I wouldn't, I'd always have the locker in the rear on the rear engined
Transporter, especially as the steering gets almost impossible with a front
locker. From what I hear, the rear locker gets you out of most situations...
without losing steering

Clive Smith

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jay L Snyder" <Jay.L.Snyder@USA.DUPONT.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, July 17, 2002 5:57 PM
Subject: Re: Locking differential

> This sounds correct.  I know the Suzuki Samurai guys said the same thing.
> They also recommended if you can only afford one Locker, put it in the
> front diff!   Great for off-road and with manual hubs, not a problem on
dry
> highway use.  Seeing as I use the Samurai's 4WD less than 100 miles a
year,
> I don't think it would be a good investment at this time.
>
>                                                       Jay '85 Westy and
'87
> Samurai
>
>
>
>
> Todd Last <Rubatoguy@MINDSPRING.COM>@gerry.vanagon.com> on 07/17/2002
> 12:42:39 PM
>
> Please respond to Todd Last <Rubatoguy@MINDSPRING.COM>
>
> Sent by:    Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
>
>
> To:    vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> cc:
> Subject:    Re: Locking differential
>
>
>  From what I have heard, the lockright type of diferentials are not
> really suitable for street use.
> I know there was at least one listmember who went this route and ended
> up removing the diff.
> The reason?
>
> Here is a good explaination posted on a 4x4 website:
>
> > When driving in a straight line the locker is normally locked. On dry
> > pavement, when cornering, the outer wheel over-running the speed of
> > the axle unlocks the outside axle shaft. Power is applied to the
> > inside wheel only. This can cause a noticeable under-steer.
> > Additionally, if enough power is applied while in the turn, the axle
> > will lock up and the vehicle either slips wildly, spins or straightens
> > out suddenly. These differentials sometimes make a clicking noise when
> > cornering; some find this objectionable.
>
>
> Todd
> '88 Westy
>
>
> Fitz-Randolph, Douglas wrote:
>
> >Hi all. I have a few comments about this.
> >
> >First, about the benefits of a locking rear diff on a 2WD Vanagon...
> During
> >one winter I had the driveshaft out of my syncro, effectively making it a
> >2WD Vanagon. The locking rear differential made a huge difference, both
in
> >overall ability to keep going straight while driving slowly on
> snow-covered
> >roads, and in not getting stuck trying to make it up the un-shoveled
> >driveway after a daytime snowfall. The difference was like night and day.
> >I'd have to say that from my personal on-road snow experience, having a
> >locking diff on a 2WD van would be a nice addition. Mud / off-road? Maybe
> a
> >different story, but having the ability to have power at 2 wheels would
> >logically seem to be better than having it at just one. In fact, check
the
> >link in the next section - they've got a neat illustration of how having
> 2WD
> >and a locking diff can be superior in certain situations to having 4WD
and
> >no locking diff.
> >
> >Second, about the Lockright diff locker offered by Desert Rat... this is
> >different than the stock syncro diff lock - it is not manually engaged
and
> >disengaged. It's similar to "posi-traction" (though they say it is far
> >superior to that), meaning if one wheel slips, the diff will lock to
> provide
> >power to both wheels. I've never owned a vehicle with Lockright or
> >posi-traction, so I can't comment on its effectiveness in any situation.
I
> >also cannot offer any information on what effect it would have on tire
> wear,
> >etc. To see what Lockright says about it - which I think is quite
> >interesting, go to http://www.lockright.com/ . I will add this, though...
> it
> >might be a solution to the problem of what to do about locking diffs on
an
> >I4 diesel conversion where, correct me if I am wrong, the starter - or
> >something - interferes with the operation of the stock rear diff lock.
> Just
> >a thought.
> >
> >Cheers,
> >Doug Fitz-Randolph
> >Freeport, ME
> >
> >
> >Original Message
> >------------------------------------------------------------
> >Date:    Tue, 16 Jul 2002 11:21:55 -0700
> >From:    Michael Ramer <elvisramer@COX.NET>
> >Subject: Re: Locking differential
> >
> >As for the 2WD vans and locking differentials, I believe it was decided
> that
> >due to the Vanagons' near 50/50 weight distribution, that a rear locker
> >would not really be very benefiical. I tend to agree, but my particular
> >offroad experiences in a 2WD Westy is all I have to draw on though.
Anyone
> >have one installed on [any] 2WD Vanagon?
> >Now if a diff locker were available for my '72 Bus, I might be
> ineterested,
> >as I believe it to be better setup for such beatings. I am talking dirt
> vs.
> >snow though. Hmmm.
> >Mike
> >----- Original Message -----
> >From: "Ben McCafferty" <ben@KBMC.NET>
> >To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> >Sent: Monday, July 15, 2002 9:07 PM
> >Subject: Re: Locking differential
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >>It was an option on syncros, and German Transaxles in Bend, OR, will
also
> >>install a front diff lock on the syncro for about $500.  I believe some
> >>
> >>
> >have
> >
> >
> >>put a syncro tranny with locker into a 2WD vanagon with good results.
> >>bmc  :)
> >>"Faith will move mountains, but you'd better bring a shovel...."
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>>From: "Nemo, the Bus Captain" <nemobuscaptain@YAHOO.COM>
> >>>Reply-To: "Nemo, the Bus Captain" <nemobuscaptain@YAHOO.COM>
> >>>Date: Mon, 15 Jul 2002 20:57:46 -0700
> >>>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> >>>Subject: Locking differential
> >>>
> >>>I remember Lilly saying he had this on his
> >>>vanagon, but I've never seen them advertised
> >>>before.  Just the trick for you beach or snow
> >>>guys?  (Or not?)
> >>>
> >>>http://www.desertrat.com/lockright/lockright.htm
> >>>
> >>>=====
> >>>Peace and blessings,
> >>>Nemo, the Bus Captain
> >>>
> >>>74 Westy For Sale:  http://www.geocities.com/nemobuscaptain/index.html
> >>>
> >>>__________________________________________________
> >>>Do You Yahoo!?
> >>>Yahoo! Autos - Get free new car price quotes
> >>>http://autos.yahoo.com
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >
> >
> >