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ZUKIWORLD Discussion Forum => Suzuki 4x4 Forum => Topic started by: adamd on January 06, 2005, 05:36:50 AM

Title: Sidekick Rear Locker?
Post by: adamd on January 06, 2005, 05:36:50 AM
Hey

What options are out there for Auto Lockers for Sidekicks? I saw the LSD on Calmini....  

Thanks!
Title: Re: Sidekick Rear Locker?
Post by: Zukipilot on January 06, 2005, 05:49:25 AM
LockRite, ARB, Mini Spool, LSD.

Zig
Title: Re: Sidekick Rear Locker?
Post by: adamd on January 06, 2005, 06:48:53 AM
If I don't offroad as much is it better to lock the front only? Is the road manners of an Auto bad.. I'll put 31's on it soon...
Title: Re: Sidekick Rear Locker?
Post by: adamd on January 06, 2005, 06:49:36 AM
P.S Where do I buy these?
Title: Re: Sidekick Rear Locker?
Post by: Bobzooki on January 06, 2005, 08:37:00 AM
Dang, I guess some day I'm going to have to try somebody's Kick with one of those LSD's in it, but I sure am spoiled, having a "Front Locker" and "Rear Locker" switch on the dash, and turning them on and off when I want.  Sure, ARB's are pricey, but gee, are they ever SWEET!
Title: Re: Sidekick Rear Locker?
Post by: tracker8wr on January 06, 2005, 09:04:56 AM
rear is always better than a front. u only install a front if the rear is not giving enough traction. i will asume u r like the rest of us and r limited by $$$. a lock-rite can be obtained from alot of the vendores listed on the main page of this forum however an ARB is the best option becuase u can lock it and unlock it at the push of a button. a loc-rite locks and unlocks as the rear tires spin at different speeds. for instance when one wheel slips both wheels grip excelent for offroad ok for onroad. mine tends to lock going around corners under acceleration. this increases tire wear. however i haven't broken anything yet and i beat on my rig pretty hard. the lock-rite $219 and the ARB is $698 + air pump $226 + steel line $100 = $1024. like i said it is a money thing.
Title: Re: Sidekick Rear Locker?
Post by: SnoFalls on January 06, 2005, 09:22:34 AM
Quote
Dang, I guess some day I'm going to have to try somebody's Kick with one of those LSD's in it, but I sure am spoiled, having a "Front Locker" and "Rear Locker" switch on the dash, and turning them on and off when I want.  Sure, ARB's are pricey, but gee, are they ever SWEET!


Grrrr ... I hate you :) That is ideal ...

cmon lotto ticket :)
Title: Re: Sidekick Rear Locker?
Post by: adamd on January 06, 2005, 12:11:12 PM
Quote
Dang, I guess some day I'm going to have to try somebody's Kick with one of those LSD's in it, but I sure am spoiled, having a "Front Locker" and "Rear Locker" switch on the dash, and turning them on and off when I want.  Sure, ARB's are pricey, but gee, are they ever SWEET!


LOL!
Title: Re: Sidekick Rear Locker?
Post by: 1bigtracker on January 07, 2005, 03:49:32 AM
Quote
rear is always better than a front. u only install a front if the rear is not giving enough traction.

not true.  i know a few people that only have front lockers and not only does it have better road manners(not in 4WD) but it will pull you over things insted of trying to push you.

stu
Title: Re: Sidekick Rear Locker?
Post by: Speedracer7c on January 07, 2005, 04:07:58 AM
I wouldn't lock the front till you beef up the components.
Title: Re: Sidekick Rear Locker?
Post by: adamd on January 07, 2005, 04:56:17 AM
Quote

not true.  i know a few people that only have front lockers and not only does it have better road manners(not in 4WD) but it will pull you over things insted of trying to push you.

stu


Like front wheel drive cars in snow compared to rear wheel drive cars in snow? I see what u mean..
Title: Re: Sidekick Rear Locker?
Post by: adamd on January 07, 2005, 04:56:52 AM
Quote
I wouldn't lock the front till you beef up the components.



Like what? the diff itself?
Title: Re: Sidekick Rear Locker?
Post by: hcgalvin on January 07, 2005, 05:01:32 AM
Quote
Dang, I guess some day I'm going to have to try somebody's Kick with one of those LSD's in it, but I sure am spoiled, having a "Front Locker" and "Rear Locker" switch on the dash, and turning them on and off when I want.  Sure, ARB's are pricey, but gee, are they ever SWEET!



Bob..

I'm having some flashbacks from Moab. Bob just smiles and you hear this "Pssssst...." "Pssssst.. " .. :P

And then a bunch of "Aw MAN! You SUCK!"

;D

But.. I'm going incognito.. You won't hear mine this year...  ;)
Title: Re: Sidekick Rear Locker?
Post by: wildgoody on January 07, 2005, 05:09:31 AM
We have to change your name
to Lady Electra
;D
Title: Re: Sidekick Rear Locker?
Post by: hcgalvin on January 07, 2005, 05:13:11 AM
 ;D
Title: Re: Sidekick Rear Locker?
Post by: Bobzooki on January 07, 2005, 06:51:11 AM
Quote

Bob..

I'm having some flashbacks from Moab. Bob just smiles and you hear this "Pssssst...." "Pssssst.. " .. :P

And then a bunch of "Aw MAN! You SUCK!"


Oh, Hea, er, I mean Electra Darling, you KNOW I love your rig!   :-*  Isn't Cognito in California ???
Title: Re: Sidekick Rear Locker?
Post by: mudfkr on January 07, 2005, 06:58:00 AM
Quote



Bob..

I'm having some flashbacks from Moab. Bob just smiles and you hear this "Pssssst...." "Pssssst.. " .. :P

And then a bunch of "Aw MAN! You SUCK!"

;D

But.. I'm going incognito.. You won't hear mine this year...  ;)


You can't hear the Psssssst from mine over the noise of the compressor in the rear !
(http://www.eye-irritant.com/august2004/arbcom.JPG)

Soon to be duel Pssssst's too  ;D

Just some useless info too, the ARB is more expensive for the Aussie guys to buy in there home land then to buy from the likes of trail tough and freight them back to Aussie, work that out  ??? ???

Title: Re: Sidekick Rear Locker?
Post by: Bobzooki on January 07, 2005, 07:08:41 AM
Quote


You can't hear the Psssssst from mine over the noise of the compressor in the rear !


I have a 2.5 gallon tank hooked up to mine, so the compressor runs in the morning, and then doesn't usually kick in again at all, the rest of the day.

A friend fabbed up a header and mount to put the compressor and header under the hood - had to relocate the radiator overflow bottle into the hole where the strut tower was before the body lift.

(http://img82.exs.cx/img82/9659/arbcompressor1kw.jpg)
Title: Re: Sidekick Rear Locker?
Post by: Bobzooki on January 07, 2005, 07:10:52 AM
Quote
([url]http://www.eye-irritant.com/august2004/arbcom.JPG[/url])


WAIT A MINUTE!!!

What is that, a 2-door tin top?
And RIGHT HAND DRIVE?
And a "BUCKET STYLE" dash?

We haven't had the bucket style dash in the US since 91!
Title: Re: Sidekick Rear Locker?
Post by: mudfkr on January 07, 2005, 07:23:46 AM
Bob,

I'm in New Zealand

We have lots, actually zilllions of Ex Japanese imports which is why mine is badged as an Escudo and not the local market Vitara as it would have been sold as here.

With mine being a '93 Jappa I get the 16 V motor and extras like power windows, mirrors, A/C all as standard  ;D

Back to the ARB stuff, I have a small tank waiting to be fitted as well - I just need to work out where it's going to live.
Title: Re: Sidekick Rear Locker?
Post by: SnoFalls on January 07, 2005, 07:40:24 AM
mudfkr,

relocate the battery behid a seat (go dual batteries if that suits ya:) ), and then put the air tank where the battery was.

I have that as my plan ... getting that weight inboard and lower is a good thing.
Title: Re: Sidekick Rear Locker?
Post by: mudfkr on January 07, 2005, 08:15:01 AM
Quote
mudfkr,

relocate the battery behid a seat (go dual batteries if that suits ya:) ), and then put the air tank where the battery was.

I have that as my plan ... getting that weight inboard and lower is a good thing.


That galvanized box you can just see in the bottom of the pic contains a 950cca silver cadmium battery already
which runs the winch, extra light and ARB. I was running duel bat's under the hood but have now removed one since putting the big one in the rear. I'd like to keep the tank in the rear as well as I have plans for the room under the hood  ;)
Title: Re: Sidekick Rear Locker?
Post by: Zukipilot on January 07, 2005, 08:26:45 AM
Call me crazy, but I like just pulling it back into 4x4 and instantly having all 4 pulling, not switches, not psssstttt, just gas it and go 8) Auto Lockers Rock ;D

Zig
Title: Re: Sidekick Rear Locker?
Post by: mudfkr on January 07, 2005, 08:38:17 AM
Quote
Call me crazy, but I like just pulling it back into 4x4 and instantly having all 4 pulling, not switches, not psssstttt, just gas it and go 8) Auto Lockers Rock ;D

Zig


Yeah but with selectable lockers once your  stuck, hit the switch "psssst" and were away again. With an ARB you've all ways got the final Ace up your sleeve  ;)

I drive unlocked and just lock once I'm in trouble unless it looks really bad then I lock it and gas it  ;D
Title: Re: Sidekick Rear Locker?
Post by: hcgalvin on January 07, 2005, 08:45:24 AM
There's an awful lot of Psssst going on in here...  ;D
Title: Re: Sidekick Rear Locker?
Post by: SnoFalls on January 07, 2005, 08:47:04 AM
Quote


That galvanized box you can just see in the bottom of the pic contains a 950cca silver cadmium battery already
which runs the winch, extra light and ARB. I was running duel bat's under the hood but have now removed one since putting the big one in the rear. I'd like to keep the tank in the rear as well as I have plans for the room under the hood  ;)


shoulda figured you had my "plan" covered (you got just about EVERYTHING anyway :) )

I see two downsides to ARB$ ...
1) cost
2) reliability ...

#2 comes from the "complexity" of air, lines, tank/compressor, etc ... is this a legit concern? or an excuse for #1?

Title: Re: Sidekick Rear Locker?
Post by: mudfkr on January 07, 2005, 09:10:43 AM
Quote


shoulda figured you had my "plan" covered (you got just about EVERYTHING anyway :) )

I see two downsides to ARB$ ...
1) cost
2) reliability...

#2 comes from the "complexity" of air, lines, tank/compressor, etc ... is this a legit concern? or an excuse for #1?



Sure they are one of the most expensive lockers out there but then again I wouldn't have put an other one in. I like the fact it locked when I want it locked and not every situation needs to be driven locked.

Take for instance  driving  across a slippery slope on an angle with the rear locked and you'll see what I mean. It just wants to take off down hill sideways, with it unlocked  it doesn't want a take off so lockers are not an advantage all the time.

As for  reliability I haven't had any problems with mine, I think if you install it correctly and use it correctly that you won't have problems with any thing other than possible a new piston and cylinder for the compressor in years to come which isn't dear item any way.


Title: Re: Sidekick Rear Locker?
Post by: SnoFalls on January 07, 2005, 09:27:00 AM
I *totally* understand the advantages ... (I might do ARB's in a year or so is why I'm askin). The cost is what stops me today ...

Did you do hard air lines?
Would a 3 gal compressed tank (filled before a trip) be enuf to eliminate the on board compressor?
I figure the diff install isn;t really DIY, but the rest could be right?
Title: Re: Sidekick Rear Locker?
Post by: mudfkr on January 07, 2005, 10:04:00 AM
Quote
I *totally* understand the advantages ... (I might do ARB's in a year or so is why I'm askin). The cost is what stops me today ...

Did you do hard air lines?
Would a 3 gal compressed tank (filled before a trip) be enuf to eliminate the on board compressor?
I figure the diff install isn;t really DIY, but the rest could be right?


I ran nylon lines as it's easy to bend, won't break if it gets kinked and is easy to fix with push fit fittings if it doe's need repair.

Installs easy, I just mounted the compressor then ran the supplied wiring loom and hose out the right places.
I had a mate fit the internals, he's a mechanic with his  own shop  which means I didn't void the  warranty by doing a DIY job.

I can't answer your tank ? Bob can probably help you out there.
Title: Re: Sidekick Rear Locker?
Post by: Natebert on January 08, 2005, 03:52:07 AM
We hated our spool,
                               because it broke axles.

We hated our ratchet locker,
                                            because it broke axles too.

We'll prolly hate our electric lockers,
                                                        because they break axles.

If you don't want to break stuff, don't go off roading because you're busy upgrading/fixing.  Beyond that it's just a matter of how much money do you have for parts or pain you want to endure replacing them.

~Nate

:)

Title: Re: Sidekick Rear Locker?
Post by: CBTracker on January 08, 2005, 04:51:14 AM
 the only pssssst I ever hear is money going towards tire repair.   Ooo to be a college student...