Rear Locker Help

I installed the Spartan auto locker into my rear differential a couple of weeks ago. At first, everything seemed fine. It worked as expected, engaging when the gas was pushed. I quickly adjusted to the new way of cornering. But now, it is binding more and more, and I am worried that something is wrong/broken.

Should it engage with even the slightest press of the gas? It didn't do it at first, so making a turn from a stop, like turning right at a stop sign, wasn't a big deal. But now it is a big deal and feels like it is partially locking all through the turn Loud bangs and lurching vehicle all through the turn. Is this normal?

Anyway, I am thinking at this point I will either spring for an electronic locker, or just put the spider gears back in. I suddenly hate driving my beloved 4Runner.

Edit: I've only had 1 chance to take it off-road since adding the locker. There was certainly an improvement in overall traction.

 

Well, that sounds exactly like my Spartan installation. But don’t give up, it does get better. For me there was a break in period of a few hundred miles, the stock side gears and the locker gears need to wear together and the spring loaded pins are not sliding freely. After 500 miles or so I changed the differential oil and went with an LSD mineral oil and a friction modifier additive and that made a noticeable improvement. I would recommend going to a synthetic gear oil like Royal Purple after a few hundred miles and don’t bother with mineral oil and additives.

I now have been driving the truck with the Spartan for 3 years and 30k miles and I have learned to be ready with the clutch and easy with the throttle when turning and 99% of the time, no bangs. A big part of driving the Spartan was learning when it wants to lock up and just using the clutch to coast around corners especially on pavement. Off road it is seamless.

 

Sadly, mine is an automatic. But thanks for the advice. I'll look into changing the oil. I am already using synthetic, but a friction additive might help.

 

I use it a s adialy driver, but it's a 5 minute drive to work. MAybe I'll get used to it. But I am so worried that it's messing up bearings and gears.