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10 bolt locking differential

basshacker

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Hey guys! I'm new and I love this forum! I have an 85 blazer with stock locker in rear. Does anyone have any info on this locker? I've been stuck in deep mud before and don't recall both rear wheels turning. Is the stocker a worthy locker? Does it require friction additive? How does it work? What makes it engage? Any help will be very much appreciated. I'm glad I found this forum!
 
I f you have the stock locker it is a Gov Lock.
Used by General Motors in 73 & newer trucks that came with an option locking / limited slip differential. It was used in 7.5", 7.625", 8.5", 8.6", 8.875" 12 bolt truck, 9.5", 10.5", and now in the new 11.5" differentials. The smaller designs are fairly weak and the 8.5" and 12 bolt truck designs are especially weak. The 9.5" and 10.5" 14T units are fairly strong and will hold up well to towing and moderate abuse. The Gov-Lock is designed to act as an open differential during normal driving with no force being applied to clutches. This fact that no force is applied to the clutches keeps the clutches from chattering during normal every day driving. When either wheel slips and spins approximately 100 rpm faster than the other a governor assembly senses the difference in speed and activates a ramp system. The ramp system causes the clutches to engage and transfer power to the wheel with traction. One other feature of the Gov-Lock is that it will not engage at vehicle speed above 30 mph. This no lock-up feature keeps the vehicle more stable at higher speeds where both wheels spinning could cause an inexperienced driver to spin out or slide off of the road. This is a great design in theory and works as designed in a stock vehicle that is not abused. The problem is that most of us modify our trucks and many of us abuse them. When this unit is asked to deliver under extreme conditions it tends to self-destruct. The force generated by the ramp system that is used to lock-up the clutches works well, except that same force has to be contained by the case and the case is not always up to the job.
It does not need friction modifier
Gov Locks. AKA. Gov-Bombs
 
has anyone ever had a gov lock that works? i got one in my 14bolt and it has a mind of its own. sometimes it locks other times it doesnt
 
The 14 bolt gov-locks are fairly strong. The 10 bolt gov-lock
is (none too ) affectionately referred to as "gov-bomb".
I grenaded mine with a stock 350, auto, & 35" tires on flat ground!
 
Find and open case and spend $300 on a Lockright. They are a little harsh, but I have abused the daylights out of my 14 bolt version and it works well.
 
Yes, many of them work. The stock ones were designed to work under a fairly narrow set of parameters (input torque, tire size, GVW, etc) so people have a lot of problems once they start to change things.

As mentioned the 10 bolts are the most problematic, however the 14SF is almost identical in construction, just bigger everything. I've run across one that was broken from abuse, as the gears that operate them are still very fine teeth. The 14FF version is apparently a different design, and is probably why you hear of far fewer problems with them.
 
How common is the locking differential on the 12 bolts K5s?

How common are the 14 bolts locking dirrerentials? Did these also come in full floater?
 
How common is the locking differential on the 12 bolts K5s?

How common are the 14 bolts locking dirrerentials? Did these also come in full floater?

These lockers are common enough, they were the option G80.
They are offered in all GM axles: 10 bolt, 12 bolt, 14bsf and 14bff (full float)
In the original post he said it didn't lock up when he was slipping which leads me to believe he didn;t have the G80 but the aubrun limited slip which I had in my 73 blazer.
I had the G80 in a 1ton crew cab and I loved it, if I can find one for my current crew cab I would not hesitate to get it.
I also had one in a 12bolt in a blazer and with only 33" tires I had no problems with it.
 
How common is the locking differential on the 12 bolts K5s?

How common are the 14 bolts locking dirrerentials? Did these also come in full floater?

I don't know about the 12 bolt answer, but the 14 bolt, i have seen several at the junkyards when i was searching for a different geared rear diff, most had the Gov-Loc carrier too, and yes, mine is a full float unit that came with the Gov-Loc, have not had any problems with it, except maybe not locking up tight enough in most situations where i needed it.

I'd usually do the redneck way to lock it and just powerbrake it while trying to climb, usually worked :D
 
12's also have the Gov bomb often enough. The 12 I just bolted under my 90 has the gov bomb...not that it works, but it has one. I wish it was open, at least then i could add a lock right or something...rather than wait for the inevitable G80 explosion.

It'll do til spring.

Rene
 

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