Front Locker Install

[pemz0r]

I am going to attempt to install a front locker on my front differential with parts sourced from Weddle. Does anyone have a step by step install or any information they would like to share with me? I will need some information for machining the case and maybe some certain steps for the retrofit.

Thanks a head of time.

[pemz0r]

Well, it only took 3 months.............

Majority of the time was just trying to find a locking diff. I tried sourcing one from 3 different people that were located in the UK, Canada, and Russia, which was just all a waste of my time. Until, someone reached out to me via a private message from this forum and they said they had one. The person ended up being minutes from my house.. so Crazy. The locker already had the spider gears installed so I didn't need to source those (score).

Picked up the locker June 1st and started to gather all the pieces I needed to complete the front locker. These parts were easily sourced through, Weddle, GoWesty, Van Cafe, and Audi Sport. While the parts were in route, I dropped the "Pumpkin"

From my research I found out the front locker had two security features from the factory, a safety lock, a twisting motion before pulling out the knob and a blinking light showing that the front locker was engaging, I needed both features. I was able to source the locking plunger and spring through Van Cafe. For the blinking setup from the factory it would be a wiring loom, vacuum sensor and a PCB board. I put out a WTB ad up and someone reached out and they said they had an aftermarket kit that would allow both the front and rear would blink, I purchased this kit because I couldn't find an OEM kit, and I would just retrofit it so that the front would only blink. This aftermarket kit was sold on Van Cafe years ago.. This kit was an expensive purchase, but I wanted the blinking light.
The day the aftermarket kit arrived I received another PM and this gentleman said he had 2 factory kits but he didn't know if they worked, so I purchased both of them and they both worked!!!

I routed the vacuum lines and installed OEM blinking kit. It

I have access to a really small machine shop where I can do some machining as a hobby, so I machined the holes needed for the locker engagement and signal switch.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CP4kofTlF2z/

The parts all came in around the same time so I slapped it all together with new bearings and reinstalled the front diff, with new CV's and drove it around, and it works!! Just need to test it on some local trails.

A video showing the lights working. Super stoked!!
https://www.instagram.com/p/CQSEbq-geu9/

[erste]

nice!!
love seeing detailed follow-up posts like this one.

[Microbusdeluxe]

Great work. Know that when you engage the front dif lock your wheels should be pointed straight and THEY WILL STAY POINTED STRAIGHT! So be sure you have enough runout to disengage the locker before you need to steer in any direction other than straight.
_________________
'69 Squareback RIP
'65 21 window deluxe sold before the price spike, damn it.
'70 rhd bay now a taxi in South Sudan
'81 Westy sold
'89 hightop Westy Joker syncro 16" now with Bostig!

[Steve M.]

Ya just gotta be envious of the guys with the lifts and a garage big enough for the lift! 😁

Good work.
_________________
This free advice is worth exactly what you paid for it.

There are seven days in a week. Someday is not one of them.

[pemz0r]

@Microbusdeluxe - Just wanted to clarify, because I have never used a front locker before. You can't/ shouldn't rotate the steering wheel at any degree? So, when climbing up a rutted shoot, I can't pick a line by placing the vehicle were I want to go up, I have to keep the steering wheel straight. I thought I would have some leeway with the turn radius, like at least 10 to 15 degrees on the steering wheel.

[Sodo]

I was with a guy at at DeLaSyncro 2019 who drove his van up onto the "square end of a log" that was higher than the van bumper.
Front locker and solid shaft and 6.17 R&Ps

Straight ahead the bumper would just hit the log, so he maneuvered such that with the wheel turned hard left, the log end was outside the wheel well.
The tire climbed vertically onto the log.

I wish I had a video but I was in the passenger seat.

I would like to have a Peloquin in the front diff.
A locker (and another green light) would be fun too.
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'90 Westy EJ25, 2Peloquins, 3knobs, pressure-oiled GT mainshaft, filtered, cooled gearbox
'87 Tintop w 47k 53k, '12 SmallCar EJ25, cooled filtered gearbox
....KTMs, GasGas, SPOT mtb

[pemz0r]

So he was able to turn the steering with the front locked and had no issues with breaking a cv?

[Sodo]

[designer]

[Bills85Westy]

[Microbusdeluxe]

I have only needed to use my front locker once, in deep sand. I periodically engage it on a dirt/loose surface road but make sure I am traveling straight ahead.

I do not have power steering and let me tell you it is very difficult to turn the steering wheel to the point that it feels like something would snap if I pushed it. So maybe you can steer it, but unless I was going over a cliff, I wouldn't. YMMV.
_________________
'69 Squareback RIP
'65 21 window deluxe sold before the price spike, damn it.
'70 rhd bay now a taxi in South Sudan
'81 Westy sold
'89 hightop Westy Joker syncro 16" now with Bostig!

[tjet]

Link