[QUOTE=swayse]i have the cheap generals

 

Bofer,

First off, it doesn't appear as if you know the difference between a locker and a Limited Slip, because you stated you had a "locker" in your initial post. Maybe you do, but don't get upset by us thinking you don't know because all we can go off of is what you tell us.

Now, onto the stuff with substance. I have a '04 Screw 4X4 with LS and both my rear tires spin when i'm in mud, sand, grass, pavement, etc... My LS seems to work fine. With the situation you described, yours should have worked as well. I would venture that the LS must be malfuntioned or non-existant. Take it to the dealer and have them check it.

As for Chevy being the end all beat all....as low as their 4wd sit, I'd be lucky to not get high-centered on a fire-ant mound here by driving one

This F-150 is as solid, well built a 1/2 truck as there's ever been made.

 

My FX4 drags it's belly as much as my Chevy did, and my Z71 was lowered, 1/2" in the front and 2" in the back. Just because we sit tall and cool in our Fords, don't mean they are high off the ground. Take a look under our trucks, that cross member thing hangs pretty low.

I liked my 04 Chevy, but it over heated on 100 degree heat running around the farm, creaked and moaned when when going through ditches (truck was very flexy), and pretty much felt wore out at 31,000 miles. Brakes on the Chevy were just bad, no brake feel and peddle was very soft. And the steering clunk was getting real bad. But I really liked how low it sat and still didn't drag my planting beds down that much.

 

One way to get a LS to get better traction is to apply the e-brake. The e-brake can put enough friction on the spinning wheel to allow the LS to work more like a locker, or at least a very firm LS. Just remember to take your e-brake off when out of the obsticle. I thing the LS in the Ford is also very weak, mine has also had factory work on the clutch packs.

As far as which locker to get, I have hear bad info on the Auburn e-locker. ARB's are tough and reliable, as long as the air line are routed out of harms way. Either way this is not cheap uless you can do it yourself. Don't be surprised if some charges you $300-600 for labor. Another option is a luchbox locker for the front. Only works when in 4x4 but is transparent when in 2wd.

The F150 sucks for ground clearance so mine does not see much offroad use. I own 2 jeeps for offroading, I use the F150 to get one of them to the trail.



Good Luck with what ever option you chose,

zman

 

Hot Dang, a useful post in this thread. Nice info.

If someone cares about ground clearance, putting on taller tires remains the only way to increase it, because the lowest thing is always the pumpkins. So a great excuse to put taller tires on, put a low geared locker in and get the best of both worlds.

Except for the loss in handling, but you pays the bills, you makes the choices.
Chris

 

Now if only I could get my spelling/grammer correct.

zman

 

For limited slips, we have the Ford LS, which, IMO, isn't very agressive; the Auburn, a cone-style clutch LS that's more agressive, but, once it releases, doesn't reengage well; the Eaton Posi, a clutch-style limited slip that can be built to be quite positive; and the Truetrac, a gear-driven LS that works very well.

Full lockers such as the Detroit Locker and the ARB Air Locker are available for our F150's and are the best choice if doing hard-core off-roading with your truck. Detroits are available for the 8.8 and, just announced, the 9.75. ARB's are available for our 8.8 frontends. They're working on the 9.75 application and will be coming out with it sometime in 2006.

I'm going with an ARB up front and a Truetrac in back for my '05 F150. I'm driving it a lot on the street (with some light off-roading) and, just like ZMANF150, towing one of my two Jeeps to the trail. I've always run Detroit Lockers in my Jeeps, front and rear, and love them.

I'm also headed for Off-Road Expo right now. When I return I'll report if I saw anything else for our trucks . . .

Phil

 

thanks for the info guys, yea, im deff going to have to take it to the shop and get them to look at it. both wheels spin when i in sand etc.. but if i go on an inclise and flex the suspension, i get nothing, just that one wheel crap...