NEWS RELEA
Should I disable my Can-Am Visco Lok?
Based on customer feedback Torq-Masters Industries highly recommends disabling your
Can-Am Visco Lok when you install a TL-CANAM TORQ Locker. Torq-Masters Industries cannot guarantee proper TORQ Locker operation if you choose to leave your Visco Lok enabled.
Disabling the Visco is easy and only adds a few minutes to your installation time. Detailed
instructions are included in this manual.
The Visco Lok can affect TORQ Locker operation negatively and cause the following symptoms:
- Random steering lock up in 2WD or 4WD
- Very loud popping or ratcheting noises in 2WD or 4WD
Please Note:
If you disable your Visco Lok, and later choose to remove your TORQ Locker to go back to 3WD, you will need to buy a new or used Differential Case with a Visco Lok. Once removed and disabled the Visco Lok can not be reinstalled.
The truck appears to be "locked" in the front axles, and is nearly impossible to turn even at low speeds (under 20mph).
If the locker does not unlock or ratchet, the pins and springs may have been installed in the reverse order - this will cause the locker to act like a spool.
Pins go in the holes, Springs go into the slot.
Yes you can, the Aussie Locker will not affect your trailer towing ability. You will find that the dramatic improvement traction will come in handy when pulling the boat up the ramp or anytime where increased traction is important.
We do not have exclusion in our warranty covering locker use in vehicles with over sized tires. Generally the biggest issue with over sized tires is the diameter of the tires themselves.
Tires should always be run at the tire pressure recommended by the manufacturer. The diameter of the tires should be within 3/8” of each other on the same axle. If one tire has a larger diameter either from pressure difference or manufacturing variances it will cause the locker to constantly lock and unlock creating excessive wear and this will void the warranty. Replace any tire that is outside of the recommended tire diameter allowance.
Another area to consider when installing a locker in a vehicle with over sized tires is that this type of setup puts significantly greater stress on the original equipment manufacturers components in the differential. The locker is designed to withstand these stresses but should another component fail, and the locker is damaged, the locker is not covered under warranty. Under no circumstances does Torq-Masters Technology, Inc, warranty cover parts that we do not supply as part of the order.
No, the smoothness of the “Aussie Locker” results in no measurable tire wear. The gain in traction should increase tire life due to the reduction of tire spin. Reduction in tire spin results in less trail damage.
Yes, the design and materials used in the “Aussie Locker” allows it to operate with high power.
No. The “Aussie Locker” shares the load evenly between the wheels which prevents wheel spin. Wheel spin can damage a diff when a spinning wheel obtains sudden traction. The automatic action of the “Aussie Locker” prevents excessive drive line windup. Drive line wind up is common in other locker designs.
Yes, the traction improvement in a 2WD vehicle is the same as in a 4WD installation.
No, use the manufacturers recommended fluid for the diff in your vehicle.
Will this affect my gear ratio? What about thick ring gears in differentials modified from the OE gear ratio?
No, the Aussie Locker does not affect the gear ratio Some thick ring gears (4.56 for example) may interfere with the installation of the cross pin. If you run into this problem we recommend grinding on a tooth in an unused area of the ring gear rather than grinding on the cross pin. Contact customerservice@aussielocker.com if you have any questions regarding the grinding location and depth.
Depends on the model and who is doing the job. As a guide you should expect 1-2 hours for most rear installations. For front diffs the time is usually 2-3 hours
IFS front installations take longer.
You will need to replace the limited slip or posi carrier with an open carrier. Open carriers are available at auto salvage yards, on bulletin boards and at aftermarket diff parts retailers.
The steel alloy and proprietary heat treatment process used in making the USA manufactured Aussie locker results in a gear set that is twice as hard as the gears it replaces. Properly installed and maintained the Aussie locker will provide years of trouble free service.
The most significant differences are:
Principal of operation
The Aussie Locker uses a dynamic camming mechanism to stay locked. We use a proprietary design process that ensures that the cam area is not only designed to the tightest tolerances but is also repeatable in high volume machining processes. A competitor’s locker uses interlocking teeth and large springs to stay locked.
Mechanical Design
The Aussie Locker uses approximately half the parts due to a simpler design. It uses fewer parts than any automatic locker on the market today. Fewer parts equal higher reliability.
Case
The Aussie Locker uses the original carrier.
Smoothness of operation
Drive one and you will be able to tell which vehicle has an Aussie Locker.
Degree of sensitivity to unlocking
The Aussie Locker can be unlocked with 1 finger due to the use of 1 high quality bias spring. The locking mechanism is dynamic rather than controlled by large springs.
Amount of backlash
The Aussie Locker has approximately half the backlash (none in the driving teeth).
The cost
The Aussie Locker is more affordable. Compare our pricing to any locker on the market today.
Installation
The Aussie Locker can be installed by almost anyone. The competitors’ locker requires an expensive specialist and special tools.
Time to install
We have found that most vehicle owners can do it themselves in an hour or two.
Warranty
The manufacturer of the “Aussie Locker” provides a two year limited warranty. See the warranty for full details.
Installation documentation
The Aussie Locker comes with detailed installation instructions.
This is dependent on your personal preference, the type of vehicle, existing diff types, and how you intend to use the vehicle.
We "Do Not" recommend the installation of a locker in the front of a vehicle that will be driven on icy highways in 4WD without manual hubs.
If a vehicle has an IFS (Independent Front Suspension) system then the front installation will result in a dramatic increase in 4WD capability. This is because all IFS vehicles have very limited suspension movement (wheel travel and articulation) resulting in easily lifted wheels and a loss of front traction. Installing a front locker will solve the deficiency.
If a vehicle has LSD (Limited Slip Differential) in the rear, then a front installation provides a significant improvement over the existing LSD and open diff set-up.
If a vehicle has constant 4WD then only a rear installation should be considered.
A front installation will usually yield the greatest improvement in off-road capability. This is due to the general requirement of increased in traction under hill climbing or rock crawling. Under full climbing conditions, due to the angle of the vehicle, the rear wheels carry a much greater weight (weight transfer) and therefore, the front carries less weight and tends to break traction very easily.
Once one front wheel starts to spin the other wheel stops turning and the whole front diff ceases to provide traction. At this point the load is transferred to the rear diff as if the vehicle was a 2WD and due to the increased load the rear wheels tend to spin and the vehicle stops. If you can stop the front wheel from spinning you have solved the traction problem. In addition to the traction performance a front installation does not introduce any changes in handling characteristics.
Will it affect my steering?
Unlike manual lockers which do not provide differential action when locked and severely hamper steering and directional maneuverability, the “Aussie Locker’s” smooth and sensitive operation allows differential action resulting in uncompromised steering, uphill or down, soft or hard surfaces. This means that you can select the best route or path, and negotiate tight steering bends easily. You can feel a mild tightening in the steering wheel which is a result of both front wheels having incredible traction, and driving more equally. There will be a self centering effect on the steering wheel in sand and off-road driving.
We "Do Not" recommend the installation of a locker in the front of a vehicle that will be driven on icy highways in 4WD without manual hubs. Driving on any slick surface requires additional attention to handling so test your Aussie Locker equipped vehicle in open areas under adverse weather conditions before driving on roads.
A front installation provides the most significant improvement over manual lockers. An “Aussie Locker” is not susceptible to drive line failures and wear present with manual lockers.
This is a matter of personal preference, money and the end traction requirement. A single “Aussie Locker” will usually double the vehicles off-road ability. A dual installation of lockers can only be described as an “awesome” increase in traction performance.
We "Do Not" recommend the installation of a locker in the front of a vehicle that will be driven on icy highways in 4WD without manual hubs.
Virtually all automatic lockers make some degree of noise. It is possible to hear a clicking sound from an automatic locker from time-to-time. These clicks are usually inaudible inside the vehicle and generally only occur when the vehicle is making a turn. There are infrequent situations where you may also hear a metallic click which is normal. The “Aussie Locker” is the quietest locker of its type on the market today.
It is possible to install the “Aussie Locker” in the front or rear of all open differential vehicles. It is not possible to install the locker in the front differential of permanent constant 4WD vehicles without installing free-wheeling hubs, or otherwise converting the part-time 4WD. Some Jeeps have a part-time 4WD selection, and it is possible to install the locker in the front.
The “Aussie Locker” design is automatic in that there are no actions required by the driver to actuate the locking capability. The locker is always locked and unlocks in turns when the outside wheel overruns the speed of the inside wheel.
There are no cables, electrical wires, air lines, pneumatic or external connections of any kind required.
