How does an air locker install on third member differentials and coverless 44's (the TTB)? Do you have to cut a hole in the axle housing or what? Just trying to figure everything out before i decide how I'm going locker wise.

Justin

 

Well... I would call ARB, or the Company you are buying it from... They should know

ARB's are a nice way to go... You might even consider a spool in the rear since it is a longbed...

 

I have an ARB air locker in the front axle (TTB D44) of my F-150. Its not too hard to install, but basically you drill a hole in the top of the differential housing and the airline has some fittings that go through.

 

Just wondering, but how would the truck being a longbed make me want to consider a spool?

Justin

 

Well with the long bed you have a longer wheelbase and you could put a spool in and still drive it on the street with some chirping around corners.. It also depends if this is a daily driver or not.. I mentioned a spool because they are a cheap alternative to an ARB

 

Have a look at www.traction.eaton.com

Regards;

 

I wouldn't get a spool unless it's a dedicated off road rig or barely sees regular driving. The ARB is basically a spool when locked, but when unlocked it's an open diff. Great for the front axle, but not the best on the rear. I am going to get an LS/Locker instead of Open/locker for the rear of my truck. Open diff stinks I'd rather have limited slip (ls) in the back as a primary drive.

 

Does anyone make a LS/locker for a 9"? I know there's the electrac, but so far they're only out for diffs with covers. For the 9" my only options right now are an auto locker like the detroit or the ARB selectable. Odds are I'm gonna wind up with a detroit, but my old man told me that once I'm done wth the 4x4 conversion he'll get me one major thing for the truck. Something along the lines of a lift, locker, or winch. I think i'll take advantage of the offer and jump on the winch, but who knows, the air locker is mighty tempting. . .


Justin

 

Not the Best for the Rear? A selectable locker is the best deal going! Limited slips are unpredictable. My personal set up when I go to D-60 front / Sterling or D-60 rear will be ARB in front, and Spool the rear. If I had a daily driver/wheeler. I would go ARB front and back! I have seen some crazy things happen to rigs because the Detroit or other torque sensing locker engages when you don't want it to...

You name it and someone makes it for the 9". The 9" is probably the MOST Popular rear end ever made... Even Che#y drag cars have them....

There are plenty of LS diffs out there for the 9" Auburn, Eaton, Detriot, etc...

 

I the 9" is the most heavily supported aftermarket rear end and I know alot of people make LS's for them, but who makes a seletable locker that is LS when disengaged that will fit the 9"? The electrac is the only one out there that is like that (that I know of), but there isn't an electrac out for the 9" yet.

Justin

 

Auburn might have one. Am i right that you have an 8.8 in the truck? Keep it, there aint much of an advantage to swaping in a 9"


I said it's not the best for the rear because I was talking about the ARB which is open or locked, I wasn't talking about selectables in general, as there are two types of selectable lockers. They also make limited slip/locked selectable lockers which are better for the rear axle. I have an open diff in the back right now and it's terrible, even just street driving. Having a limited slip in the back for street driving is much better, then lock it up when you need it. How can you say LS are unpredictable? They are a smoother than an open diff which keeps shifting power to the wheel with the least traction. Come on man.

 

Unpredictable.. yup.. I will continue to say it.. They maybe smoother. but I have seen guys have problems with them... I am in the camp of Spools and selectable lockers... Spools have the distadvantage of being locked up all the time... Selectable lockers have the disadvantage of the extra cost.

I have a mini-spool in my 9" in my '86 Bronco, granted it is off-road beater.. but I LOVE it! When I finally break the 1/2 ton stock drive line, I will swap in my D60 front and either a Sterling rear or a D-60 rear (I haven't gotten it yet) and the front will have an ARB, and the rear will be a spool to start.. MAYBE an ARB later down the line...

 

Explain please, in what way is it unpredictable?...and I assume your trying to say your going by others experiences and not yours?

 

I was riding with one dude once (74 F-150)... L/S up front... and he gave it some and then stayed in the throttle to make it across a muddy section of trail and I remember both tires grabbed... then for some reason one just stopped spinning all together and the other spun like nuts.. and then the other one started to turn again and literally took the truck off the trail and partically hitting a tree...

So basically the LS was doing some funky stuff... He had the additives in the oil, it was only a year old.. etc..

I drove another truck, a Che%y 1/2t with a LS in the back and It acted funky too off road... He has recently replaced it with an ARB

I also was at the 4 Wheel Jamboree in VT this past summer.. and a dude running the tough truck course had a L/S diff in the front of his Bronco, when going around the corner he wound up rolling the damn thing because the L/S. He told me and I quote "The F$%$ing L/S diff, couldn't make up its mind! I hate that thing, I rather it be open"

So basically I have had personally experiences whether I drove or not.. which has lead me to never install a L/S in my 4x4.

Mind you this is my experience and my opinion...

 

The truck has an 8.8 but it's a 3.08 ratio. I rebuilt the 9 and am swapping it in since it has the same ratio as the front axle. it was cheaper to replace the pinion bearings in the 9 than to buy a gear set for the 8.8, so the dollar won. This truck is a daily driver so no spool. I'm probably going to wind up with a detroit out back and if funds permit, an ARB out front. I'd like twin ARB's, but that's a pretty steep price tag.

Justin