<TABLE><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width="100%">I have a 93 F150 that I've been doing some recent diff(8.8") work on. Instead of replacing with OEM parts. I was thinking about an electronic locker, because I want to be able to take the diff in and out of the lock mode. Any suggestions of what kind, type, or brand to buy and how much to expect to pay?
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GM is offering the Elocker as an option on some of their new trucks.

http://www.eatonperformance.com/diff...s/Elocker.html

You can get one for your Ford truck for around $900.

Motor Week did a test on a 2x4 truck equipped with the ELocker and the other truck was a 4x4 with limited slip rear.

The 2x4 out performed the four wheel drive in a pull test and also on an incline with rollers.

 

Are there any other electric type lockers out there besides the eaton one?

 

Have you thought about an air locker? They are tried and true tested and verified I would be hesitant to put a newer type locker in my truck until they are tested a little more. I would really be hesitant to put something GM tested in my Ford.

 

DO not put an electronic, air, or lunchbox locker into your truck. I have seen everything in action with all of the off roading I've done. Nothing can compete with the ease and relaibility of a Detriot. No cables, no seloniods, no air lines or compressors, just worry free performance. Do your research on the off road forums, you will shortly find that nothing can compete with a Detriot.

 

Detroit's are for Hard Core off roading, not everyone has a need for something that all-out. I have seen many Air lockers that can keep up with Detroit's out in the field. If it's only a part time setup then Airlocker's are the way to go.

 

Thas absoutly foolish. Detriots are more dependable and cheaper. Air lockers are a complete PITA. You have to worry about bending your airlines and trying not to break your seal when installing it. After you get everything looking right, when you go to put the cover on, hope to god nothing rubs, otherwise it will fail. Their warrantys have too many weasel words in them, seems like they dont stand behind their products. After you get the damn thing installed, you have to run air lines and a compressor, waste of time and money. Your looking at over 1200 just for the locker and compressor. Whoever is going to install it for you, if you dont want to do it yourself, is going to bend you over for a price. A detriot is used everywhere, not just "hardcore" offroading. You wont find any electronic or air lockers in drag or street cars, you will find Detriots. I have driven 4x4's and cars aronud with new Detriots in them and had no clue on the street that they were installed. They are very quiet and extremly reliable. No grinding noises, no tire chirping, nothing; the only way you knew you had a Detriot in an axle was to either lay down some rubber or go off the road.

 

Well you know what they say about opinions don't ya?

And in my experience they vary widely.

 

Yeah, there are opionions, and then there is expirences. I tend to like first hand expirences rathen then opionions myself. Selectable lockers look fine and dandy, installing them is a chore, and running air lines, cables, or wiring isn't much fun either. I'd say selectable lockers are for the more hardcore users anywase. Most of the time selectables are limited slip disengauged and full lock when engaged. You would never want to run full lock on pavement if you want your truck to last. All of the stress of winding up your axles while turning really fatigues the steel and leads to premature failure.

 

Well since I don't know you personally and you are a newer user who hasn't necessarily posted your credentials that I've seen anywhere in this post other than to say Off-road forums told you so IT IS an opinion. I've got 20+ years of building trucks. >shrug<

 

Yeah, thats a wonderful response. Just because I joined this forum and dont have much to say doesn't mean I dont know what I'm talking about. Most of the stuff I see posted here is crap; I see it on every forum, but it's thick here. If people could search the internet, or even use the search feature on the boards, if would be a better place to post. Your one to talk youself, I've been on this board longer then you. I've gotten some info on here, and I'm returning to the community but posting some information regarding lockers. I've done countless weeks of reseach and testing of lockers, this is a subject that I know very well. You can go ahead and tell someone to get an air locker, it may sound cool, be in reality it's not worth the time and money when you can have a comperable or better product for less money. I dont understand why someone can suggest that you go any buy the most expensive product where it is not needed. I could understand if it had awesome features, or an exelent warranty, but that isn't the case here. It does the same exact thing as a Detriot with way to many places for failure.

Lets talk money

Detriot 31 Spline Locker
$610 @ Summitracing

ARB Air Locker
$698 @ Rocky-Road
Oh wait! you want to actually use your air locker? You have to buy these other parts to make it work
Air Compressor $150-220 (low end) + $40 pump kit
Upgraded steel vs plastic air lines Add another $70 for 7 feet...
So at the minimal cost an Air locker is going to cost $850-1000 just for the kits. If you are going to have them installed, feel free to another $100-200 depending on shop.

 

i have a detroit locker in my bronco and it is for all out off roading on tight pavement corners it does a lot of chirping.

i also have a f250 as a daily driver and minor off roading and am planning to purchase an arb air locker for it

arb has been proved to last just as long as the detroit im not against the detroit i like them both but for a daily driver i would without question go with the arb air locker with just a flip of a switch you go from open diff to a full out locking diff however it does cost more thats why if you had a strictly off roading truck you would go with the cheaper detroit but you don't.

 

What you are describing is an older Detriot. The new Detriots do not have that affect. They have been redesigned to allow different wheel speeds in different circumstances. My buddy was rock crawling with zero slippage on any of his tires (Detriots front and rear) When we got one of his rear tires off of the ground he tried to spin it, it wouldn't spin, but when he jolted the tire forward and then backwards (the same action you would get when turning) it unlocked and let the tire spin. There was a very quiet clicking noise as the tire freespun. He let the tire stop (therfor matching tire speeds (would be the same as comming out of a corner) and tried moving it again, it locked back up tight as a drum. Check out their website http://www.eatonperformance.com/diff...it-Locker.html
They redesigned it so you can corner it, I've seen it myself and it's truly amazing. With Eaton's new designed locker, there is no more need for a selectable locker.

 

the detroit locker that i have is an older one like from the early 80s so im not sure what im going to do now..

 

Yeah, I wheeled with him last weekend and I couldn't figure out how his tires never slipped and how easily he could drive on the street. Over lunch he told me he was running the new version of the Detriots. It drove like a LS or open diff, but on the trail, it was perfect. My next locker will definatly be a Detriot, the new design is awesome.