finally got my truck back about a week ago and got 4.56 G2 gears front and back and the detroit locker rearend. the gears are amazing my truck finally drives like it should now.

 

how do you like the detroit?

 

its nicer offroad than on, as long as ur goin straight on pavement its fine but when u turn with it the rearend wants to skip n slide across the road. its really fun on dirt, and im not getting stuck as easily.

 

how does it skip and slide? are you saying the detroit isnt unlocking when you turn?

 

no it pretty much wants to fishtail. the back tires feel like they wanna break off of the road on turns/ corners

 

Are you smooth with the gas when you're turning?

 

thats just touching the gas. i gotta slow way down and coast on most turns

 

I did 4.56's on mine as well and am very happy with it. I had a Detroit in my 76 Blazer and now have one in my 78 F150 and love them for off-road performance but for a rig that is mostly on pavement I wouldn't go with one. I ended up with a TrueTrac in the rear of my 07 and really like it for moderate off road performance.

 

Isn't the locker supposed to allow the truck to turn more easily when turning? Also if you install a locker or LSD on the front axle, will it only engage when you are in 4wd?

 

It depends on what you have. An open differential will turn the easiest and is what typically comes in most stock trucks. A limited slip isn't technically a locker. A limited slip is supposed to transfer power to the other wheel via clutch packs when one wheel begins to slip thereby allowing the tire that isn't slipping to provide the traction. A limited slip uses clutch packs or gears but as the title suggests, limits slip, not removes it. A locker like the Detroit locker is much more solid and keeps both sides of the axles locked together most of the time except when turning. During a turn the locker "unlocks" and allows the wheels to turn at different speeds. The Detroit Locker though has a tendency to chirp the tires and kind of skip around tight corners which makes it a bit less desirable for a truck used mainly on the street. I always kind of dug it though when my Blazer would do it in the parking lot but it does draw stares.

I don't know if that makes sense but for a better explanation, go to Eaton's site and read the different descriptions of the Detroit locker, Posi Limited Slip, TrueTrac, and eLock selectable. http://www.eaton.com/EatonCom/Produc...ials/index.htm

As for the front, as long as you are in 2wd, the locker doesn't do anything. I run either a LSD or a Detroit in the front of my straight axle rigs because they are quite a bit beefier than the IFS front ends on the newer trucks. To be honest, the IFS front end on the F150 is pretty flimsy and shouldn't be used for any really serious off roading. It works fine for moderate wheeling but you will snap parts if you start doing anything truly serious.

 

Well I was thinking of doing a detroit locker in the rear and an LSD on the front axle? Mainly I just don't want to get stuck. Like ever.

 

Not getting stuck is going to come more from how and where you drive rather than your equipment. A Detroit locker is a great piece of equipment but if you aren't driving it off road a lot of the time, you will tire of it quickly. I also wouldn't put a LSD in the front of an IFS rig myself, but some do. I do a lot of offroading but mostly in older rigs. I had the option of putting a TrueTrac in my front in my 07 and opted not to due to the inherent weaknesses in the IFS. Nothing is foolproof and good driving will usually suffice over great equipment and bad judgment.

 

I have a Detroit locker in the rear end and an Auburn ECTED up front. With the Detroit in the rear i hardly ever use 4wd anymore. As far as the front locker once in a while i will lock it in but most of the time i dont use it and if i have to im probably already stuck bad enough it wont help. Then its time to recover myself with the winch, pull pal , and/or hilift jack. Now that i have had my Detroit for awhile now i wouldnt put anything else in the rear and i recommend one to anyone that is tired of the one wheel wonder. As far as driving on the road, just let off the gas when taking a turn and the Detroit will unlock then straightin it out and nail it.





2004 F-150SC Lariat 4x4
4.56 gears Auburn Ected up front
Detroit in rear
Ramsey 8k
60" Hilift
Pull-Pal
6" Fabtech
35" BFG MTs
Icom 706mkiig
and when i get the hell out
of Afghanistan it will be
Whippled and a 10psi kit.

 

So it will probably be unnecessary to put anything in the front? I mean where I go now the only time I use 4wd is going up steep muddy hills. Or towing in the ice and snow. My 35 trail grapplers are the **** for off roading. So just a rear locker will be good?

 

That would be my recommendation. Besides, a front LSD or locker in the snow and ice is a mixed bag. Some say they like it, others say it makes the front end handle funky. For the mud, it would be beneficial but unless you are doing some serious mudding, you should be find with just the rear.