rear locker-winter driving?

[CartsXJ]

It sounds like you guys need better tires.

 

[87manche]

It sounds like you guys need better tires.

tires don't matter, if you apply power during a turn the inside tire will be the driving tire, this is opposite an open diff.
An automatic locker allows one tire to rotate faster than the other, but will not allow one tire to rotate slower.
THe over running tire is the outside tire, and it becomes the freewheeling tire in a turn.
The inside tire becomes the driving tire because it is the slower of the two, get on the skiny pedal and the rear end will step sideways, becasue of the angles, it also tends to push the front end.
I'd say that my biggest fear with the locker in slick stuff is not that the rear end will step out, rather it's that I will have a severe understeer, and end up in a ditch.

 

[j99xj]

Lockers are dangerous on icy roads. A bud of mine put one on his front axle in his TJ and he couldn't use four wheel drive because he couldn't control it.

Selectable lockers are the best in my mind, I've been eyeing the ox locker for a long time because I love the fact that its simple (cable operated), and in my opinion "simple is always the best way" because less can go wrong in its operation.

Anyway I think chains on all wheels will do more for traction than lockers on ice.

 

[CartsXJ]

In a short wheelbase rig, lockers suck in any kinda icy, slick conditions. And tires have alot to do with traction........isn't that where we run more aggesive tires offroad? Same thing goes for winter time, Blizzack would be out of business if tires didn't matter. Its all a matter of how you drive and your use of the gas, neutral(in autos), Clutch (manuals), and steering. As I've said before, I run a lockrite in the front now with a 242 t/c,


"OH MY GOD the horror, you can't do that!!!!!!!!" :roll:


and I run it in full-time during the icy conditions. With the l/s in the rear, its like driving a front wheel drive car with traction control. With the rear following the front around. But when the roads are just semi covered with ice and snow, I'll run just 2wd and use 4wd when I have too. Its all about staying aware and knowing your vechicles limits and capabilities, just like offroad.

Its called learning how to drive in snow and ice.......in today's dumb downed world, drivers feel that they can go 100mphs in the snow because their SUV has "insert three letter traction/vechicle control system", which in turn actually makes them dumber drivers. I think all these so called safety systems should be dropped and drivers should be issued lisences so easily. Probably cut insurance claims and prices in half.

 

[jonzer12]

You can get away with the rear but I would NOT lock the front. IT can cause understeer and really kill your ability to drive out of situations. Plus the open front diff can help keep the rear end straight when in 4WD.

I would not even consider any locker in the winter if you spend time on the highway. Slides and donuts aren't fun at 75 mph on 2 lane highways. I much prefer open diffs on the highway. good tires gives me all the traction I could need.

 

[KarlVP]

For the record you can do slides and doughnuts on the ice and snow in a 2wd car.

Put the locker in, and learn how to drive your junk. Lockers aren't bad, they are just different. Once you learn the handling and you are careful with it, you will be fine.

I have Detroits F/R in my TJ and I drive cautiously in the slick stuff. It just takes some getting used to.

 

[87manche]

Same thing goes for winter time, Blizzack would be out of business if tires didn't matter. Its all a matter of how you drive and your use of the gas, neutral(in autos), Clutch (manuals), and steering.

true, I should have stated my opinion better.
Winter tires would certainly help, but driving like an ass, or driving like you don't have a locker in the rear will negate any tire advantage you may have.
You could drive with poor tires in the winter if you drove accordingly, I've done it.
Granted, I couldn't go more than 15 mph, but I did it, and I did it safely.
so, rulle #1 for winter driving with a locker:
Don't be a jackass, and drive to your vehicles capabilities.

 

[CartsXJ]

Don't be a jackass, and drive to your vehicles capabilities.

DING, DING, DING WE HAVE A WINNER JOHNNY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:yelclap: :yelclap:

TELL HIM WHAT HE'S WON

 

[Blaine B.]

Don't be stupid with it, baby.

 

[AJsArmor]

Oh and on glare ice, I just drive in the ditch or take gravel to my destination. :gee:

 

[CartsXJ]

Oh and on glare ice, I just drive in the ditch or take gravel to my destination. :gee:

and here I thought I was the only crazy one to do that:confused1

 

[BlueCuda]

tires don't matter, if you apply power during a turn the inside tire will be the driving tire, this is opposite an open diff.
An automatic locker allows one tire to rotate faster than the other, but will not allow one tire to rotate slower.
THe over running tire is the outside tire, and it becomes the freewheeling tire in a turn.
The inside tire becomes the driving tire because it is the slower of the two, get on the skiny pedal and the rear end will step sideways, becasue of the angles, it also tends to push the front end.
I'd say that my biggest fear with the locker in slick stuff is not that the rear end will step out, rather it's that I will have a severe understeer, and end up in a ditch.

Not totally true, if you apply the throttle in a corner both rear tires will lock together like a spool. This is what causes slides and such people that can't handle a locker experience.

 

[FatXJ]

tires don't matter, if you apply power during a turn the inside tire will be the driving tire, this is opposite an open diff.
An automatic locker allows one tire to rotate faster than the other, but will not allow one tire to rotate slower.
THe over running tire is the outside tire, and it becomes the freewheeling tire in a turn.
The inside tire becomes the driving tire because it is the slower of the two, get on the skiny pedal and the rear end will step sideways, becasue of the angles, it also tends to push the front end.

You have it backwards. The inside tire drags because it has the least amount of traction in a cornering situation.

Try driving with a lincoln locker and you will quickly learn which wheel does what.

 

[99chero]

so whats the best set up, locker in rear and limted slip diff in the front?

 

[CartsXJ]

so whats the best set up, locker in rear and limted slip diff in the front?

If you have a 242 case then yes. You'll get some weird action with this set-up and a 231, but its nothing that after a little testing and learning, that you can handle. In either case, you'll love the set-up once you learn how to use it to your advantage.

 

[87manche]

You have it backwards. The inside tire drags because it has the least amount of traction in a cornering situation.

Try driving with a lincoln locker and you will quickly learn which wheel does what.

I wasn't talkgin about a lincoln locker
With a ratcheting auto locker the outside tire will over run the inside tire, that's how the locker works.
With if you apply power to the locker it will drive the inside wheel first, and then only lock if enough power is applied.
This is very pronounced with a manual trans, trying to maintain a constant speed results in the locker switching power from wheel to wheel as it locks and unlocks, it's violent enough to shake the entire truck.

One more effect of lockers that hampers every day use is that they only drive the inside wheel on a turn, which can affect vehicle handling.

When driving the inside wheel, the vehicle tends to yaw from side to side slightly when negotiating a turn under power. When turning sharply while taking off from a stop, the inside wheel will tend to spin easily. This is especially prominent when taking off on a right turn, for two reasons: the torque on the rearend housing due to the driveline torque un-weights the right wheel, and right hand turns are tighter (because we drive on the right side of the road).

source:
http://www.offroaders.com/tech/limited-slip-lockers-differentials.htm

 

[Goatman]

You have it backwards. The inside tire drags because it has the least amount of traction in a cornering situation.

Try driving with a lincoln locker and you will quickly learn which wheel does what.

Sorry, this isn't true. What was posted before is true. An automatic locker differentiates (what some people call unlocking) by allowing one tire to spin ahead of the other, meaning in a turn the outside tire will free wheel ahead of the inside tire, so the inside tire gets all the power. If enough power is applied to slip the inside tire to match the outside tire then it will lock up, which would be easy to do on a slick surface.

A Lincoln locker, or spool, doesn't power one tire over the other since both tires are permantly locked together, so both tires always get equal power. What you feel is a tire having to slip when cornering becase both tires are forced to turn at the same rate. There is no differentiation with a spool, but there is differentiation with an automatic locker.

 

[DaJudge]

so whats the best set up, locker in rear and limted slip diff in the front?

This is what I have. We don't get much snow/ice in ABQ but we have had a lot in the last two days. I haven't had any problems. I actually went out yesterday on an empty road and played around and it still was very controllable. The biggest thing is to have a light foot around corners.

Glen

 

[Blaine B.]

I'd say locker front, limited slip rear......that's just my opinion though.

 

[CartsXJ]

I'd say locker front, limited slip rear......that's just my opinion though.

I definitely agree with you and run this set-up but don't recomend it for everybody. It really depends on your driving style and wants.