Locking front differential

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Feb 21, 2004 | 12:00 AM

74hiboyboy

Thread Starter

Freshman User

Joined: Feb 2004

Posts: 49

Likes: 0

From: Rocky Mountains, MT

Locking front differential

I have a 1974 F250 highboy with a Dana 60 rear/Dana 44 front
I am putting a Detroit locker in the rear diff, but I am also interested in putting a locker or limited slip in the front. Does anyone have any experience with this, i.e. does it make it hard to steer?

It is a full-time 4x4

Feb 21, 2004 | 02:20 AM

red_rocket

Senior User

Joined: Jul 2001

Posts: 465

Likes: 1

From: Tower MN, Houghton MI

if it's full time, it a locker might make some heavy steering, but tossing in a set of hubs up front to convert it to 2wd would cure that. A LS unit would work fine for on pavement, but thats about it.

Your best bet is to convert it to part time, and toss in a EZ locker, this would be cheaper, and better than any aftermarket LS unit.

Feb 21, 2004 | 09:07 AM

74hiboyboy

Thread Starter

Freshman User

Joined: Feb 2004

Posts: 49

Likes: 0

From: Rocky Mountains, MT

that's kinda what I figured, thanks for the input, I appreciate it, who makes the EZ locker, and where can I find one?

Feb 21, 2004 | 09:19 AM

79 Trailer Special

Elder User

Joined: Nov 2003

Posts: 630

Likes: 0

From: Stanly County N.C.

There is no argument about lockers getting you out of just about anything but if you live in an area with alot of snow or ice I feel they are just plain dangerous on the street if used in the front. With all 4 wheels spinning there is nothing to help the truck track straight, it will want to slide sideways and if there is a lean to the road it gets worse.
If you want a locker in the front try to drive one first in bad weather and you will see what I mean. I would look into a selectable locker for the front like the cable operated ox locker or Detroits new electronic one I think its called electrac. It acts like a limited slip in normal mode but when you hit a switch it turns into a full locker so you get the best of both worlds.

Feb 21, 2004 | 10:31 AM

StrangeRanger

Posting Guru

Joined: Dec 1999

Posts: 1,903

Likes: 2

From: Copley, OH

Better yet is the Detroit True-Trac. It has none of the bad manners normally associated with lockers or limited slips when driven on snow or ice.

Feb 21, 2004 | 12:51 PM

peppy

Postmaster

Joined: Dec 2003

Posts: 2,659

Likes: 2

From: S/C Texas

Red, why would you say an LS is good for pavement, but thats about it?

ARB Air Locker. When I win the lottery, I'm gonna get a a handful of em.

Last edited by peppy; Feb 21, 2004 at 12:54 PM.

Feb 22, 2004 | 11:04 PM

74hiboyboy

Thread Starter

Freshman User

Joined: Feb 2004

Posts: 49

Likes: 0

From: Rocky Mountains, MT

Thanks, guys, appreciate the input. I never thought about the behavior on snow and ice.

>79 Trailer Special, where can I find a Dtroit electric or an ox locker, and about how many $$$s?

Thanks,
Jason