Hello, I am looking to add an e-locker to my 2000 F250 and wanted to see which options are available and what you guys recommend?

Thanks

 

I would reccomend an auto locker like a Detroit or Yukon Grizzly over a selectable for the rear. You don't get much use out of a selectable in the rear of a vehicle you drive on the street because it is either open or fully locked, neither of which is ideal. I have been running a Detroit locker in mine for 4-5 years now and it has been great, and I don't have to worry about wires, cables or air lines to make it work, it's all mechanical.

 

If you're really set on an e-locker in the rear (and it's fine if you are) I don't think I can help you. I know they're out there, but I really don't know much about any of the specifically.

If you aren't completely set on an e-locker but are just thinking that way because you heard they are "the best of both worlds," what are you hoping to gain? As 00t444e says, being either wide open or completely locked aren't always the best options. If you almost never want anything tighter than an open diff but have a steep gravel driveway or something where you need some serious help, then it might be a good choice.

Otherwise, an automatic locker like oot444e isn't necessarily a terrible option. I put it that way because some people absolutely hate them while others of us really don't mind the quirks in exchange for the high level of performance they offer. They can be hard to predict if you don't know how they work (which covers about 95% of the people that have driven them, and 4WD magazine writers aren't any better). But if you don't believe the misinformation that "they lock under power," then they are pretty easy to live with. I've had them in the rear of three vehicles and I'd do it again.

Another option might be a TrueTrac. I have one in the rear of my current pickup and like it quite a bit. It's completely invisible in most driving and helps a lot most of the time you need help. It does make it easier to spin out on snow or ice than an open diff. It's not as bad as an automatic locker or conventional limited slip (which is the worst in my opinion), but it's not as good as an open diff. And it's not very good when one back tire gets NO traction (like when it's in the air or on polished ice). A locker is the only thing that works well in those situations. But it's really good most of the time.

Personally I think an automatic locker is my favorite overall for a rear axle. But that won't be true for everyone, or in all situations. TrueTracs and selectable lockers have their places too.

 

I have a selectable ARB for the rear locker. It is true that it get used very seldom. But the upside is that when I am on icy road, my differential is open and not going to "grab". I don't know about the other locker types but I had a bad experience with the stock Ford LSD driving through a curve on a highway which must have been icy. Dif must have transferred torque from one side to other; lost tire grip and truck spun sideways into opposing lane. Somehow I saved it, but decide to go open dif for icy road conditions. Deep snow, mud, dirt; I flip the switch and it is locked.

 

i think the easiest would be to swap a stock 2011 or newer rear with E locker in if it fits.
open diff for normal driving flip a switch and the diff is locked up for sloppy driving.
my 2014 only went into 4X4 one time in 5 years. the e locker was all it really needed except for the one time the front tire dropped in a hole.

 

I did that to my 2000 and it's not as straight forward as it would seem. The ONLY thing that was a bolt-in were the leaf spring mounts. It would be easier to get the electric carrier and rebuild the original rear end while a fella is there.

The original driveshaft won't fit, the 16" wheels don't fit, the brake lines are different, and there is no provision for the VSS. Oh, and the lug studs are M14x1.5 on the newer and M14x2 on the older (swapping is $$ and time).

 

interesting. thanks for the wisdom.
i was not aware there was that much of a difference.
but then again, with my old age steadily creeping in i don't get much garage time any more since selling the body shop.

 

I won't argue against the benefits of being able to run an open diff on snow or ice. There's no doubt that it's the best choice for stability.

A locked selectable (like an ARB oran e-locker) is a spool, which is is worst for stability. But it does give the choice of locking it when you need traction and unlocking it when you don't so you can have the stability of an open diff. For some this is the best of both worlds. But it does mean you have to choose between the worst traction and the worst stability. Usually the choice works out, and a selectable is a very good choice for a truck that'll be driven on snow or ice. But a selectable isn't for everyone either.

In my opinion a stock LSD is a close second to a spool for the worst stability in snow. It tries to tie the back tires together even when you are coasting, so it will scrub tires on ice and you can spin out whether you are on the throttle or not.

Automatic lockers and TrueTracs are very different from each other, but they are alike in that neither tries to tie the tires together when you are coasting. Both give you a greater likelihood of kicking the back end out if you get on the gas too hard (compared to an open diff). But they are no more likely to spin out when coasting than an open diff. So for some of us, one of those options is the best of both worlds, traction when you need it, stability when you want it, and no need to flip a switch to choose which you want. You just have to be more careful with the throttle than you do with an open diff.