Detroit Locker Thoughts ?
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Tuned
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 335
Likes: 5
From: Las Vegas
Detroit Locker Thoughts ?
I recently moved from the desert southwest to Minnesota, we went from dry dusty ranch to wet, muddy, grassy farm. We have a 2wd 99 F350 long bed dually as a ranch truck and were going to use it more in the winter here as to not let the newer nicer trucks be drenched in salt all winter long.
The truck has what I think should be a factory limited slip rear end, but it just sucks when it hits any mud, snow , ice anything where one wheel is losing traction. I don't really want to have to go to mud tires as we run on the highway quite a bit and don't want the noise, i've run mud tires before on other trucks and don't want to here.
Is this a situation that maybe adding a Detroit Locker might help ? Next year for winter we are going to add snow tires or maybe even studded snows ...
I am not real concerned if it chirps a tire of makes a bit of noise from time to time as long as we are not breaking things.
Can anyone from lands of snow , Ice, Mud, Wet Grass and fields give me some insight ?
The truck has what I think should be a factory limited slip rear end, but it just sucks when it hits any mud, snow , ice anything where one wheel is losing traction. I don't really want to have to go to mud tires as we run on the highway quite a bit and don't want the noise, i've run mud tires before on other trucks and don't want to here.
Is this a situation that maybe adding a Detroit Locker might help ? Next year for winter we are going to add snow tires or maybe even studded snows ...
I am not real concerned if it chirps a tire of makes a bit of noise from time to time as long as we are not breaking things.
Can anyone from lands of snow , Ice, Mud, Wet Grass and fields give me some insight ?
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 26,966
Likes: 50
From: Texas
Not from the lands of snow and ice, but I've been stuck in wet grass on dry fields before. A little mud and I'm going nowhere. I can rock back and forth, throw stuff under the tire, all the tricks and won't go anywhere. The wife can pull me out with her 4wd without even so much as spinning a tire.
Yes I think a locker would help. Just keep in mind that if you're on iffy traction and then suddenly you gain a bunch of traction, it can make the back end squirrelly and loose.
Yes I think a locker would help. Just keep in mind that if you're on iffy traction and then suddenly you gain a bunch of traction, it can make the back end squirrelly and loose.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,671
Likes: 367
From: Fallon,NV & Bainbridge OH
I live in the land of ice and snow (Donner Summit is my front yard) plus I got my license in MN. I also vote for the Tru-Trac over the locker for the reasons mentioned.
Unless things changed there in the 40 years since I bought my first car, studded tires were illegal when I worked at a service station there so that may not be an option for you.
Unless things changed there in the 40 years since I bought my first car, studded tires were illegal when I worked at a service station there so that may not be an option for you.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 26,966
Likes: 50
From: Texas
I do this for snow and ice when we have it, but I'll say it's definitely a no go for wet and muddy (off pavement). 1,000 lbs in the back just makes the right rear tire dig a hole faster in muddy conditions. Been there, done that.
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 222
Likes: 0
From: Carnation
I recently moved from the desert southwest to Minnesota, we went from dry dusty ranch to wet, muddy, grassy farm. We have a 2wd 99 F350 long bed dually as a ranch truck and were going to use it more in the winter here as to not let the newer nicer trucks be drenched in salt all winter long.
The truck has what I think should be a factory limited slip rear end, but it just sucks when it hits any mud, snow , ice anything where one wheel is losing traction. I don't really want to have to go to mud tires as we run on the highway quite a bit and don't want the noise, i've run mud tires before on other trucks and don't want to here.
Is this a situation that maybe adding a Detroit Locker might help ? Next year for winter we are going to add snow tires or maybe even studded snows ...
I am not real concerned if it chirps a tire of makes a bit of noise from time to time as long as we are not breaking things.
Can anyone from lands of snow , Ice, Mud, Wet Grass and fields give me some insight ?
The truck has what I think should be a factory limited slip rear end, but it just sucks when it hits any mud, snow , ice anything where one wheel is losing traction. I don't really want to have to go to mud tires as we run on the highway quite a bit and don't want the noise, i've run mud tires before on other trucks and don't want to here.
Is this a situation that maybe adding a Detroit Locker might help ? Next year for winter we are going to add snow tires or maybe even studded snows ...
I am not real concerned if it chirps a tire of makes a bit of noise from time to time as long as we are not breaking things.
Can anyone from lands of snow , Ice, Mud, Wet Grass and fields give me some insight ?
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 179
Likes: 0
From: Metro/Brainerd, MN
I've been driving a Detroit locker in my Tahoe for the past 80K on mostly highway and have never ended up in the ditch - but I also don't let the Mrs. drive that truck in bad weather because she'd flip it on ice. Lots of white knuckle miles in sleety storms, and it'll slide the rear in the rain without trying too hard. I've thought about pulling it out if we keep the truck for a back-up, and I've thought about leaving it in if I keep it for a farm truck (which I'm leaning towards, but the Mrs. seems to think we should keep it at the house as a spare).
Truetrac gets my vote whole heartedly. If you don't want that, then go for an ARB air locker.
Truetrac gets my vote whole heartedly. If you don't want that, then go for an ARB air locker.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 256
Likes: 1
From: OKC
I'm in SLC and the eaton tru trac does a pretty dang good job. I run 80w90 in it out here and when I go to OKC in the summer I put 85w140 in it. I can tell a big difference in the mud and snow bit when it's icy it'll damn near make the truck go side ways.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 224
Likes: 1
From: Taylorsville, KY
can the factory limited slip be rebuilt? if so, what is the parts cost vs. tru trac purchase cost? would the labor be about equal? I have the factory limited slip an it does nothing for me.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 256
Likes: 1
From: OKC
Funny story, when I was 16, I rolled my dads 2002 blue 7.3 on its side driving on some slush being a knuckle head with a bunch of my buddies. Will never forget my pops look of disappointment when he came and pulled it back up right. Truck still ran stronger than hell after that too, testament to how strong these trucks are.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 179
Likes: 0
From: Metro/Brainerd, MN
Funny story, when I was 16, I rolled my dads 2002 blue 7.3 on its side driving on some slush being a knuckle head with a bunch of my buddies. Will never forget my pops look of disappointment when he came and pulled it back up right. Truck still ran stronger than hell after that too, testament to how strong these trucks are.
I'm also curious about the factory LSD's. Seems like if you could stuff another clutch in them and tighten them up, it could be a cheap way to get closer to an ideal rear bias. I've never done it, or even known of anyone who did, but that was mentioned in years past as a way to improve the performance of the 9" fords IIRC (it might have been the pre-gov-exploder GM's).
Butt-Head
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 9,432
Likes: 2,919
From: Reed Point, MT
I redo my factory limited slip differentials. The 10.25 and 10.5 Sterling axles are a piece of cake....and setting them up tight is REALLY easy and effective.......until the spider and side gears eat themselves up. I don't recommend doing that with a daily driven vehicle that may tow. The growl during turns is mind numbing. Yes, the parts to rebuild the factory limited slip are available through Ford.