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..
