[kingkom]

Hey everyone
I have a few questions that aren't specifically addressed in any great detail by all the other millions of threads on this topic.
I am looking at a mechanical locker for the rear of my 2003 SQ625 manual Grand Vitara, considering lockright 1510, 1512, 1532, auburn gear maxlock and 4xfourart modified 1512 lockright with stronger pins and springs.

1) What difference do the side couplers make? Seen a quote from Brent at trail tough that they don't offer the lockers with side couplers as they aren't as good.

2) Following on, if I'm going to use stock side gears that means the 1510, 1512 or modified 1512, so as I mentioned earlier 4xfourart, the company I bought my lift kit from (which is awesome) say that they sell a modified 1512 lock right with upgraded springs and rods of the locking system so they are stronger than original and that this is due to them seeing occasional breakages in vehicles racing on severe terrain. This is the most expensive option but I'm happy to spend the extra $180 if it means hassle free fourbying. They also say the noise level when correctly installed and set up is below average in terms of lockers, though this doesn't particularly concern me as long as it's not crazy loud.

3) WADiff said not to use an auto locker in the rear however I see many of you running them, this car is my daily, apparently this will increase wear but is this really a major concern?

4) Locker strength is a concern as I will be running 31.5-32 inch tyres, has anyone done this with any of these? I have read some reports of sheared pins, this does seem to be the result of poor installation in many cases though..

[J--A--C--K]

I used a spartan locker in a sierra, it ha many many k's on it when I brought the diff, and had be run with 33's I think , I ran 30's for another 30,000 k's and the diff failed not the locker, to be honest I'm quite suprised at how little wear there is on the side gears or locker internals . There are a few teeth missing from the pinon gear though.

[ninjamoses]

I ran a Lockrite 1512 rear and a matching trail tough modified front lockrite first in my SV420, then into my 98 GV and now in my XL7 (front only for the XL7 since rears are different). Same set of diffs the whole time and I've never had an issue with the lockers themselves, and that has been on a range of 31 - 32" tyres also.

I don't think the locker strength will be an issue, diff/axles/CVs are more likely to let go first.

On a side note, WA Diff Centre were the ones who did my front and rear diffs for me (lockrite install along with the LROR overhaul kits). I don't think they did a particularly great job with the rear diff in terms of set up - a friends car which has a rear locker DIY'd by a member on here is much smoother in operation.

Throw up some pics of your vehicle with the 4xfourart lift kit in it, I think you are the first person with a GV on this site to have one fitted. What kit did you go for?

[kingkom]

This is exactly the kind of info I want. Looks like it may not be necessary to go with the 4xfourart strengthened locker and I can probably just go with a 1512 that's set up well. Might have a crack and see if 4xfourart will give me a better price.

Yes I've been meaning to create a build thread, can't speak highly enough about 4xfourart's service and products. I initially bought the standard 3inch lift kit and shortly after they released the extreme version (it includes a few extra small bits plus extended upper and lower trailing arms as well as different front lower control arms which moves the front and rear axles out about 2cm each allowing fitting of up to 32s without scrubbing) since I wanted the extreme version of the kit they only charged me the difference between the 2 kits plus shipping which was pretty cool of them I think however these last few parts are still sitting in my shed. Once I get this installed I'll get to work on the build thread with lots of photos.

[kingkom]

Also, do you guys know anything about some people saying that 03-05 GV diffs being different to 98-02? Apparently you can't put vitara 3rd members into as 03-05 GV? Something about it being bigger? But as far as I know the ring and pinion is the same just the housing is different. So Lockright 1512 should fit in my 2003 GV right?

[ninjamoses]

XL7s are different mate, normal GVs were the same all the way from 98 - 05 so no issues using the vitara 3rd member.

XL7s have always had a different (larger) rear diff
In ~2003 they went to a completely different style front diff also. That said I still believe you can bolt in the complete GV normal front diff even then.

[kingkom]

Just received my lockright 1512 from LROR. There are no included install instructions, though it seems fairly self explanatory and I'll be getting a diff shop to do it anyway. Just wondering, In a GV are you meant to use both short AND the one long centre pins in the rear, as I've seen some forum posts saying that with a 1510 you're meant to leave out the 2 short ones, don't see why a 1512 would be any different? Also just wanted to confirm that the centre pins to use are the ones from the spider gears in the stock diff? As on most photos of lockright they look like they are supplied with centre pins? But mine didn't come with any..

[Red89]

This might help.

http://geckocycles.com/sammy_lock_right_install.htm

[kingkom]

Ahh thank you!

[kingkom]

One more question. I'm also ordering some 5.72 diff gears, the supplier asked me if I want 10 or 12 bolt ring gears. I thought all grand vitaras were 12 bolt rear and 10 bolt front is that right? Or do I need to open up and check?