can slide in an Aussie as the Aussie is not available for the 8.8 LS. I'm not 100% sure of the LockRight but the NoSlip however is available for the LS carrier (but a bit more $$). But you can find 8.8 open carriers in junk yards all the time -- you just have to play around with the carrier shims a bit to make sure the gear contact pattern is within spec after the carrier swap.

 

[FROADER]

I have no experience, but I've heard the stock trac-loc LS is a POS.

 

[JMan689]

I have no experience, but I've heard the stock trac-loc LS is a POS.

I know the one in the Lightning 8.8 is a POS and i'd assume they are the same.

Well if you have an LS rear, you have to change the carrier to an open unit before you can slide in an Aussie as the Aussie is not available for the 8.8 LS. I'm not 100% sure of the LockRight but the NoSlip however is available for the LS carrier (but a bit more $$). But you can find 8.8 open carriers in junk yards all the time -- you just have to play around with the carrier shims a bit to make sure the gear contact pattern is within spec after the carrier swap.

Thats the thing, i haven't gotten to drivetrains yet in school so that would all be hunting blind for me. So i'd probably just end up doing the NoSlip.

The front is whats really killing me in traction right now so thats what i'm looking at, that a winch and onboard air

 

[Tbars4]

...i thought i would jump in on this...
...i love my aussie up front for everything but tight turns and asphalt with ice on it like up in the snow when you hit dry patches...it will steer for ya so it limits me on 4wd on asphalt in the snow...
...after i fixed my rotor problem my turning radius is better offroad as the aussie isn't constantly engaging...
...if your vehicle is not going to be totally offroad i myself would put a selectable locker up front and an aussie in the rear...just my .02..

 

[JMan689]

...after i fixed my rotor problem my turning radius is better offroad as the aussie isn't constantly engaging...
...if your vehicle is not going to be totally offroad i myself would put a selectable locker up front and an aussie in the rear...just my .02..

I was waiting for you to chime in.

Whats this rotor problem you speak of?

I don't want a selectable because i don't wanna dump that much money into it when i'll go SAS after college (like 15 months) and i get a tow pig. I'd rather concentrate on getting on-board air, a cage, and a winch (one of which isn't too far away.... :shifty_ey)

And i dont want a rear locker because it still sees alot of pavement.

 

[LBarr2002]

I've got aussie up front and LS rear. The aussie is the best investment I've made in the truck, makes it near unstoppable for anything I want to do with it (as long as the hubs hold up, I break one every few months it seems like). I didn't really notice that much difference in the turning radius because the locker unlocks in turns. It does take noticably more effort with the steering wheel and the power steering pump whine is a little worse.

As far as install...if it fits your carrier it goes easily. I spent at least an extra hour grinding and clearancing my carrier to make it fit.

 

[Tbars4]

...nothing major...i was eating right front bearings and it turned out to be the right front rotor...the inner bearing was moving thru the rotor into the outer bearing's area...replaced the rotor and no problem since...
..i did get my aussie partially based on the price and lack of maintanence problems...it is serving me well but i do take my ranger to the snow mainly...
...i would like to add, once you lock your hubs your aussie is active, even if your not in 4wd...

 

[kert0307]

How much of a pain would it be if you had an Aussie up front and only locked in the passenger hub, then when you know you need it, you hop out and lock in the drivers?

 

[Tbars4]

...i deal with it weekly, not much of a pain...but, i have had to unlock both hubs to get my aussie to fully unlock when i hit pavement...so after running into that a few times, i just stay 2wd until it's time to 4wd....