Lift or lockers

[COA]

Have a B reg 90 CSW that I mostly use off road for P&P / lanes. Normal upgrades including 265/75 insa turbos that just fit with the original height suspension.

I have some ££ to spend and can either do a proper 2" lift with good springs, trailing arms, wide props and all new metal work (I need some welding done around the area that the rear shocks attach to chassis) OR else I could probably wait to find some air lockers for both axles.

So - leave suspension as it is and get lockers or get a 2" rise but no lockers....... what to do?!

 

[alexr]

Lift kit personally. Get the basics done then add the more specialist kit at a later date

 

[DiscoPol]

do you find that you need or want bigger tyres/more clearance under the diffs or more articulation? if not then look for locking diffs, maybe just start with the rear first mine is great with just the detroit in the back.

 

[COA]

do you find that you need or want bigger tyres/more clearance under the diffs or more articulation? if not then look for locking diffs, maybe just start with the rear first mine is great with just the detroit in the back.

I am fine with the 265/75s at the moment but am sure once they wear out I would fit larger if I had done the lift. I was erring toward the lift coz I need to take off the rear set up to weld patches on the chassis and I figured that looking at the nuts and bots its going to come off with a grinder only so why not replace with new....before you know it you've talked yourself into a new sus set up and it may as well be a 2" rise.

So I was trying to be rational and see if I could convince myself to do a lesser job on the sus / welding and reward my prudance with a nice shiny locker.

Interesting that you did the rear only - sorry to be a dick....but is it better to do the rear rather than the front (why?)

Thanks

 

[LRD90tdi]

I am fine with the 265/75s at the moment but am sure once they wear out I would fit larger if I had done the lift. I was erring toward the lift coz I need to take off the rear set up to weld patches on the chassis and I figured that looking at the nuts and bots its going to come off with a grinder only so why not replace with new....before you know it you've talked yourself into a new sus set up and it may as well be a 2" rise.

So I was trying to be rational and see if I could convince myself to do a lesser job on the sus / welding and reward my prudance with a nice shiny locker.

Interesting that you did the rear only - sorry to be a dick....but is it better to do the rear rather than the front (why?)

Thanks

I agree, and say lift.

I'm guessing the back is fitted with a locker first as a good percentage of the time when traction is lost is during a climb, and the weight, assuming you're in a forward gear, is on the rear...?

Tom

 

[Boris113]

http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBNPZFNOK-4

This sums it up quite well.

Having said that, unless you are going to get enough use out of the lockers to justify the cost, then the suspension may be the way to go, especially if you are pulling it apart anyway

You may also find that lockers promptly require uprated CVs and halfshafts depending on your driving style and they aren't cheap.

 

[DiscoPol]

I am fine with the 265/75s at the moment but am sure once they wear out I would fit larger if I had done the lift. I was erring toward the lift coz I need to take off the rear set up to weld patches on the chassis and I figured that looking at the nuts and bots its going to come off with a grinder only so why not replace with new....before you know it you've talked yourself into a new sus set up and it may as well be a 2" rise.

So I was trying to be rational and see if I could convince myself to do a lesser job on the sus / welding and reward my prudance with a nice shiny locker.

Interesting that you did the rear only - sorry to be a dick....but is it better to do the rear rather than the front (why?)

Thanks

It was in when I bought it but I think it's more to do with the fact that unless you use a lsd or turn off the locker every time you want to turn the wheels then they don't like turning when the fronts are locked, with the Detroit in the back its fit and forget, no compressor needed and its still very drivable on Road.

 

[Paul D]

Sort the suspension first .. if it's looking like you may already have to cut stuff off and re-weld it, or patch the mountings, then fitting a locker might only rip it apart more easily!

However, Lockers will go a helluva long way, even when dragging the chassis ..

 

[DaveM-sport]

Why not just get 2" shocks and springs and a rear locker?

You'd manage fine without the radius and trailing arms with just a 2" lift.
Can see how you go then as next time you have funds to put into it, you could get the arms, props and a front locker

 

[300tdistu]

You could do rear ashcroft locker from crown diffs £750 built ready to fit, small arb compressor £180 and Terrafirma +2" Suspension Lift Kit, Medium Load#£200

You can have some fun with lockers

 

[GINGE]

Interesting that you did the rear only - sorry to be a dick....but is it better to do the rear rather than the front (why?)

Thanks

This could go into a big debate again about air lockers and fit and forget types like a detroit and an LSD, but here goes.

You dont really want a full permanent locker in the front axle of your motor because the way the locker works is to dissengage when it feels resistance from the outside wheel spinning faster than the inside.

This means that if you get to a corner and you have a front locker fitted, it could cause you to understeer off the road rather than unlock the locker.

Most people fit an LSD in the front and a detroit in the rear for this reason. And obviously air lockers dont have this problem as you engage them when needed.

Regards your dilemma: If it was me, i would strip the bad bits off, get the welding done and save your money for a decent suspension setup.

 

[Griffdowg]

Why don't you go out, get stuck find your vehicle limits and also your own. With what you have you can achieve a lot. You talk about lockers but don't even understand what they can do for you.

Go out and have fun, when you get stuck ask yourself why you got stuck and go from there.

If you must throw money at it buy some terrafirma 2" springs and good shocks. Leave the lockers until you understand what you are doing and what you actually need.

G

 

[alexr]

Why don't you go out, get stuck find your vehicle limits and also your own. With what you have you can achieve a lot. You talk about lockers but don't even understand what they can do for you.

Go out and have fun, when you get stuck ask yourself why you got stuck and go from there.

If you must throw money at it buy some terrafirma 2" springs and good shocks. Leave the lockers until you understand what you are doing and what you actually need.

G

Seconded

 

[warrior]

I have both on mine lockers and +5" gwyn Lewis set up, the lockers made the single biggest diffrence as I gan still get the wheels off the ground although I did out it on its side once,