I have heard that about once a year you have to get the ECTED unit rebuilt since the clutches wear out.

 

no big to me. at least it's rebuildable. won't be another gear set up everytime. I just gotta look at the reviews.

 

I read the same thing a lot. I would love to have a limited slip + locker setup but nobody seems to make a good/reliable one. It would be a great setup for the front since it would see little use, but I'm not sure I can even get one for the front of the F150. I'm curious what the rebuilt process is like.

. o O ( straying off topic more... )
Personally I hate having a rear open diff on a truck, which makes me less inclined to go with a selectable locker. There are sooo many situations where I would want more traction than an open diff but less than a fully locked differential. The auto lockers are great in that sense. It is awesome being able to turn freely on trails and have 100% lockup when you get back on the throttle. No binding lock you would fully locked. But I don't think I want to use one when my tires are $1500+ a set.
Although when I look at all the other options, a detroit in the rear and a gear driven limited slip in the front would probably work pretty well overall.

 

I might say screw it and throw in a carbon disc'd tracloc in the dang thing! lol. I looooooove the aussie on the trail and snow(only thing really making me keep it)....haaaaaaaate it on the street for the pure fact that I can't just let anyone drive it(requires a training course) and well...parking lots are still funky as hell. Getting tired of the unlocking, popping in neutral to turn.

Can't clutch drop it....way to much grip back there = blown up tcase and trans. Ask me how I know. lol.

 

Not even. I have had an ECTED Unit, then replaced with a no-slip (b/c I had a l/s carrier that came stock). I got a good deal on an ECTED unit and I'm going back to it. I know a lot of people on this site would probably disagree with but I cannot complain about the unit. And, it didn't wear out in a year. As a matter of fact, the last unit I had in back, I installed in 2004 and pulled out last year, when the clutches wore out. Also, you can take advantage of Diff Replacement Program every 4 years (no longer than 4 years, I found out). For $125 they'll replace your unit with either a new or rebuilt unit. BTW, if I was smart and rich, I'd probably go with E-Locker.

 

weld that *****.

 

Well Shane and Brain you defiantly have turned me from the Aussie. But I think I might just do like everyone is saying and go with something like a elocker or something like that. Definable something selectable. So here is my next question. What would you guys get for a selectable locker.

 

Eaton Elocker. Solid unit, I had it for a while on my old 01, no compalints. I actually prefer the open for driving in snow...very predictable.

ECTED is a glorified limited slip, it never truely "locks". That can be a good or bad thing, but for me a locker should mechanically lock, not rely on friction from clutch packs. Plus paying 125 every 4 years for a rebuild is a joke. As far as I know you can't rebuild it yourself, you have to send it to Auburn for the rebuild. ECTED would be great for a rally car, but not a truck.

I'd also look at the Ox locker, can't beat cable actuated.

 

Actually, if you read the info on the ECTED, it is actuated by bias clutches, but locks with the same technology that supports the E-Locker (ball bearings, electromagnetic coil). And, the D-REX Program, if I had used it, would have been well worth the $$$$, because if it the unit breaks during usage, you can still utilize the program. As far as the E-locker, it is one dimensional, but from what I understand is more reliable and possibly has stronger internals (in previous ECTED units, reports were that ball bearing ramps and coil wires were breaking; I've experienced one of these and did the fix myself. BTW, Auburn does sell parts for the rebuild (coil, clutches, ball bearings,etc.) Regarding the ECTED in a truck, till my unit broke it saw sand, mud, snow (on the US mainland), water crossings and it worked like a champ. Probably why I'm getting another one. The only thing preventing me from buying a an E-locker is the price tag. But, another ranger website had the unit for something affordable, just decided not to bite.

 

Funny, the setup I liked the most in the snow was the aussie locker. Much more predictable to me than an open diff, or a limited slip. I knew when I stepped on it, it would lock. And when I let off, it would unlock. 100% predictable and was a blast for sliding around.
On the other hand I wouldn't let me wife drive it in the snow. lol

ARB lockers are good units of course, but they are expensive and you have to install a compressor. If OX makes a locker for the 31 spline I would look at it, although also expensive. I was not trying to steer you away from the aussie by any means. I ran them front and rear on my sport trac and loved it. I just thought it was worth it to compare your other options. But if you have a manual trans it gets old to drive it as Shane pointed out.

 

You know "twoplusone" by chance?.....we've been down this road....the ball bearings push the side gear into the other, compressing the clutch packs. There is no MECHANICAL locking in of the side gears, just increased pressure on the packs. Tell me what step there is a MECHANICAL locking in of those spider gears. As much as I hate to recommend pirate, go read up on there about the ECTED and then look at that diagram and tell me it's a true locker.

Leading Manufacturer of Traction Enchancing Differentials & Planetary Drives - Auburn Gear

 

Sure have Carl I am him!. Anyhow, you beat me to posting the diagram. You are not entirely right and I am not entirely wrong. True locker it is not. But spider gears do lock together by the same magnetic process utilized by the E-locker. The ball-bearing ramp and locks the spiders into place on one side while magnetic force pushes against the clutch packs on the other. From my experience, it does lock, and will stay locked, so long as the bias clutches are in good shape. The clutches do wear out and the unit will slip until you are left with an open diff when the clutches ulitmately fail. As I stated before, they will sell you parts to rebuild it yourself, or you can use the D-REX. Anyway, we beat this thing up for a long, long, long time. No need to that again.

 

Oh man, I thought you guys in HI had some kind of vested interest in the success of the ECTED! It's like the chicken or the egg I guess.... I just see no mechanical engaement on that clutch pack side, so no locker for me. The Elocker does use the ball and ramp but it's to engage the pins for the side gears.
I can agree to disagree, what brings you back with a different name?

 

Funny....cuz I find it more predictable being 100% locked in snow. hmm. lol. I've always found it uncomfortable with open or even LS. Then again, I like to be in 2wd for as long as I can. 2wd locked on snow is a freakin' blast like Brian noted. Totally controlled drifts. Which reminds me...time to update my avatar!

Now, if only I can get this damn wheelhop problem figured out!

I'm with Brian again...I wasn't trying to steer you away, reader, from an aussie..just explore the other options since you've gotta swap carriers anyway. I love my rear aussie....just is a pain on the street for DDing and other reasons I've already noted in the thread.


I just havn't really made my mind up yet. I like the features of the Ected...but again, I need to do hardcore review reading on all of 'em.