Lets talk about lockers!

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joecrotch

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Hey guys been a while since I have been around. I am currently building a custom chopper from the ground up so the Expy is suffering from neglect lol.

Anyway I went out the other day for a short 4x4 ride near my house I was coming off the top of a hill and came at it from a angle. when the first tire creaped off the back became airborn and I was sort of teatering on the front driver wheel and the back passenger wheel. So because there is no posi I was STUCK! I was so pissed all this work I have done to my baby and a little hill stopped me because of my stupidity. I kept thinking to myself if I had a locker I could just engage it and drive away.

So here I am anyone done a locker yet? I would really love a E-locker just because of the simplicity. this is what I am thinking of getting its for the front end, and later on I can get something for the rear.
http://completeoffroad.com/i-123127-auburn-ected-ford-8-8-locker-posi-545002.html?status=tell_sent

Thoughts?
 

tonydiv

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Well, it won't work in the front because of the fact that it defaults to the limited slip. You need either an eaton e-locker or an arb. Those will default to an open diff when not locked. The only problem with the eaton is that they void the warranty if you use oversize tires.

If you try running a limited ship in the front, the entire front driveline will turn as you drive, This will make the truck pull to the left (since the right side is disconnected in 2wd) and also kill your mileage. I would also suggest that if you put a selectable locker in the front, that you pick up a 4x4 posi loc cable to actuate the center axle disconnect, and ditch the vacuum system that the factory uses.

As for the rear, anything goes. You could put in a lunchbox locker or go for something selectable.
 
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joecrotch

joecrotch

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Wow great comment. I had completely missed that it does not go to open when disengaged. I was thinking front first to give me that pulling front power but I guess it really doesn't matter. I'm gonna do some research on the Eaton diff's and see what I find. From what I can tell there really isn't a lot of options for the 9.75 Ford rear end. Seems like the 8.8 gets a lot more aftermarket attention.

Still want to hear from anyone running lockers selectable or not?
 

masterhacker

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If you drive on the street, I would avoid detroit locker, my buddys got one in his 88F250, and its a pain to drive, it locks the tires everytime you give it the tiniest bit of throttle, and chirps the tires going around corners, Seems worse since he installed 35's on there
 

panda24619

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my buddy loves his detroit. just dont drive like a race car driver on the street and it doesnt lock up. power on the street and none on the turns unless you dont mind chirps. the worst is in parking lots, but its really not that bad once you turn. haha so the rear these are your options. limited slip, arb, detroit, open, welded spiders.
for the front, open, limited slip, arb, detroit, welded, e-locker, ox locker.

and i think a few more for the front. my perfect combo, detroit rear and arb front.
 
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joecrotch

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I have detroit in my jeep with D44 and to be honest I love it. I do get the parking lot chirp and as long as you are easy on the throttle its managable. I really like the idea of a E locker in front so I can turn on and off as needed. and then a detroit out back. The Eaton I am looking at, for up front looks like it reverts to a open state so it should work perfect. And like Tonydiv said I like the idea of swapping the vacuum system for a cable actuated disconnect. In fact I may do that tomorrow I cant stand vacuum 4x4 too much to go wrong. Does anyone know if there is a kit for that. If not there is a jeep kit I can modify.
 

panda24619

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personally i would get an arb. that way you can have on board air, but what you want to look for is front drive 8.8. i know people swap in 8.8 in the rear of jeeps, but in the front? idk. should be some out there. but maybe it dosent matter since its a locker. idk.
 

tonydiv

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I have detroit in my jeep with D44 and to be honest I love it. I do get the parking lot chirp and as long as you are easy on the throttle its managable. I really like the idea of a E locker in front so I can turn on and off as needed. and then a detroit out back. The Eaton I am looking at, for up front looks like it reverts to a open state so it should work perfect. And like Tonydiv said I like the idea of swapping the vacuum system for a cable actuated disconnect. In fact I may do that tomorrow I cant stand vacuum 4x4 too much to go wrong. Does anyone know if there is a kit for that. If not there is a jeep kit I can modify.



http://www.4x4posi-lok.com/
 

panda24619

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heres the problem with tru traks. they are pretty much a limited slip. so off road they do good when all tires are touching. but as soon as one tire is in the air, its an open diff. open problem about them. other wise street wise they are great!
 

CARO'S98EB

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TRU TRAKS send the power to the wheel with the most traction[turning slowest] thru gears so they work fine with one wheel off the ground. the new raptor has this style in the front diff and an e locker in the rear.
 
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joecrotch

joecrotch

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See that's my biggest worry, I need power when only one wheel is on the ground due to the type of offeoading I do. But I also want something tame for driving to work.
 

markanthony

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Detroit all the way. Just install and forget it. Yes you WILL chirp a tire. It WILL unlock and lock. It WILL go bang and scare you sometime. Guess what. YOU NEVER HAVE TO TOUCH ANYTHING TO MAKE IT WORK. IT IS ALWAYS THERE. NOTHING TO WARE, BRAKE, REPLACE, WORRY ABOUT.

Arb's are just as awesome, with air leaks, bad relays, wiring problems, replacements, etc.
E lockers are great too. Again. worn cables, etc.

Lockrights/TrueTrack. They are not really strong enough for the weight/power balance of our trucks. THEY WILL BREAK VERY QUICKLY AND EASILY. I had a True Track in my old blazer and it broke every other day. I replaced three of them darn things. In the front axle they are great.
 

panda24619

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get a detroit. no worrys. my uncle has arb front and rear in his jeep. for what ever reason his rear leaks, but seals it self right after. makes no sense.
 
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joecrotch

joecrotch

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get a detroit. no worrys. my uncle has arb front and rear in his jeep. for what ever reason his rear leaks, but seals it self right after. makes no sense.

lol yeah I think I'm gonna order the Detroit. And later worry about the front, I have a feeling that I won't need a front locker after this though. Now for the next question is there anywhere to get a better deal or is every distributor pretty much the same?

by they way if I can find it for under 800 I can keep the risk of divorce down to a managable level lol.
 
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qcksnake

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heres the problem with tru traks. they are pretty much a limited slip. so off road they do good when all tires are touching. but as soon as one tire is in the air, its an open diff. open problem about them. other wise street wise they are great!



Well, it won't work in the front because of the fact that it defaults to the limited slip. You need either an eaton e-locker or an arb. Those will default to an open diff when not locked. The only problem with the eaton is that they void the warranty if you use oversize tires.

If you try running a limited ship in the front, the entire front driveline will turn as you drive, This will make the truck pull to the left (since the right side is disconnected in 2wd) and also kill your mileage. I would also suggest that if you put a selectable locker in the front, that you pick up a 4x4 posi loc cable to actuate the center axle disconnect, and ditch the vacuum system that the factory uses.

As for the rear, anything goes. You could put in a lunchbox locker or go for something selectable.

Detroit all the way. Just install and forget it. Yes you WILL chirp a tire. It WILL unlock and lock. It WILL go bang and scare you sometime. Guess what. YOU NEVER HAVE TO TOUCH ANYTHING TO MAKE IT WORK. IT IS ALWAYS THERE. NOTHING TO WARE, BRAKE, REPLACE, WORRY ABOUT.

Arb's are just as awesome, with air leaks, bad relays, wiring problems, replacements, etc.
E lockers are great too. Again. worn cables, etc.

Lockrights/TrueTrack. They are not really strong enough for the weight/power balance of our trucks. THEY WILL BREAK VERY QUICKLY AND EASILY. I had a True Track in my old blazer and it broke every other day. I replaced three of them darn things. In the front axle they are great.

Whole lot of misinformation in this thread. Just wanted to clear some of it up.

1st off for the ARB/Eaton Elocker. I have not been able to find them in 28 Spline. Expeditions are 28 spline in the front NOT 31. So looks like the Elocker is out of question for Expeditions

2nd. Detroit Tru-Traks are not 1 wheelers, They are not inferior in strength either. Given the choice I would want one of these over other diffs. I have them in everything from low 5 second 1/8 mile race cars to 4WD off road powerstrokes and everything in between. They are reliable and do not jerk pull like a detroit locker. I dont know whey the blazer has issues but they have been rock solid for us in many ford applications.
Just to add to my point, a good friend of mine is the VP over at american growler, who makes vehicles for the Marine Corp, This is a purpose built offroad vehicle for lifting by Osprey, The diff of choice front/rear is a tru-trak. 8.8 varient as well. They are also building coal mine buggies as well and guess what the diff of choice is?

This car is a 31 tru-trak (at least it was in this video, Since then it broke an axle and got a spool and some 35s, like it needed to start with)
Fox Rodder RS275 shake down turbo mustang - YouTube

3rd-The Detroit locker is a viable option for all out off road dependabiltiy, but its one big POS in daily driving form. IT clicks, It will lock/unlock in curves and if you go on/off gas at incorrect time lock and send you for the ditch. Just not something i want in a nice vehicle I am driving a lot of miles in.

Last-I installed a mustang 28 spline traction lock in my Expedition. No noticable change in gas mileage, It does not pull to the left either. IT does turn the ring/pinion and front driveshaft now. But really thats no different than an older 4WD that came factory with trakloks. OF course ill admit I would prefer locking/unlocking hubs,but it works and its a cheap alternative to a 450$ tru-trak. I had it lying around and figured I would try it. Seems to work fine for me, so I would say its a good option for cheap and it certainly works!

I did install royal purple synthetic fluid and I will keep an eye on Transfer case fluid now that the driveshaft is spining more.

Just wanted to add my experience.
Jeremiah
 
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