Diff. lock-Because I've never seen it, it doesn't exist

My 2011 Super duty has the electronic locking rear axle. Then in 2012 I added an Eaton electronic locking front locker. :B

Perrysburg Dodgeboy wrote:
Wow was not aware of that Gdetrailer. Sounds like a nice set up. Thanks for the info.

Don

I agree, it is somewhat comforting that every once in a while someone posts a reply and actually knows what he is taking about as opposed to what they heard or think.

I used the locker today on the 2012 ford when I had to start off on an uphill pull in the pasture with a load of firewood on the flat bed.

The e-locker in the Ford is another one of the reasons I passed on going back to GM. The auto locker is useless. Spin one tire to activate the feature, then both tires are spinning instantly when it does. Every one of the last 4 GM trucks I owned had one and was more of an annoyance than a help.

Wow was not aware of that Gdetrailer. Sounds like a nice set up. Thanks for the info.

Don

Perrysburg Dodgeboy wrote:
A true "locking Dif" is not a good thing to have for a daily driver. If you lock or flip that switch on dry pavement you are going to end up with a very expensive repair bill on your hands. Read your owners manual before you try it out!

BTW Ram and Jeeps also can be ordered with a "locking Dif" they are on the Power Wagon and can be ordered on most Jeeps. But again they are not a good idea for the average driver.

When I was driving truck we had a driver that flipped the "LOCK REAR DIF" on the tractor backing into a loading dock and forgot to unlock it. Cost him his job and the company a very large repair bill! Note, there was snow in the parking lot and he was having trouble backing onto the dock so he locked the dif. When he got back out onto the road and dry pavement it was game over. Tow bill and replacement rear dif cost the company over $3,000 or so they said.

Don

Modern day Electronic locking axles are a bit different at least the Ford ones..

My 2013 F250 I had no real choice but to get the electronic locking axle since the Limited slip was DISCONTINUED. So the choices now are open or electronic locking axle.

With the Ford version you have a switch that you can enable/disable ANY time BUT the control module will only allow locking while you are 20 MPH OR UNDER. The control module will ALSO AUTOMATICALLY UNLOCK the axle when you EXCEED 25 MPH..

Ford was pretty much forced to drop limited slip option due to the drive by wire throttle and gov regs REQUIRING FORCED REDUCED THROTTLE limits when a brake signal AND throttle signal are present..

If you have ever messed with limit slip axles then you understand that sometimes to fully engage the clutches in the axle you often needed to lightly step on the brake while still having your other foot on the throttle.. Can't do that with drive by wire throttle any more..

I will say though I AM impressed with the Ford electronic locking axle, it really makes a huge difference! This winter it saw a LOT of action and saved my bacon multiple times, including having to tow my wifes older truck (which has limited slip) out of a snow bank on a steep icy hill..

I've had limited slip diffs in my 3/4 GM trucks for years. Never had an issue with any of them performance wise. My 13 company F-150 has the electronic. While useful, I still like the automatic limited diffs.

200 rpm slip is 20 mph with a 265/70R17.. that's a LOT of slip.

G80 is a very good locker in my opinion. They have improved them in the last few years. Our oringial was in a 80s vintage CK truck. After many years of hard use and it gave up. I believe that back then they allowed 200 rpm slip difference in order for it to engage. I was told be Chevy that the newer ones are engaged to lock at 100 rpm slip difference. I don't really know but there is a difference in the one I had in the 02 compared to the 09. The 09 kicks in really quick and disengages after 20 mph. Overall in operating in 2 wheel drive mode I can get pretty far with it locked. Other then that 4 wheel mode gets me out when I need it to, especially in florida sugar sand.......

There is a big difference between locking Diff, and LSD.
LSD relies on a wheel slippage to activate the wheel with grip. The problem with LSD systems is that in the event you are in an off camber situation, the LSD won't transfer the power correctly and you will just spin the tire in tire in the air.

But a locking diff, will physically lock the left and right axles together via electronic actuator or air actuator.

Where the LSD is better over locking is in the case of On Road driving. The LSD is always active if in the rear diff, a locking is not. In the case of LSD the diff will always catch a "slip" of one wheel. However, the hiccup to it is when turning. The outside wheel has to travel farther than the Inside wheel. this is bad on a locking diff and will actually break it. So don't ever use a locking diff on dry pavement.

FYI, ford LSD systems in the super duty are good, but what I have experienced is that for an odd reason the design of the 4WD system with electronic dash switch, isn't that great for "auto" mode.
Many ford owners never read the manual to understand that on a superduty equipped with LSD, just because it is in 4wd, doesn't mean it is "locked" in 4wd. You have to get out and turn the hubs in. Otherwise the "auto" system doesn't kick in until it detects a slip, which means the LSD system has to catch it too before the plunger moves to lock the wheel in.

People who own superduty ford trucks who say it gets stuck or they have issue, just never read the manual, so I would ignore what those people have to say about ford trucks.

My old 88 GM has the g80 option, and that thing will go places that is just insane.

Most the OEM diff locks I have seen require you to be in 4 low, so your already traction and speed limited.