What are my options for 14BFF lockers? I've wanted a selectable locker for years but have been unable to find one. Are such made for the FF? If not, what else works well?
CK5
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14BFF Locker Options?
- Thread starter campfire
- Start date
bp71k5
3/4 ton status
Arb works great.
IIRC, there's precisely three options: the factory G80 "gov-bomb", the Detroit, and the ARB.
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Bummer. That's what I was afraid of. ARB seems expensive. Very expensive for what I do (so far off-road travel has been rare). The Detroit, if I understand it correctly, slides the tires around on pavement (where, again, my trucks have seen almost all of their use). Why doesn't someone make an E-locker?
The 14BFF G80 doesn't get the bad press that the 10-bolt G80 gets. How useful is it in practice?
FWIW, in my axle pile I have one G80 and 2 standard carrier 14BFF axles. So I have some flexibility in which one I install first...
I never minded the Detroit on the street with my 14 FF. Get a bit of locker steer, but my truck was manual tranny so more noticeable. Other than that, it was fine by me.
I liked the Detroit in Big Ugly's 14FF.
I think there's a Lock-Right for the 14FF. Also maybe a Powertrax NoSlip?
I keep thinking one of the electric lockers had one too.
I think there's a Lock-Right for the 14FF. Also maybe a Powertrax NoSlip?
I keep thinking one of the electric lockers had one too.
I didn't find it a problem in the snow either, unless you were intentionally screwing around. 
I prefer lockers, they are predictable IMO.
My grizzly in the k20 doesnt make a noise on pavement unless you jam on it.
My K1500 with the detroit makes a bit more noise, most likely the added weight of the factory truck box my guess. Still seems fine when driven nicely.
My votes full locker.
My grizzly in the k20 doesnt make a noise on pavement unless you jam on it.
My K1500 with the detroit makes a bit more noise, most likely the added weight of the factory truck box my guess. Still seems fine when driven nicely.
My votes full locker.
Isnt there a eaton E locker available for these? Or am i thinking of something else?
bp71k5
3/4 ton status
Eaton isn't available for the 14bff (unless a new one came out recently), but is typically same cost as the ARB. Only one real option that's selectable.
Did the Detroit E Locker go away when the Eaton/Tractech merger happened?
Also, at one point there was that cable actuated locker. TRex or something like that. One of the founders was a member on here 10+ years ago. Think they folded though.
For the record I drove my 1 ton on 38's with a Detroit in the rear in Northern Michigan winters just fine. Kicked out a bit if you were on the throttle hard but nothing you can't account for. I prefer having lockers in the snow and ice since it makes the rear predictable and the traction is always there. If one tire is on slick stuff and starts to spin the other can keep you moving. If both are in slick stuff and spinning it's no different than an open diff.
Also, at one point there was that cable actuated locker. TRex or something like that. One of the founders was a member on here 10+ years ago. Think they folded though.
For the record I drove my 1 ton on 38's with a Detroit in the rear in Northern Michigan winters just fine. Kicked out a bit if you were on the throttle hard but nothing you can't account for. I prefer having lockers in the snow and ice since it makes the rear predictable and the traction is always there. If one tire is on slick stuff and starts to spin the other can keep you moving. If both are in slick stuff and spinning it's no different than an open diff.
I put a Detroit locker in my 14FF that I run all year long in Wisconsin. I also have a power lock in the D60 up front.
I have run open / Detroit / g-80 gov-loc in my few 14ff rears in the snow .
the g-80 gov-loc is a let stronger in the 14ff size then the smaller axles . yes it dos break but I never busted mine . biggest killer I think of them is people not knowing how to feel them lock in/out and slamming them in to use . if you feel it lock then use it its fine .
for a dd use or light to moderate 4x4 use ( I did 38" swampers and built 400sbc ) I loved my gov-loc unit .
I had a Detroit and hated it in the snow . always had to click in 4x4 to go straight on the roads if more than 2-3 inch of snow. it always wanted to kick the a$$ end around to make it hard to drive.
my project STUBBY build I want the best of all in my opinion . selectable ARB unit . open for stock driving then locked when YOU want it locked up and back to open when done.
real easy to install and just a few simple clearance grinds inside the case and its in .
reason I went this way with ARB is I love to play in the snow and lots of tight windy trails in my area . also love to dd my toys and didn't want full locked on roads . so I picked 2 ARB units for the truck 60/14ff both done.
and I also run a gov-loc in my plow truck k30 and I don't spare it any beating . she still workin great to this day . dd / play / plow / recovery duty for stuck trucks.
the g-80 gov-loc is a let stronger in the 14ff size then the smaller axles . yes it dos break but I never busted mine . biggest killer I think of them is people not knowing how to feel them lock in/out and slamming them in to use . if you feel it lock then use it its fine .
for a dd use or light to moderate 4x4 use ( I did 38" swampers and built 400sbc ) I loved my gov-loc unit .
I had a Detroit and hated it in the snow . always had to click in 4x4 to go straight on the roads if more than 2-3 inch of snow. it always wanted to kick the a$$ end around to make it hard to drive.
my project STUBBY build I want the best of all in my opinion . selectable ARB unit . open for stock driving then locked when YOU want it locked up and back to open when done.
real easy to install and just a few simple clearance grinds inside the case and its in .
reason I went this way with ARB is I love to play in the snow and lots of tight windy trails in my area . also love to dd my toys and didn't want full locked on roads . so I picked 2 ARB units for the truck 60/14ff both done.
and I also run a gov-loc in my plow truck k30 and I don't spare it any beating . she still workin great to this day . dd / play / plow / recovery duty for stuck trucks.
I blew up my gov lock, never pulled it apart to see what happened to it.
There was OX locker which was cable actuated, I think only available for Dana axles though.
Just thought, Yukon has a zip locker which is a E locker I believe.
There was OX locker which was cable actuated, I think only available for Dana axles though.
Just thought, Yukon has a zip locker which is a E locker I believe.
My bad its a air locker, and they do have one.
http://http://www.ringpinion.com/b2c/PartCats.aspx?SearchMode=Brand&BrandID=30
http://http://www.ringpinion.com/b2c/PartCats.aspx?SearchMode=Brand&BrandID=30
Detroits get a rap for being tempermental on the street, but if you keep your tire pressures and wheel diameters equal on the axle, they aren't too bad. They're just a little more sensitive than some other options. If you've got the scratch for it, selectable lockers are the way to go though.
I didn't find it a problem in the snow either, unless you were intentionally screwing around.
Keeping the tires together (eliminating the one-tire-spinning syndrome) is my goal in adding some form of traction control. But kicking the rear end out under throttle sounds a lot like like what my open diff (1-wheel drive) does currently. So how much difference is there?
I've not had the opportunity to drive a Detroit-equipped vehicle yet...sounds like something to try out before buying. Preferably in snow.
Went through their list of available lockers. And, though I could find parts for a GM 10.5" Yukon zip locker, I could not find the actual locker for sale.
So...we're back down to ARB/gov-lock/Detroit?
Ive driven on the street with a 14 bolt with open, welded, lock right, and Detroit.
After the lock right I was really nervous about going with a Detroit on a street driven rig. Really considered long and hard on a selectable or just getting a factory posi (eaton style, not a gov loc) and finally settled on a Detroit.
Had it for 4 years now on a 90% street driven vehicle. I use my truck to drive to work, pulling, hauling, hunting/fishing, light offroad, and hvac service work and have had absolutely no issues with it. It has a few quirks, occasional (3 times I recall) popping and a bit of locker steer but after years of driving on it I actually prefer it to open spiders on the street. Does great in snow and ice, does good in slick conditions, never once heard it drag a tire on pavement unless I was hard on the gas around a tight turn, no abnormal tire wear and does things most 4x4s wont. Just this last weekend I had to go pull a loaded trailer out of a muddy field for my boss because his truck wouldn't do it.
At one point I considered removing it to use in an offroad only rig and replacing it with open spiders but in the end I would rather spend the money to buy another than remove the one from my dd. I just like it too much.
Personally I wouldn't waste the money on a selectable locker for 14 bolt. I think Detroit is the best option.
After the lock right I was really nervous about going with a Detroit on a street driven rig. Really considered long and hard on a selectable or just getting a factory posi (eaton style, not a gov loc) and finally settled on a Detroit.
Had it for 4 years now on a 90% street driven vehicle. I use my truck to drive to work, pulling, hauling, hunting/fishing, light offroad, and hvac service work and have had absolutely no issues with it. It has a few quirks, occasional (3 times I recall) popping and a bit of locker steer but after years of driving on it I actually prefer it to open spiders on the street. Does great in snow and ice, does good in slick conditions, never once heard it drag a tire on pavement unless I was hard on the gas around a tight turn, no abnormal tire wear and does things most 4x4s wont. Just this last weekend I had to go pull a loaded trailer out of a muddy field for my boss because his truck wouldn't do it.
At one point I considered removing it to use in an offroad only rig and replacing it with open spiders but in the end I would rather spend the money to buy another than remove the one from my dd. I just like it too much.
Personally I wouldn't waste the money on a selectable locker for 14 bolt. I think Detroit is the best option.
