Well I finally got my F150 back! 4.56 Yukon gears, Detroit locker rear, E-locker front. The install ended up costing more because the guy insisted on install all new bearings. Kind of frustrated about that since I don't think it was needed but I can appreciate him wanting to replace everything at once I suppose. He also put on new rear brake pads and turned the rotors since he said the rear pads were about shot. Again, kind of frustrating since I was planning to buy new brakes soon but he only charged me for the $30 pads so whatever.

The truck feels much better! My initial impressions of driving around the neighborhood had me thinking "I wish I would have gone with 4.88s" until I got on the highway. RPMs are not high but the scangauge MPG number seems to look lower than it use to at 60mph. I'll have to fuel up and see what it actually does for MPG.
The truck doesn't seem significantly faster but I can tell that the truck isn't working nearly as hard, that's for sure. Less drone from the intake to get it moving. It pulls harder in O/D so I don't expect it to downshift as often. Gear upshifts seem much firmer now, I may back off on the shift pressures again even.

As for the Detroit, no bad feelings about it yet. It feels much like the Aussie locker but with a little more backlash. I can move around in neighborhoods making tight turns just fine so long as I don't hammer the throttle. Understeer is more apparent when on the throttle in a turn as the 35" KM2s seem to have a ton of grip. I should probably start saving up for another set of tires. lol
With the additional backlash, you do feel more feedback going from coasting to accelerating, but if you get on the throttle smoothly initially it's not bad at all. If you were coasting and then hammered down on the throttle it would be kind of harsh.

I haven't done much with the front E-Locker yet. I engaged it in 4x4 in a gravel lot and I could feel the steering wheel try to straighten up so it seems to work. Also, I disconnected the electrical plug for the hub vacuum actuator (on the firewall) and the hubs stay locked in. I did this for two different drives (10-20 miles each) to let the gears warm up and cool back down to break in. With the hubs locked there was no noise from the hubs, no noise from the transfer case or anything that would otherwise tell you that they are locked. The transfer case will not engage with this plug disconnected however, I just had it that way to keep the gears turning.

 

I hate threads like this. There's no pics haha. Glad to hear everything is in and working good. Now you need to go do some wheelin and take some pictures!

 

I was going to take some before and after pictures but I didn't think they would be too exciting. haha

Here you go, a picture of the e-locker switch!

 

So you flip a switch and it's locked? They make it for front and rear's of FX4's?

 

Wow- Very nice!
I was throwing around the idea of a Detroit in my F250 (there's not too many choices for the 10.5") but decided against it at the moment. Thanks for giving some honest feedback on what it's like driving a fullsize with an automatic locker. I'm wondering if your automatic transmission would help give an overall "smoother" experience vs a manual transmission...

Anyway- super nice.
Thumbs up!

 

Seb, the E-Locker is just for the front differential. Flip a switch and it is fully locked, that's correct. They do not make one for the rear axle (Ford 9.75) that I know of, although it seems like they are an option on brand new FX4s from the factory. I didn't look into it too much because at the time I didn't want something that reverted to an open differential when not locked.
The rear is the automatic Detroit locker. Hit the gas and it locks, let off and it unlocks.



Chris, I wouldn't install it in your truck with a manual transmission. The automatic trans definitely helps to smooth it out. I have driven manual transmission trucks with Detroits and Lock-Rights and they are much harsher. Even in my F150, the understeer when I'm on the throttle is more than the Sport Trac with the Aussie. I was showing my wife earlier, driving a long 90 degree corner at 55mph. Steering wheel held in one spot, I could hit the gas and it would steer outside of the turn noticeably, let off and it would steer back in. It's not that bad, and it is expected, but I think it would ruin the driving experience in your truck when you're shifting gears.
It does take away some from the smoothness of the truck overall, but like with the Sport Trac, my driving habits will change a little and smooth it out. Time will tell if I love the Detroit more or hate it in this application, my main concern is the expensive tires! Since I have a front locker I would consider a true-trac if I decided I hated the Detroit later on. Hopefully within the next year I'll have a new job and the F150 will be parked at least 16 out of 28 days anyway. I want to save the miles for trips later on .

 

The installer said that everyone who came into his shop the last three days commented on what a sharp looking truck it was too. He said even a couple of his friends who were die hard chevy guys said that they really liked it. lol

When I got home my wife started to pout, and said that she wishes she had money to buy stuff for her car. Looks like she is going to have to get the next round of mods.

 

There goes the Rancho/Superlight anytime soon lol

 

or a job, makin you sandwhiches must not pay much

 

Awesomeness doesn't need pics!

 

Making me sandwiches doesn't pay at all! lol
She works for the state, but wages in Kentucky blow compared to the west coast so she makes a lot less than me.

Trent I need lift, wheels and tires all at once so it's still a ways off anyway, grr. I want to settle with the insurance company soon even though we aren't entirely better. It feels like we have leveled off with the chiropractor and it is becoming a huge hassle to go all the time.

 

Sounds awesome! I need to get me a selectable front locker. It sucks trying to turn with auto lockers front and rear.

 

Haha, yep. I had aussies front and back in the Sport Trac. It was fun but trying to turn in 4x4 sucked pretty bad!

 

sweet deal! yeah I'm still pretty undecided for what I want in my 9.75, and I'm running out of time. And all there really is is the damn detroit, or a couple lsds which I wouldnt want to pay $400-500 for when I can get about the same satisfaction for now out of a stock one. I think I may just find a stock LSD and rock that for a while.

 

Well I have a limited slip but I might want to hold onto it in case I ever have a problem with the Detroit.
If you don't find anything, I may be willing to trade my LS carrier for your open carrier for a little bit of cash or something.
ARB does make a locker for what it's worth, Jason has one. You may also want to call Eaton. Doesn't the new FX4 have an electric locker? I haven't seen one listed aftermarket but I assumed it was an Eaton, could be worth looking into.

 

yeah at this point its hard to justify the $600 or so for it. I think I'm going to call around tomorrow for a l/s or I'll just last resort weld the thing.

 

Very cool Brian! I can't wait to hear how the 4.56's affect fuel economy. I'm still not committed to 4.10's and you and Zach seem to love the 4.56's... hmm...

You should come down to Bowling Green next week so I can see the truck in person... haha...

 

What are you doing in Bowling green and when are you going to be there?
I never know when I'll be working, and when I'm not I'm pretty bored. If you are looking at something cool for the magazine I want to check it out! lol

I put 90+ miles on it today after filling up so I'll get back to you soon about economy. I'll probably be driving it this weekend instead of the Subaru to put some miles on the gears. I may order a mag hytec cover but I have to pay "usage tax" on both cars at the end of May. $260 each to register for one year, what a joke!

 

I fly in on Monday and out on Friday. We're running Diesel Power Challenge next week before the big TS Outlaw Drags event at Beech Bend.

Sweet!

That's it? I'll trade you... mine was $460 last year. (insert CA joke here)

 

Haha, no need to make CA jokes, you know. lol
Seems like I paid less than $90 per year last time in Oregon, oh well!

Diesel power challenge? Sweet! I would probably come down if I could poke around a little!

 

I paid $210 last year in Arizona for 1 year of registration.

 

Guess I just wasn't expecting it. After moving and having to pay 6% sales tax on cars I already owned, I wasn't expecting 260 again every year. I pay so much tax to state, city and county, more than anywhere else. Just about every bill gets taxed (quite a bit) by the city, plus city and county income tax. No idea where the money goes since the roads are crap, there is trash all over, etc. lol

 

yeah come to MN, land of taxes and giving free money to foreigners!

 

I had to pay $230 as well. And they charged me an 11 dollar fee just to pay with my debit card, wtf.

 

Holy crap 1 year registration on my fiddy is $70 and the Ranger is $50.