Lock-Right Locker
Lock-Right has become the old standby of drop-in lockers. It has been manufactured by various companies over the years, and now Richmond Gear has its name on it. We got our test unit from Randy's Ring and Pinion as they have a good price, ship fast, and great customer service.
The design of the Lock-Right really hasn't changed much over the years. There is only so much you can do within the confines of a stock carrier. It works the same way it worked 12 years ago when Trasborg installed the last one. There is some clicking of the teeth around corners that can be heard with the radio off and windows out, but with the radio on, the only person that will hear it is the one standing outside the Jeep.
Some things to note: The finish is smoother than the Aussie Locker, there are two sets of springs that need to nest in each other, and you need to have a pick or tiny screwdriver on hand to install them (see "Four Hour Locker" in this issue). Otherwise, the installation goes off without a hitch, even though the pictures in the directions leave a little to be desired.
Once it's in there, you can't tell the difference between the Lock-Right and the Aussie. It behaves the same on-road, sounds the same going around corners at the local mall, and locks up the same off-road. The company claims that the dual springs will make for a longer service life, but since we only put a couple of hundred miles on it with a weak V-6 and 32-inch tires, we were nowhere near testing the service life.
Hard Facts
Manufacturer: Richmond Gear
Model: Lock-Right
Part number: PT 2410
Price: $254
Use thrust washers: Yes
Pros: Design has been around forever (likely not going anywhere, can get parts down the road), dual springs for longer life expectancy
Cons: Poor pictures with instructions (had to go online for better ones), a third hand would be useful for installing springs and pins