I drive an older F150 4x4 with a limited slip differential and I don't know if the new E locker option is right for my driving requirements.

My main requirement for the E locker option is winter driving around town. Typically side streets are snow covered and main roads vary from having some snow covering to wet.

On a 4x4 truck can I use the E locker in 2 wheel drive?

Winter driving in town on snow covered/ wet roads can I turn it on and leave it on (I read it kicks out above 20 mph) and when I slow back down under 20 mph will it automatically turn back on?

Can you make turns (snow covered/ wet roads) with the E locker on?

Is the E locker option right for my driving requirements?

 

I wouldn't want it locked on a slippery surface when turning because it would fishtail.

 

Limited slip sounds like it would suit your needs better. They still offer that.

 

Just use the E-locker when you need it, which won't be on roads with a thin snow cover. For example, last year I got stuck in a roughly 30-inch drift. I engaged the E-locker, and walked right out of it.

 

E-locker makes thing worse in 2wd in snow. Works great on gravel though in 2wd. You really need 4wd turned on 1st to get the most out of it. Like if you parked on a snow drift, slid off the road into a ditch, or something. Not so much for street use once you're moving.

Steering is pretty bad with it turned on. Heavy understeer that eventually turns into snap oversteer.

 

The traction control works really well in my opinion, but the 4A option on Lariat-KR-Platinum is really where it's at.

Josh

 

I wouldn't say having the rear locked is worse in the snow. You have both wheels spinning at the same speed so if one side is on a patch of ice/snow you can still moves whereas you would be spinning one wheel with an open differential. The rear end can slide out easier but be easy on the throttle and that isn't an issue.

 

Locker is good for not getting stuck but worse for around town stability. Very easy to slide down the crown of the street into the curb, parked car etc.

 

^^^ Just should get the limited slip. Sounds like its suited better for your needs.

 

Thank you for all the replys. Yes, I agree that a limited slip differential would work best for me, but I didn't know it was still offered as all the trucks at several dealerships either had an open or E locker differentials.

I may have to look into special ordering the truck with limited slip.

 

I would still get the e-locker. On snow covered roads you can just run in 4x4 with the rear unlocked. The factory limited slip isn't very good. In the snow a locked rear and a limited slip rear behave about the same way because they are both trying to spin both wheels, but if you get in a situation where one tire has very little traction then the limited slip will still spin one wheel like an open differential whereas a locker will keep them both spinning.

 

Really? That hasn't been my experience with other manufacturers' limited slips (like GM's Positraction). Ford's may be different, but I doubt it because Ford's high performance vehicles leave two burnout tracks and their limited slip is most likely similar to the F150's.

Where is my thinking going wrong?

 

The factory limited slip is a clutch type limited slip just like the GM Posi or the Chrysler Sure grip. The way a clutch limited slip works is there are clutch packs on each side of the spider gears that have a preload on them that are constantly trying to keep both wheels spinning at the same speed. However that preload can't be very high or else you would be chirping the tires every time you go around a corner because there would be no differentiation between the wheels. If you get into a situation where one tire has very little traction like on ice and the other tire still has good traction there can be enough difference to overcome the clutch packs and only one wheel would spin. The factory Ford limited slip isn't set up very tight so it is easy to overcome the friction of the clutches.

 

I'm with pmille, I've been pleased with the performance of my trucks limited slip differential.

 

NO!

The locker in off/open, works better than any OEM limited slip ever did, thanks to the electric one wheel TCS. And if you fix the LSD with tighter shims and fresh oil with no friction modifier, it'll be a fishtail monster just like the locker (turned on), when it gets slick enough.