Hey guys. Ive got a 1999 f150 2wd with a 3 inch lift and 285/75/16 bfg all terrains that will be on my truck next week. I have a posi that came with my truck from the factory. I was wondering if it would be worth the money to put a locker in it too? Thanks for the help.

 

I'm actually getting new gears for my truck next month (some 4:10's). The shop who is doing the work recomended a locker kit for my truck, I can't remember what the brand was but it sounded pretty cool, it was all electronic (perhaps they all are?). I don't know much more about lockers but it sounds pretty cool to have the option if you were to need it. I got a price of $800 installed. Personally I think I may just go with my 4:10LS gears but for a couple hundred more it may be worth it if you're gonna re gear anyway.

 

Depends on how much you off-road. For most people the factory LS is plenty. They have their limits though. If too much torque is applied to a LS, the clutches will slip enough to still only let 1 wheel spin. Lockers tend to stay locked when under torque. Your truck will drive a little different with a locker. If you're going around a corner with enough throttle input it will lock and tend to try to push the truck straight. They are a noisier than a LS. You can hear it locking and un-locking.

 

I knew about how if you are going around corners that the locker may lock and want the vehicle to move straight. Wouldnt an e-locker be the best to get to avoid that problem?

 

a vaccum locker is still the best way to go eletric one have a actutor inside that that often go bad and when the do its lock or unlocked a vaccum locker has a exturnal vacum pump thats replacable every easlly and only need a vaccum when in locked postion cheaper for the most part too

 

Who the heck makes a vacuum-actuated lockere?!!? What planet is that on??

First, you don't add a locker to the limited slip, you would replace the limited slip with a locker.

Second, there's nothing wrong with using a locker on the street, so long as you select the proper type. Detroit Lockers are famous, but as mentioned, sometimes a bit clunky and harsh in their engagement. Personally, I'm a fan of the Detroit TruTrac as being a limited-slip, it retains the drivability on the street, but on the trail, it truly limits the slip of the low-traction wheel (unlike clutch-based limited slips).

-Joe

 

x2
The mechanical LSDs are much better, no clutches to wear out.
Plus they can transfer a lot more torque

 

do you think that its worth the money to put a truetrac in my truck, or just stick with the stock LS?

 

Hey, ChrisT - who's doing your gear work?

 

IMHO I'd stick with what you've got until the clutches wear out.
That would be a good time to upgrade.

 

how can you tell when the clutches wear out? My truck is a 99 so do you think they are gonna be worn out soon?

 

It's a place called Supersuspensions a.k.a Quality Automotive. They're located on Crain hwy. near the jack&jill pool hall, basically the other side of rt.3 across from crain towers. The place is basically a three person shop, they installed my lift as well.

www.supersuspensions.com

 

I've been told they have an average life expectancy of 80K miles. I was also told the mail problem is the seal going bad, then you will start to notice fluid leaking out.

 

I don't normally step in on anyones behalf, but Pneumatic lockers have been around for quite a while, one of the biggest names in Selectable lockers is ARB, look 'em up! They aren't vaccume operated, rather they are pressure operated via an air compressor or onboard tank, no need to call a guy out and make him feel stupid, correct him politely and move on!

I am not a fan of the ARB's for the simple fact that you must have on board aircompressor or keep an airtank charged for use, but they are a great product. Selectable lockers in general are the cat's meow, especially in the "up north" areas as permanent lockers can be a real pain in the snow/slush/ice, believe it or not an open diff is better than even a L/S in some conditions!

Later

Josh

 

It was a simple enough question. Who makes vacuum-actuated lockers? ARBs are not vacuum-operated, as you noted. That's why I asked the question. I didn't call him out or make him feel stupid, I didn't degrade him at all. He asked a question about a product that, to my knowledge, doesn't exist. Why is inquiring about it 'calling him out' or 'making him feel stupid?' I could learn a thing or two, and if there is such a product out there, I'd like to hear about it.

As for the replacement comment, I thought I was correcting him. You would replace a limited slip with a locking diff, no? Again, if I'm wrong, please correct me.

Also, I'm in agreement on teh ARBs. There's no questioning their quality, but I'm not a fan of relying on an independent compressed air system to actuate the lockers. That's why I prefer torque-biasing units like the TruTrac, Torsen, or Quaife LSDs.

-Joe