So I have run a lockright in the rear of my sidekick for a few years and now I am about to have it replaced with an ARB.  I have developed a noise in the rear end that I think is related to the lockright and am having the diff rebuilt and an ARB installed.  I really liked the lockright for offroad and it was not too bad on the street but I miss the cornering feel with an open diff.  I actually find my sidekick really fun to rally around the curvy mountain roads here to I decided to spring for the ARB.  I would love to have both axles locked but a front ARB is out of the budget for a while now. 

Who here has experienced a front lock right?  Does the ratcheting action actually help when steering offroad and not under load, ie not climbing or working to spin through a mud hole etc.?  I'm just afraid it would ruin the drivability of the truck in a lot of situations such as snow driving or offroading through continuously varied terrain where I would need to keep taking it in and out of 4wd because of the locker binding when the terrain gets dry.  I have thought about just getting the lock right fixed and putting only a front ARB in but I really like the idea of going back to an open rear diff.

Thanks

Jon

Can I ask if you're aware of the relative "fragility" of the front axle and the ease with which it can be broken when asked to deal with the additional torque loading cause by a locker, whether ARB or autolocker?

Yes, I am on my second front diff because I destroyed the front by leaving it in 4wd and jumping the front end off of a hump in the road and crashing down to a binding cocaphony of front diff destruction.  I would replace the casing with the steel version but the internals would still of course be volnerable.  Damn I can't spell. 
 I also have a Honda S2000 sports car so I know what good handling is like but I'll be damned if I don't enjoy the hell out of my Sidekick on mountain roads as well.  That's why I really want the selectable locker in the rear end.

Consider the Torsen type differentials for a rear at least.  They are amazing and helpful both on and off road.  I don’t have one in my Suzuki but it’s on the short list.  I’ll use one in rear only and leave front open.   

Any time you are jumping or bouncing the front end under throttle you usually incur breakage of something whether it is locked or not.  That being said I broke my first CV in a few years (bouncing on a wet step).  I am running ARB's on both ends, homemade steel front diff,  2.7 V6, and 33X12.5X15's.  If you are hard on the skinny pedal, you it will cost you.
When running on Moab's slick rock (sandstone) turning with even the rear locked takes a lot more effort, with both locked it just wants to go straight.  But that is the benefit of selectables, flip a switch on or off.

Thanks brdhntr, that pretty much settles it.  I don't think i would be happy with anything but a selectable in the front.