It is finally time for me to upgrade to getting a locker for my 2002 Rodeo Sport, but I would like to know where to start. I've been out of the loop for a while and I have NO idea what is available for my ride (70% on-road/30% off-road). Which locker would be a direct swap out (if possible) for the rear that would allow for everyday & trail driving?

As for the front, is there a locker for the front end and would I really need it? I do not have manual hubs, but they sure would be NICE! Are they even available for an '02?!

ANY help/advice would be great. If you need anymore details from me, let me know. Tax refund time is coming near so I need to plan wisely, after "Tithes" of course... THANKS!

I love my ARB front and rear air lockers. I got them from Matt at Indy4X. He has other options for the rear on his site. I wanted a selectable locker because I drive in the snow in the mountains and didn't want a "surprise" lock up going around a turn.

Pete

ARB is a nice locker.

As for the hubs, Rodeo '02 cannot use the manual hubs due to the year design change. I have no idea about the Rodeo Sport. If the Sport was following the same year-to-year changes, then you cannot install the hubs.

If you go to Matt at Independent4x.com there are manual hubs available for your application. They are the Superwinch hubs, not quite as nice as Warn's in my opinion, but the only ones I know of that will fit the Rodeo Sports.

Did you try to fit it yourself ? Have you ever seen the front wheel hubs on '02 Rodeos ? I assume that '02 Rodeos and '02 Rodeo Sports have the same hubs (that means really 'no hubs', just the drive flanges).

I'll call Matt up at Indy4x this week in regards to the manual front hubs. If anyone has ANY input or feedback about '02 R.Sports' front hubs, your info is very welcome!

Besides ARB, are there any other good lockers for the rear for on and off road (Powertrax, maybe...)? Whatever the brand/type, I'm looking for something not too complicated to install that will give me more grip than the stock limited-slip diff.

Thanks all for the advice and help. We'll see what Matt has at his shop. Later!

you know, there is a simpler way. You can just take a front wheel off and check the front "hub" setting. If you have a real hub, then you are lucky and you can get hubs from Matt. If you have the drive flanges (like on '02+ Rodeo and Axioms) then you cannot fit any sort of hub. If this is not clear for you, then just post the picture of your front setting here and we will tell you. The difference between the two setups is very significant.

Sorry for the delay if posting pictures of the front hubs of my '02 R. Sport, as I've had some health/medical issues with my mid-section... I also have yet to contact Matt @ Indy4x about what is available for '02 Rodeos & R. Sports, but I will this week. I hope these photos show up clearly (if at all)...







Any help or advice would be geat. THANKS!

Yeah... sorry... you are out of luck. You cannot install manual hubs on your truck, unless you are going to swap the whole setup for 1998-2001 years.

You have exactly what I had on my Rodeo '02 and I am currently having on my Axiom. Those are drive flanges.

You have two choices:

1) ignore the issue altogether. This is what I did with my Rodeo '02. I purchased it brand new, gradually lifted to 3.5" up front, and drove it till approximately 65K miles when it was totaled. I had had no CV related problems.

2) lower your front differential. Now defunct company "Darlington offroad" was making the kit. I have it on my Axiom. It takes about 1.5" front ground clearance but the CV angles are much better when lifted.

To further expand on Oleg's "whole setup", it is not beyond possible. I believe it requires swapping out everything between the ball joints. This would be the knuckles, spindles, bearings, hub, rotor and calipers. It would also require swapping the cv shafts, I *think*.

If you have a U-Pull yard that has a wrecked vehicle it might be financially viable to do. But, that is up to you.

Good luck,
Michael