lockers in the midwest

WrenchMonkey said:
(Edit: Unless you're talking about hitting the brakes hard enough to skid. Then I could see it reacting weird, I guess...)
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That's exactly what I'm talking about. The first time it happen's you wonder what you just broke. But it's totally normal.
 
What you are hearing is the differential ratcheting.

Remember the operation? The fastest wheel freewheels, so as you are touching your brakes, the one that grabs 1st starts the ratchet in motion, and it will do that until you get both front brakes to grab solid.

Normally you don't hear anything from the front diff because most of the time both wheels turn at about the same rate, except in tight corners.
 
I don't notice this ratcheting in my K2500 Burb. I checked the codes and it has a 4.10 Positraction in the front, but, in two wheel drive, I never hear anything. In 4wd, the front locks up frequently and makes it unsteerable.

I wonder if the anti lock brakes have something to do with this?
 
wilson1010 said:
I don't notice this ratcheting in my K2500 Burb. I checked the codes and it has a 4.10 Positraction in the front, but, in two wheel drive, I never hear anything. In 4wd, the front locks up frequently and makes it unsteerable.

I wonder if the anti lock brakes have something to do with this?
Click to expand...

POSI is a limited slip differential made by Auburn Gear. It does not lock or ratchet. It is not a locker. The discussion above related to Lock-Right lockers and Aussie Lockers.

Anti-lock brakes are dissabled in 4WD. If your Burb has a part time case, and I suspect it has, when one wheel locks, they pretty much all do. When your front wheels stop turning, your vehicle understeers badly (makes it unsteerable).
 
Took me 1/2 hour to install and uninstall the powertrax I had in my 30. The 8.25 took about 15 minutes longer. Extremely easy installs in both. I have had a powertrax up front, a limited slip in the rear, and welded in the rear.

I say do both of the at the same time. Everything you do offroad will go from challenging to remarkably much easier. Two powertrax can be had for under 1000 if you look and you will be sitting pretty when it comes to what you can do offroad.

I can't wait to get mine back together and ready for winterfest.
 
Zuki-Ron said:
What you are hearing is the differential ratcheting.

Remember the operation? The fastest wheel freewheels, so as you are touching your brakes, the one that grabs 1st starts the ratchet in motion, and it will do that until you get both front brakes to grab solid.

Normally you don't hear anything from the front diff because most of the time both wheels turn at about the same rate, except in tight corners.
Click to expand...
Exactly.
Actually, in theory at least, all automatic lockers don't actually lock up.
A Detroit, or any other auto, will always allow either wheel to overdrive, even when under power.
For example if you are under power, "locked", and turning the wheels at 25 mph, either wheel is free to go 28mph. The locker just won't let them go 23mph.
This should allow an auto locker to turn smoothly, even under power.

Selectable lockers (ARB, OX, E-Lockers), OTOH, become spools when locked. Both wheels essentially become one unit.
 
Last edited:
seanR said:
Require a lot of air line maintenance.
"Yea, hold up, I have an air line leaking somewhere..."
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Yea, nothing sucks like having to constantly wait for guys like that.:D
 
As I said my intent was to put the Aussie in the front only. My jeep is an automatic and my driving habits are fairly smooth and conservative (maybe a result of getting old).
Anyways, the sound of it locking and unlocking doesn't concern me. But if I'm driving down a snowy road and the thing starts pulling all over the place that kinda worries me. Also I was wondering how it pulls through a corner under power.
I understand how the lunchbox lockers are supposed to work, I was just wondering how it applies to a daily driver on snowy roads.
I really like the fact that a lunchbox locker should "disapear" in 2wd. As a daily driver 95% of my driving is in 2wd anyways. But when the snow flies and I engage the 4wd I don't want to be driving a death trap.
 
"I really like the fact that a lunchbox locker should "disapear" in 2wd. As a daily driver 95% of my driving is in 2wd anyways. But when the snow flies and I engage the 4wd I don't want to be driving a death trap."

x2......except lately its been ice, not snow here in greenville.
 
So I just want to make sure I am reading everything in this thread ok.

The aussie locker which is a good cheap one, will be ok in a daily driver. Or will it cause too many problems and snap some U-joints a everything.

I don't want to stop daily driving my jeep but I would love to lock the front of it.
 
Sean is correct.
2wd it'll be invisible. I still DD mine with lunchboxes front and rear.
 
Would having the 242 tcase/selectrac change the response you guys gave to this question? Consider driving on alternating dry/hard and snowey/icey stretches of road in full time 4x4. Would a LSD be better in front than a auto locker?
 
this thread has been great....at causing less decisions for myself.

Have the gears and an auburn lsd for the rear 8.25
was going to add a tru-trac to the front while doing the gears because it's a carrier replacement. Now im not quite sure i want the tru-trac because of traction and would lean more towards the no-slip powertrax. But i still like the tru-trac because in my mind im thinking an lsd in the front would put less strain on the d30 and be more favorable when i do drive on the street....so in short i have come to doubt my decision because of this thread WHAT SHALL I DO???

for others-i had a lunchbox in the rear of my jeep before and vowed to never go that route again-hated it on road.
 
Rod Knee said:
Would having the 242 tcase/selectrac change the response you guys gave to this question? Consider driving on alternating dry/hard and snowey/icey stretches of road in full time 4x4. Would a LSD be better in front than a auto locker?
Click to expand...

Yes. An autolocker will render the full-time 4x4 useless as I understand it. A selectable or Detriot Tru-Trac is the ideal choice for a 242.

I could be wrong, but that's what I have read.
 
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