Hey Everyone, I know there will probably be a few dirtly looks for this question but I gotta ask it. See...I'd really like to get like Posi-Traction or Detroit Lockers or something for my 2wd '96 Ranger but after talking with a few people they all seem to agree that lockers would only be good if I was primarily off-roading and not driving the highway. Well...me...I'd like to have them for when I do go off-roading but don't wanna destroy a pricy item on the highway. So what I was wondering is if anyone knows of a setup like what is on the Toyota Tacoma's now with the push botton locking rear differential. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks again.

James

 

Well Eaton is releasing their new E-Locker, Baisicly the same thing in the toyota, Cheers to toyota for finaly getting one thing right. But the bad news for us is that they plan on releasing the chevy versions first. But i guess, help those first who need the help the most. If enough of us email Eaton, just maybe we can get them to release the ford ones sooner. I did already.


Ryan

 

you won't destroy the locker driving on the highway most of the time
the locker is designed for whren you are driving down the street and turning it will in theory unlock but will stay engaged if you are off-road and one tire starts to slip. The push button locker would be great. but it boils down to electronics to operate it and we all know electronics are known to not work when needed. I will stick to my spool.

 

ARB makes air lockers, but they are very expensive. Im not sure if they have your application though. Look for a limited slip type.
Hope this helps
Chase

1979 F-250 4x4
71 460 Holley650, MSD OFFROAD, L&L Headers
C6-B&M Transpack
Dana HD44Front/60Rear
35 inch Goodyear Implement Tires
4 inch Skyjacker System
Much more to come

 

The new E-locker looks to be really reliable. The design doesn't have many moving parts at all, therefor much less not to work than others. You also don't have air seals that can leak or go out as in a ARB. Petersons 4 wheel drive mag has a great review on them this month.

Ryan

 

Yeah, the guy I talked to at Ford today said that he really doubts there will be much of a push botton one for the Fords. He was saying that with Toyota its easy just cause Toyota is most peoples choice for off-road vehicle. And in all honesty, probably mine too but I love my Ford Ranger too and would love to show the world that its just as much capable as the Toyotas. So hopefully with a little more research I'll find something to work out. Thanks for all the help and info guys. Have a great day.

James

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 24-Mar-02 AT 03:06 PM (EST)]I bet you have an 8.8" axle and ARB does make one for that unit. You'll spend upwards of a grand after installation. But you'll get the best of both worlds. Complete lock up when you're off-road and an open diff when you're on the road. And you'll get an air-compressor to blow up that 6ft floating alligator at the lake :-)

 

AFAIK, aksniper you have a Ford 7.5. The only rangers with the 8.8 rear axles where 4x4s with the 4.0 engine. If you have the 4.0 engine there is a chance that you have an 8.8, but i dont know for sure.
Hope this helps
Chase

1979 F-250 4x4
71 460 Holley650, MSD OFFROAD, L&L Headers
C6-B&M Transpack
Dana HD44Front/60Rear
35 inch Goodyear Implement Tires
4 inch Skyjacker System
Much more to come

 

HELLO THERE. ALONG WITH HAVING OWNED A FORD, I ALSO KNOW ABOUT THE TOY TACOMA 4X4'S. FOR REAL RELIABILITY YOU WANT TO HAVE A MANUAL LOCKER. EATON HAS ONE FOR THE TACOMA'S. IN THE RANGER THE BENIFIT OF THE MANUAL LOCKER IS NOT HAVING TO RUN AIR OR ELECTRIC TO YOUR DIFFERENTIAL. IT IS ALSO JUST FINE FOR DAILY DRIVING. ON THE STREET YOU MAY GET TIRE "SQUEAK" IN SHARP TURNS, BUT OVERALL YOU WILL HAVE THE RELAIBILITY OFF ROAD AND PIECE OF MIND. THE TACOMA HAS THE ELECTRIC LOCKER IN THE REAR FROM 1999 - CURRENT. GOOD LUCK FINDING ONE. THERE ARE NOT MANY OF THEM OUT THERE. AND WTH TOYOTA, WHEN IT BREAKS IT IS EXPENSIVE.

GOOD LUCK !
DANA

 

Whats better about a locker then a limited slip, they basically do the same thing but the limited slip does alittle better on the road.....


Primary rig is:
95' F-150 EB 300/6 5 spd with 4" Superlift, MSD, Ram Air, Gibson Exhaust, 32" BFG Muds

Then theres:
88' F-250 Superduty 351 + c6
92' Thunderbird 3.8L V-6 FOR SALE!
95' Mercury Cougar 4.6L V-8
80' E-350 300/6 and a
3 spd column shifter baby.

The newest addition to the Ford family is a 99' Mustang GT 4.6L

 

Well I talked to a couple buddies that already have tried a couple different rear lockers and mini spools and what have you and so far I forget which one it was but it sounded like a good setup. I guess it would be a limited slip type setup. It allows the tires to spin seperately and after about 3-5 (their guesses, who knows actual) spins of one of the tires then it locks them in for the simultanious spinning of the tires for the better traction and then it disengages too. No buttons to push or anything. They said it was about the best setup they exerpience on and off road cause you wouldn't bounce through a corner (even tight ones) cause by both tires spinning the same, unless you floored it just trying to fling your back end around like you see in movies and crap. They said that if you do something like that the locker will engage about half way through, hop the rest of way through the turn, and boom, you're off to the races better than if ya didn't have it. But still gotta figure out how the darn thing knows to engage...maybe some kind of sensor letting it know that neither of the tires are slipping? Funny, just found out about it this weekend and already forgot what it was called, who made it, or anything. So will have to find out again what it was and let ya know what I found out and get some opinions on it. Thanks again for the information. Have a great day.

James

 

have any of ya'll ever heard of the OX lock? or know someone who has it? its a locker engaged by a lever, and cable going into the axle. just wondering what ya'lls opinion is!
gabriel

 

hey bud ox locker offers a selectable locker which is cable driven.
(www.drivetraindirect.com)check it out.
Also, if you have a 8.8 and would like a full spool for it I have one ill sell you.Its still in the box and has c clip eliminater kit with it.
hope i helped . hammerdown!!!

 

Hey there is a new patented half breed out called from powertrax, It woks similar to a posi track but locks down like a locker. Operated auotmaticly by centrifugal wheel speed differentials.

I have not used it but the parts blowout looks like a real good solution to combo terain. They are a little pricey but not bad they run around $480.00 to $540.00 depending on were you buy them and what reaend you need

Hope it helps!

 

What about something like the Detroit TrueTrac Lockers? Has anyone tried those yet? Wouldn't mind having more information on those. So far I don't know much on them cause haven't found much information on them yet. But from what I've been reading on the limited slip stuff it looks like for cornering it allows the wheels to spin at different speeds and then locks back up for normal driving. Is having it locked like that most of the time okay for on and off road driving with both wheels spinning the same? A few sites I've seen have tried explaining it but haven't really fully understood it yet. The Powertrax I've found for about $400 but guess I still don't really understand enough about the lockers and limited slips yet to really know which one is going to work good for me with on and off road driving. I mean some I've talked to and they've said that if you do most off roading, its great, but they aren't good on the road, so trying not to get into an expensive thing that won't work best of both worlds. If anyone has any addition information and stuff that would be great. Thanks again everyone.

James