hey there guys im new here my name is jesse. im looking to buy a 2007 fx4. wondering if anyone has any info on lockers? should i go air or electric? and whats the cheapest around? thanks.

 

Air lockers and cheap don't usually go together in a sentence. But, if you've got the cash....I love my ARB! Same goes for electric or any other selectable locker, they aren't cheap.

 

R U off roading ?
If so then a good locker in the rear is a valuable tool.
If for street mostly then a good Torsen Posi or a Detroit Gear Driven Posi (Limited Slip) is all that is needed.

Problem with a locker on the street is that the back end is so lite, with both wheel locked there is little to no differentiation and the back end may slide more tan it would with a posi.

 

ya well its my everyday truck to go to work and back also to go biking or sledding. but i do like to off road and i love to crawl im not into mud that much. i thought that if i had a air locker that the rear end would be normal on the street and when im crawling and i need it. it would just be a flick of the button and then i would have a locked rear end(maybe front too) but i was thinking of on-bord air. so i can deflait my tires at the start of the trail and when im done i can fill em back up so i could just tap into that for a air locker.

 

If you got something like a Detroit you would have a regular rear end and when you really get on it it'll lock up. Thehy're torque driven. I think that's the right term atleast.

 

Air lockers are awesome without a doubt. The only downfall is the price, but they are totally worth it. And yes they are completely open when unlocked.

 

alright well like i said i want the on bord. so im going to look at some air lockers first. does anyon no if u can buy some used?

 

isnt there an electric locker that is a l.s and a locker together?

 

ARB use to produce a locker for the 28 spline 8.8 rear axle but it has been discontinued for some time.
If you switch to an open carrier, you can install an automatic lunchbox locker like a lock right.

Lock Right - Again this will require switching to an open carrier if you currently have a limited slip.
PT 1820 - LOCK RIGHT,LOCKRIGHT,POWERTRAX,LOCKER,DIFFERENTIAL,FORD 8.8 - Lock-Right locker for Ford 8.8 with 28 spline axles. This is a mechanically-operated unit which locks when power is applied, giving full power to both tires, and unlocks when you

Detroit Locker - This is an automatic locker that is a full carrier replacement. It is stronger than an open carrier and lock right.
DET187C-147A - DETROIT,DETROIT LOCKER,LOCKER,DIFFERENTIAL,FORD 8.8 - Detroit Locker for 87 and newer Ford 8.8 differential with 28 spline axles. For 4.88 and down with grind. The Detroit Locker provides maximum traction for off-road or racing use. Th

Eaton E-locker - Electronic locker that is open when turned off.
EAT19685 - EATON,LIMITED SLIP,POSI,POSITRACTION,DIFFERENTIAL,FORD 8.8 - Eaton E-Locker for Ford 8.8 with 28 spline axles. The Eaton E-Locker uses Electro-Magnets to provide full lock-up at the push of a button. When the unit is disengaged it is a sta

Auburn Ected - (I don't recommend this one) It is a clutch based limited slip, that uses an electromagnet to "tighten" up the limited slip. It is NOT a full lock up. It will wear out like any clutch based limited slip an need to be rebuilt.
AG 545001 - AUBURN,AUBURN GEAR,LIMITED SLIP,POSI,POSITRACTION,DIFFERENTIAL - Auburn Gear ECTED Positraction and Locker for Ford 8.8 with 28 spline axles. The Auburn ECTED is an electrically-operated positraction/locker combination. When the unit is d

 

cheap = aussie :)

 

Which is great if you have a 31 spline 8.8

 

Your right I didn’t think that far, the Air.Electric/Cable Lockers are the best bet but pricey.

Detroit Lockers are locked all the time, wet road problem with a lite rear of the Ranger or any truck, it will diff when turning a corner but IF power is applied it will lock and IF enough power is applied both tire will spin and IF the corner is sharp enough the *** end will come around; a lot of IF’s.
Go the Air or Electric Locker route and be happier and safer.

 

The automatic lockers are plenty safe. People that don't have them seem to think they are a mysterious contraption and unpredictable but it couldn't be further from the truth.

You get use to them and they are 100% predictable. A limited slip will throw the back end of the truck around just as much, only it isn't as predictable because it will not spin both tires 100% of the time. I prefer an automatic locker over limited slip in rain/snow/ice because I know exactly what it is going to do. I'm actually putting a detroit locker in my F150 within the next couple of weeks.
But automatic lockers do kind of suck with a manual transmission.

 

this is partially true. you definantly dont have a "regular" rear end, but its tolerable for street driving... anytime you touch the gas it locks, so if your stopped and you need to make a right turn you must accelerate, the trucks going to hop and chirp but its not to bad... you get used to driving with a torque activated locker.

i have had experience with the lock right rear locker, it is super street friendly, it doesnt always lock up with torque so if you baby it around turns it wont lock... only if you really romp on it! and its not terribly expenisive

 

my detroit i had in my runner wasnt bad. the only time it would slip the inside tire and chirp or anything is either full on throttle and turnig a 90 or on a man hole cover or road lines when it was wet. ocasionlly after you get a 100 ft or so you could feel it lock back up. some times it would be a good click sound and feel it in the wheel.

the gear drivin trutrack is alright, i had one of thoose as well. there not that positive but for a fornt application there awsome, unless your rock crawling. but for sand and snow and some mud its not bad.

for the $ i say up grade to a 31spline so A. you have disks B. you have 31 slpine(much stronger and a good thing to have with a locker) and C. use a powertrax or aussie locker.
im with carl on theese being worth the money.

 

Quoted for truth.

 

ture story. at least then you konw if your going to have the tail come out.

selectables are good, but always have the potetial to fail as well. you can snag an air line on and arb, strech the cable on an ox locker or mess up the wiring or solenoid on the e lockers. my bet is keep it mechanical.

 

Powertrax No-Slip

Powertrax No-Slip Locker | Ford Axles

I run one up front and have for the past five years; no problems to note.

 

A used air locker may not have all the parts to install it, it just depends on the seller. I would not by a used selectable for that very reason.

Expect to pay nearly double for a selectable elec,air, or cable. These will give the best performance and tire wear in the dry. It comes down to your budget, and skill. Be careful here, the expensive lockers mean you may need to re-shim your ring gear for the correct engagement.

 

^ And drill a big hole in your housing. haha

 

Wjhy is a locker worse with a manual transmission?

 

Oops, left that out.
An automatic locker is worse on a manual transmission because they are torque based. They lock when you get on the throttle and unlock when you let off.
Imagine accelerating around a fairly gradual curve. Start off in first on the throttle and it is locked (slightly under-steering because of this), let off to shift and it unlocks and the steering comes back to normal, into second gear and back on the throttle and locks again. Really it doesn't under-steer much, but you feel the slack picking up and letting off. There is a certain amount of backlash with automatic lockers because of the space between the drive teeth and the driven teeth. For example with a Detroit, you may be able to turn the driveshaft up to 1/4 rotation due to the "slack".

With an automatic transmission, you start going and it is locked, and stays locked between shifts since there is constantly a certain amount of torque.

 

^^Yup. And an auto locker in a manual sorta kicks the truck around at times....bucks around. I've got an Aussie locker(similar to a Lock Right/No slip/detroit) in my 5spd Ranger and it's just sort of a pain to drive on the street....especially on wet pavement because you're always slipping/skidding a tire when on the throttle and the truck likes to buck around unless I unlocked it. My biggest complaint is parking lots....slow tight turns and the only way to unlock it is clutch in, shifter neutral, and coast it through the turn. I regret not having the truck down for a few extra days for a full carrier selectable locker since my LS carrier wouldn't work with my 4.88 gears.

But don't get me wrong.....it's a HUGE traction aid. My truck flat out launches and grips the road. Grips it so hard I lost a tcase and tranny due to the traction. Overall, it's not that bad....just more of a gripe. Can't let just anyone drive the truck. I've had it locked over a year now and it's totally driveable for a daily. BUT...when I drive an LS or open manual truck....HOLY COW I miss the ease of driveability of it.

 

Thanks for that tip!!! I have the 5 speed LS and was thinking of an EZ locker. Need to change that plan.

 

Some call them Lincoln Lockers, personally, I prefer my Miller