I have an 89 f150 2wd with a 3.55 open diff. I use it on the farm on the weekends, but the rest of the week is spent in the city or on the highways. I am getting sick of the one wheel spinning in the wet grass and mud when I am working on the farm. Any recomendations on what would work better for me? What is a good brand to go with?

 

In the Bronco I have the factory limited slip/posi's in both axles and they work very well under most circumstances (snow, mud, sand, gravel, etc) and are well behaved on the street also. They have served me well for years. I only wish for a more positive locking diff when I am rock crawling, something that I doubt you will be doing in a 2wd F150, so I would say go with a good posi/limited slip.

 

You could go with a limited slip, I'd get a Detroit Truetrac or an Auburn Gear.
Or, if you've got the cash and would like a selectable locker you could get the ARB Air Locker. A little pricey but it functions as an open diff when disengaged and a locker when activated.
But, I'd say the limited slip is probably good enough for your use.
Hope this helps.

 

You can buy a factory Limited slip carrier from ebay (i got mine for $50) put a rebuild kit in it for $75 from a dealership and you're ready to install an almost brand new unit for around 125 bucks. Beats the 700ish for an air locker. They to fine until you get into a situation where 1 tire is completely off the ground, thats when the LS has a little trouble but if you can drive you're good. Limited slips are smooth on the street and a locker is a little uncomfortable and will wear your rear tires faster.

Primary rig is Green Thunder:
95' F-150 XLT 4x4, 302, 5 spd, MSD 6A, Flowmaster Exhaust, Sunroof, Clear corners w/ Diamond headlights, CD player with 2 10" subs and some 32" BFG Muds .

Check out my Gallery for a look-see.


Justin - One Happy FTE Member

 

Is a quik lock a selectable locker?
-Lars-

 

>Is a quik lock a selectable locker?
>-Lars-


No, the Quick Lok is not a selectable locker.
The selectable lockers I know of are:
ARB air locker
Detroit Electrac
Ox locker
Eaton makes an electic one
And there is one like the ox but uses a vacuum instead of a cable their site is www.killeraxles.com I think.
There could be more, not sure.

 

Since i doubt you will be off roading whith 2wd i would go whith a limited slip set up.

 

Ford Fans-
Selectable lockers are for people that can afford Swamper Boggers(the rich) and that have to drive in snow(the Yankees)

 

Maybe you all could help me... it seems to me that you're all saying that if I plan to be doing some off-roading that a locking diff is better than a limited slip?

Obviously, I'm new... and this site is great for the research!

Thanks for your help!
Jeanne
...on the road again... soon!
...now if I could only find that truck I need.

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 01-Jan-03 AT 08:51 PM (EST)]Yes, a locker is better than a limited slip for off roading but many poeple don't like to run lockers if they mainly do street driving, you chirp the tires accelerating through a turn, they make noise as they lock and unlock, and not the best for towing.
If you don't do serious off roading a good limited slip like the Detroit Truetrac or Aubern Gear is good enough.

Or if you're a rich yankee as stated above by pbrstreetg and want the traction offered by a locker but seemless driveability of an open diff, a selectable locker is the way to go.

Hope this helps.

 

Thanks, DCSpecial. Sounds like I'll want the limited slip. Are there any that I should watch out for... not want to have? I'm still looking for my truck (an older one fits in my budget much better... so that means I'm not one of them rich ones).

Jeanne
...on the road again... soon!
...now if I could only find that truck I need.

 

I've only had experience with the OEM, Detroit, and Auburn units. I think the detroit and auburn offer better traction than oem units, but the oem units work good too. As, for other aftermarket units haven't seen them in use, so I wouldn't know what to say. All I know is haven't heard many complaints about the detroit and auburn.

 

Great... thanks for the info!

Jeanne
...on the road again... soon!
...now if I could only find that truck I need.

 

Just remember, the factory unit is a good unit. Can be had for cheap and have good performance.

Primary rig is Green Thunder:
95' F-150 XLT 4x4, 302, 5 spd, MSD 6A, Flowmaster Exhaust, Sunroof, Clear corners w/ Diamond headlights, CD player with 2 10" subs and some 32" BFG Muds .

Check out my Gallery for a look-see.


Justin - One Happy FTE Member

 

Thanks for the info. It looks like I will go with the limited slip. I might try what MustangGT221 said to do for only $125.

Thanks,
Buck