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EZ Locker

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EZ Locker
« on: December 13, 2011, 08:16:37 PM »
Hello all, i have a 86 JX sammi and im looking to purchase a ez locker for it, does anybody have any input on this?? its used at the desert and also a commuter to work once a week. Any feed back on either a front or rear locker???? all feedback is welcomed!!! thanks..

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Offline Jonny Rash

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Re: EZ Locker
« Reply #1 on: December 14, 2011, 07:01:36 AM »
Depends on what you want to do with it.  A Sammy will go a lot of places without a locker. 

The big negative against an automatic or "lunchbox" locker is the street driviing characteristics.  They aren't bad, just kind of annoying.  If you drive in ice/snow on the street, the automatic lockers are not a good idea.

25+ years of Samurai ownership!

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Offline kreator

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Re: EZ Locker
« Reply #2 on: December 14, 2011, 08:32:37 AM »
I agree a locker on ice and snow only makes  you go round and round and not forward.
BOB | www.KreationFab.com | 503-689-1377

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Offline Merlin93

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Re: EZ Locker
« Reply #3 on: December 15, 2011, 10:01:15 AM »
Quote
looking to purchase a ez locker ... any input on this?? its used at the desert and also a commuter to work once a week.

    
The Detroit EZ locker is no longer made, but the Lock Right by Richmond Gear is equivalent. I would observe a few considerations:
1) The situation where I most often lose traction is while climbing, when weight is mostly on the rear axle. I put my EZ Locker there. I've commuted 100+miles/day on the freeway for several weeks with the rear locker, when necessary.  
2) Installed in the front differential, you can drive normally in 2WD (with the hubs unlocked), but when locked in 4WD, you can have a hard time steering. Some folks use a twin-stick transfer-case shifter to quickly shift into 2WD in that situation. Power steering can help and sure makes parallel parking easier for a daily driver.  The Samurai's 22-spline front axles are weaker than the rears.  You might want to consider TrailTough's 26-spline double-tough front axles.  Lockers can be hard on axles, mostly with larger tires.
3) The full-time auto locker locks and unlocks according to road conditions. When installed in the rear, the axles will occasionally wind-up and then release with a loud BANG! that can be disconcerting. The locker can cause some rear-end torque steer, especially while cornering, if you're on and off the gas.  You'll learn how to apply throttle to minimize this quirky behavior. I've read that it gets a lot worse on ice and snow, but here in the So. Cal. desert there's none of that.  
4) It's reasonable to put one in each axle.  I'd choose the rear first.
5) There's a new auto-locker on the market, some discussion at http://www.suzuki-forums.com/suzuki-jimny-sierra-samurai-forum/48072-locker.html#6     You can search around for discussion and comparisons between 'em. TrailTough (and others) sell them.
« Last Edit: December 15, 2011, 10:26:49 AM by Merlin93 »

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Offline Jonny Rash

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Re: EZ Locker
« Reply #4 on: December 15, 2011, 02:32:09 PM »
Yes, the EZ locker has been out of production for awhile, but it's possible that a few vendors still have them on their shelves.

In the other link you mentioned the Spartan locker, which works exactly the same way as the others.  However, my concern, as you stated, is that they have some sort of design issue as they are on their 4th version now.  That being said, I've read about some of these issues, but do not have any first hand experience with it.

I would also like to say that the stock front axles are good for 31" tires with a locker.  Beyond that, they will definitely need to be upgraded.
25+ years of Samurai ownership!