I was in a buddy of mines chevy the other day; it is an 04' 1/2 ton model, and when i was pulling my boat up the boat ramp when the rear right tire started to spin. Then there was a ping sound from the rear and both wheels locked up automatically. He said it was a factory style locker that chevy offers as an option and it stays open during normal driving, but when it feels slippage it automatically locks up. Does ford offer anything like this? Or does any other aftermarket company offer this type of locker?

Any info would be appreciated.

Brett

 

That would almost certainly be the Eaton "Gov-Lock" which is the factory offered "traction-aiding device" on most GM light trucks. To the best of my knowledge, it actually does lock up, as compared to most manufacturers limited slips, which limit tire slippage somewhat, but not always completely.

I don't know the intimate details of how the Gov-Lock works, but it uses some kind of centrifugal weight in the differential which activates the lock-up function when a certain speed difference is reached between the two rear wheels.

To answer your other questions, Ford's optional factory offering is called "Traction-Loc" which is a fairly conventional clutch-based limited slip.

There are a variety of after-market "traction-aiding devices" out there, including auto-lockers like Detroit Locker and Powertrax, and selectable lockers like ARB and Eaton E-Locker, as well as after-market limited slips.

 

hey thanks for the reply

 

Started researching this for myself after seeing it demoed on TV. They setup a wet ramp on a 20 degree incline and 3 trucks pulling a 7000lb boat. Open diff 2WD, LSD 4x4, Eaton G80 2WD 'locker'. Only thing that made it was the locker. I can't even get a jet ski trailer up the ramp on the bad days with my open diff. More info here at Eaton's website http://www.traction.eaton.com/prod2.htm

 

Most GM people call them a grenade locker because they look like they blow up, usually takes out the spiders and some times the ring and pinion.