Lokka differential lock

[4wd26]

wrong terminology, the diff gears will wind up this will cause the auto locker to unlock- good

but in overcoming the "unlocking" action of the auto locker increased wear on the ring and pinion in a way that was not manufacture intended and as such IMO not a viable option when reading the original requests from the poster- but only if the poster also uses super select

he was asking our opinion, which in this case is a little difficult due to not knowing his driving style/ options, so I had to gereralise a bit

[Homer]

Why do you want a locking front diff?

If it's for your 5 or 10% offroad use and you want to go quite extreme and you use SS often in your travels/towing, then I'd go an air or other operated front diff and not the lokka.

The front locked diff and rear TC would be an interesting and I think very competent combination off road.
However it does come with inherent cautions.
You will go significantly further than if you had any other standard traction aids and that then comes with it's own issues of when you get stuck, you generally get pretty well stuck, and by nature you will also be attacking terrain not necessarily designed for the cars components and will run a higher risk of breaking a CV.
If you are adept at changing these, that's one issue you don't need to worry about

Again is just opinion and would be easier for others to offer advice if we know how you drive (towing, using SS often etc) and what you want to achieve.

[Sharkey]

Sorry guys, but a dumb question, please explain the Super Select (SS).

[Sharkey]

Yes it would just be for my 5 or 10% off road, the rest of the time is either general bitumen driving to and from work or towing the 2.2T caravan of which I plan to do way more often. I just figured thus would be a nice to have for those times when we do hit the beaten tracks. I'm just trying to determine what combination would best suit me. There are so many options out there which just adds to the confusion!

Anyway appreciate everyone's input.

Cheers

[4wd26]

It's a all wheel drive mode, should be standard on glxr tritons like yours
Can be used on bitumen with no ill effects to the drivetrain

On of the understated features on the triton, but one that won it 4x4 of the year in 2009

[NowForThe5th]

Sorry guys, but a dumb question, please explain the Super Select (SS).

Essentially it gives you all wheel drive mode in 4H that you can use on bitumen or hard surfaces. Drive goes through a viscous coupling in the transfer case which splits approximately 60:40 rear:front - varies a bit model to model. Perfect for when you need the better grip and handling of all wheel drive but won't result in transmission wind-up. Once you move to 4HLC the centre diff locks up and it becomes the same as any other 4WD in 4H, but can't be used on hard surfaces.

Super Select is the one thing that no-one has ever really copied and, for my money, is possibly the best feature of the Triton/Pajero range.

[coughy]

hay and the challenger range to 5th mongrel dont forget me

[Sharkey]

Thanks Chris, now I fully understand what your referring to. I can now say that SS is something I have rarely ever used. I knew it was there as the Mitsubishi rep told me about this feature at the time of sale but I've rarely ever used this option, perhaps once when I had the mud tyres on and it was raining!
So what your saying is that you should never utilise SS if you have a Lokka fitted but instead use 4HLC?

Thanks Guys for all your input, this is not only good advice but good education as this is all fairly new to me . As I said, I use the vehicle more for towing as opposed to off road but having a diff lock would just be a nice to have so that when I do go bush I can feel confident knowing I have all the right accessories to get to where I'm trying to go, and without having to use the winch .

Cheers,

Sharkey

[NowForThe5th]

So what your saying is that you should never utilise SS if you have a Lokka fitted but instead use 4HLC?

Not really. In my Triton I had Easy Select and a Lokka. Perfect combination.

In the Pajero I have Super Select but have fitted an air locker in the front. This means that I can use Super Select on the road without risk of unpredictable handling or windup. When off-road I can use 4HLC for locked front to rear, 50:50 distribution and then choose whether to engage the front locker if needed. This really is the preferred setup if you have Super Select.

[Sharkey]

So just re-confirming, Super Select is just 4H and Easy Select is 4HLC???

So based on my applications (more towing but odd bit of off road) what combo would you recommend in terms of diff locks. At present I have not touched the diffs since I drove it out of the show room 5 years ago, they're all just factory as (MN11).

[Homer]

You quite probably wont need any diff locks if you don't do quite hard 4wding. The traction control combined with good tyres and lowered pressures should give you some decent fun if you haven't been doing much off road work as far as hill climbing/crawling goes.

Might be best doing a few trips off road and working out what you are comfortable with and how extreme you want to go.

If you decide you want to give it a real bash, then I would do the front locker for sheer vehicle capability and I'd prefer a locker that you can switch off, particularly if you may use SS. It sounds like you don't use SS much so it may not be an issue or any better option than the Lokka which is great value for money and equally capable.

[NowForThe5th]

So just re-confirming, Super Select is just 4H and Easy Select is 4HLC???

So based on my applications (more towing but odd bit of off road) what combo would you recommend in terms of diff locks. At present I have not touched the diffs since I drove it out of the show room 5 years ago, they're all just factory as (MN11).

Hmmm. Not quite. Super Select has 4H and 4HLC. Easy Select has 4H only. (I'm ignoring low range and 2H)

The confusing bit is that 4H on Easy Select is the same as 4HLC in Super Select while 4H in Super Select has no equivalent in Easy Select. Don't know why Mitsubishi did that, but it is what it is and always has been.

If you have Super Select then the best recommendation is to fit an air locker if you must lock the front. The advantage of locking the front is that you retain drive when one of your front wheels lifts up or loses traction.

Look at this pic of my Triton:


A fairly common situation with an IFS vehicle and the Achilles heel of the Triton when doing any kind of serious wheeling. If I had no front diff lock the power would go to the left hand side front wheel since the front diff is, in standard guise, open. Not much use since it's in the air. However, with a Lokka fitted power was sent to the right hand wheel which had grip. The ground there was sandy so I was not able to rely on traction from the rear, even though I had LSD. But, with traction to the front right I was able to actually stop for the photo and then carry on, even though the rear was quite flexed up. The LSD helped here, providing some drive to the wheel on the ground. Not as good as a locking diff, but good enough in a situation which would have brought most 4WDs to a halt.

Now, fast forward a couple of years and watch my Pajero:


Firstly, longer front control arms meant that I have better suspension movement in the front than a Triton (note the comment "Didn't even lift a wheel"), so I was able to keep all the tyres on the ground. It's fitted with front air locker because I have Super Select. You'll notice how the left front wheel spins on the slippery surface, but the right front wheel and the rears retain traction and I can just motor through without having to resort to momentum and risking damage.

As Homer says, above, unless you're doing this kind of serious four wheel driving a locking diff really isn't necessary and it can get you further into trouble in some situations. For the occasional off road foray, the MN, with traction control, will probably get you anywhere you want to go. Homer's recommendation to get out there with a standard vehicle and see just how well it performs while evaluating whether you really need any further traction aids is sage advice. If you do find that you've been bitten by the bug and want more then, with Super Select, I'd strongly recommend an air locker.

[Sharkey]

Thanks Guys, this is excellent advice, oh and by the way Merry Christmas .
I have taken her out to similar locations around the ACT and Victoria and her performance was second to none, and that was with the BFG Mud Terrains so I think at this stage it isn't a high priority. But from what your saying it looks like the Air locker on the front diff sounds like the best option given I have and sometimes use the SS. Any particular brand when it comes to the Air locker ie ARB or TJM??

Cheers

[Homer]

I've only had experience with ARB. Can't fault it and have never really heard of any quality issues in the product. The quality of the install is where most issues arise - as with anything. Air leaks etc if not done well.

[Sharkey]

Oh well based on all this wonderful advice I think I will opt for the ARB air locker on the front diff.
What do they usually set you back, including the install. I live in the ACT so are there any recommendations as to who I should take it to? i.e. ARB, Pride Auto, etc

[Joel]

Pride auto are good and better prices than arb but can be slow. I got my bullbar and winch there and was very happy with the job.

[Sharkey]

Yeah I've had a lot of my accessories fitted by Pride Auto in Fyshwick and have had no issues whatsoever. Just need to figure out where I would get them to mount the air compressor.

[Mashine13]

Digging up a bit of an old post but I'm looking to fit my Lokka that I've had sitting in the shed for over a year now. I'm pretty confident in doing everything but the only thing that's worrying me is if I need shims to get the correct measurements as stated in the instructions.

So my questions is, these shims that I may need, can I just go grab a pack of shim stock from the local Autopro? If I can is brass alright or will they have to be steel? If this type of shim is no good, any pointers where I can get some?

I've noticed from the 100s of lokka threads I've read, no one seems to have had to use shims, I hope this is me aswell!

[carrrake]

You will need to check but my understanding is if you install brand new pinion and crown wheel, then you will need new shims to set up correct backlash, but if youre reusing crown and pinion then you should be alright reusing current shims. Assuming your current backlash in still in tolerance

Hope that makes sense

[carrrake]

Click on the link for part numbers on the front diff

https://partsouq.com/en/catalog/genuine ... uid=42335#

Looks the shim set part number is MB185375, but again you will need to verify

[salt36]

Yep spot on.

I have installed a few Lokkas and have not had to use any different shims, label them as you take them out and put back in the same place - even if they look the same !

The worst backlash I have seen was in mine, almost out of tolerance.
After about 70,000 K with Lokka in, it is still fine.

Fairly straight forward job, make sure you clean all the old Locktite from the crown wheel hub threads.

[Mashine13]

Cheers for the reply fellas, I think I'll just wait another couple of weeks until I get my other car back so I can take the triton off the road for a while in case I need new shims.

[dx3m1]

Hi Members

Just wanted to share my experience with the purchase, installation and testing of Front Lokka locker on my 2014 MN manual Dual Cab Triton

After plenty of research on various forums, reviews and word of mouth I decided to go with the Lokka. With the limited wheel travel of IFS, even with aftermarket suspension I felt I was limited on the 4wding that I could achieve. Watching various YouTube videos of Tritons attacking hill climbs and rock steps with speed didn't not give me confidence on the ability of Tritons once things started getting difficult. Main deciding factor was price. I just couldn't justify the cost of other brands ARB TJM etc. I also ask myself why do I want a locker? I wasn't interested in getting halfway thru an obstacle being place in an awkward situation then turning on the locker. Crawl and get thru first time, less track damage and potential vehicle damage.

I purchase the Lokka from 4wdSystems Adelaide for $530 delivered to the Gold Coast. I decided to get it installed by a local Diff specialist Aussie Diffs at Currumbin. Who better to install a locker than a diff specialist. It took four and half hours and cost $460. Wasn't interested or capable of doing it myself.

First drive absolutely no difference in 2wd. Steering was the same, cornering the same. also could not hear any clicking from the diff.

First drive 4wding.

Very small amount of steering stiffness while cornering. But I had no trouble negotiating some of the tight tracks of the Glasshouse Mountains. Even making quick turns on hill climbs wasn't a problem.

I have put a link to some footage at an area called The Playpen at Glasshouse. Basically one hill about 100m wide with half a dozen approaches. Last time I was there the Triton only made one of the hills and that was the easiest. The rest were too rutted out for the Triton.

Hope this helps anyone contemplating getting one of these Lokka lockers.

Dex


https://youtu.be/2u3lPh0sNo0?list=PLUtw ... jN_robKhAj

[Jacobie]

Any current info on the auto Lokkas. Looking into getting one in the rear. I've got a 13 mn glxr with the ASC and super select. By reading this thread, I gather this will be interesting?

[mattz]

I don't think they make them for the rear of a triton.