Electric locking diff questions
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New User
Joined: Mar 2007
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Electric locking diff questions
So when I ordered my truck, I checked off the el diff box because I thought it woulf be great. What a dissapointment!!
First time I got bogged down in heavey snow with a 10,000 lb trailer behind, I thought great, lock up the rear diff and away we go. Too bad the damn thing unlocks as soon as the wheels spin to 23-25 mph. What a bunch of crap. The manual says do not engage with wheels spinning. Well when your stuck and the damn thing is engageing and disengageing at will, how long till it goes kaboom.
I can see putting a limited slip in it in the future.
Anyone else tried it out in bad conditions, and what do you think ??
First time I got bogged down in heavey snow with a 10,000 lb trailer behind, I thought great, lock up the rear diff and away we go. Too bad the damn thing unlocks as soon as the wheels spin to 23-25 mph. What a bunch of crap. The manual says do not engage with wheels spinning. Well when your stuck and the damn thing is engageing and disengageing at will, how long till it goes kaboom.
I can see putting a limited slip in it in the future.
Anyone else tried it out in bad conditions, and what do you think ??
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 5,158
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From: North of Salt Lake City
The ELD has pushed me out of some pretty sticky situations. It is designed simply to make sure both rear wheels get equal power regardless of whether one wheel has traction or not. I have never used it in a situation like you describe. My off road adventures are slower and rarely do the rear wheels spin much. But like cutter said, they are not an end-all be-all. Sounds like 4 wheel drive would be better in that situation.
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Of course 4x4 was engaged. But when dealing with 12-14" of snow and ice, why would they make the thing automatically disengage. I almost had to take the bobcat off the trailer and dig myself out.
I can see how the locker will work fine in certain situations, but when you really need it you've got an open rear axle, doing the one wheel peel.
I can see how the locker will work fine in certain situations, but when you really need it you've got an open rear axle, doing the one wheel peel.
Tuned
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 299
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From: Northwestern Ontario
I haven't tried it either....
I would imagine you can use both 4x4 and lock the read diff also.
So by the time you are going at 20 or 25 mph, there is no need for the diff to be locked if you are in 4x4.
I'll have to check that out...
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gordon
I would imagine you can use both 4x4 and lock the read diff also.
So by the time you are going at 20 or 25 mph, there is no need for the diff to be locked if you are in 4x4.
I'll have to check that out...
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gordon
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I'm sure the Conti tires are part of the problem with traction in deep wet snow, as they suck big time. It sure would be nice if the thing stayed locked untill I manually unlocked it.
With all the snow around somebody else must have tried this thing out and have comments.
With all the snow around somebody else must have tried this thing out and have comments.
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 5,158
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From: North of Salt Lake City
I have driven quite a bit in the snow. The ELD does little to keep me going forward but it sure is fun. If you turn off traction control and leave the ELD on, I can drift around any corner. I live in a hilly area and just have to use 4X4 when the roads are slick. Neither traction control or ELD alone are enough. I haven't noticed the ELD disengaging though. Does the manual say that is supposed to happen?
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Elder User
Joined: Apr 2010
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I would suggest that in the situation you were in it would be best to be in 4x4Low with the diff locked, then it will not unlock.
From the manual: • On 4WD vehicles in 4L (4X4 Low), the ELD can be engaged at any speed and will not automatically disengage.
From the manual: • On 4WD vehicles in 4L (4X4 Low), the ELD can be engaged at any speed and will not automatically disengage.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2010
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From: Kentucky
I would say part of that problem with the speed is when the wheels are spinning, but the truck is going nowhere, the speedo will still register the rear wheel speed. If you know what i mean.....
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2010
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From: Hot Springs
Yea use Low and pull it down in M and start off in 3 and be ready to hit 4th!
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2009
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From: Greenwood, SC
I used the e-lock in the sand on Daytona Beach, it worked but in the soft stuff it was not enough, 4X4 was the key. I would not attempt to use the e-lock above 20mph anyway.
I also used the e-lock pulling trailers through the yard, wet grass, lots of hills, and it works great. The idea of using it on the road for driving at speed does not seem like what it is intended for.
If you are stuck I can understand using it as a tool to get out but not hammering the throttle and going hard, just to get moving.
In mud and ice, a 4 wheel slide is really easy and any of us can and will get stuck, it's a 8000 pound truck and if you have a load of firewood or a trailer, it really get heavy.
I also used the e-lock pulling trailers through the yard, wet grass, lots of hills, and it works great. The idea of using it on the road for driving at speed does not seem like what it is intended for.
If you are stuck I can understand using it as a tool to get out but not hammering the throttle and going hard, just to get moving.
In mud and ice, a 4 wheel slide is really easy and any of us can and will get stuck, it's a 8000 pound truck and if you have a load of firewood or a trailer, it really get heavy.
Posting Guru
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I got to see my brother's F350 limited slip in action in WNY over the holidays. He had lost his 4WD and was trying to pull out of a parking lot on a slight incline. Reminded me of driving my Dad's 69 Ford Galaxie station wagon --Country Squire edition 
) in the snow. Wasn't a pretty sight! Contributing to his plight was the Conti tires with 25,000 on them.
) in the snow. Wasn't a pretty sight! Contributing to his plight was the Conti tires with 25,000 on them.
Elder User
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I got to see my brother's F350 limited slip in action in WNY over the holidays. He had lost his 4WD and was trying to pull out of a parking lot on a slight incline. Reminded me of driving my Dad's 69 Ford Galaxie station wagon --Country Squire edition ) in the snow. Wasn't a pretty sight! Contributing to his plight was the Conti tires with 25,000 on them.
) in the snow. Wasn't a pretty sight! Contributing to his plight was the Conti tires with 25,000 on them.