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Any Drawbacks with Eaton E-locker in DD?

jeff in co

jeff in co

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OK, before I bite the bullet in the next day or so.....are there any drawbacks having an Eaton E-Locker on 35's into a 9.5 SF axle? Realistically, the truck does not get off road too much and is mostly driven by my 17 year old daughter back and forth to school. I hoping to take it out on occasion and start having some fun.

But, I just want to be sure that it's performance on the Freeway is rock solid and I don't have to worry about my daughter driving it. I want it to be as reliable or better, than my current 10 bolt open diff.

I plan on having our local diff shop to the install along with new gears if necessary.

Thanks in advance!
 
I can't see there being a drawback. If it works like an air locker, it runs open or locked with a push of a button. Unlocked for the street and locked for the dirt. I don't know about reliability, never had one, but I can't see one locking and unlocking while driving, causing an unsafe driving condition. Other than that, I drive mine with a detroit and it doesn't act funny on the freeway.
 
From what I have HEARD, they are pretty tough. Only downside I could see, as I have noticed it in mine, is its easier to spin out in the snow or rain with liberal use of the skinny pedal. I accidentally spun a complete 360 in my Burb when I first got the big block going good pulling out on the highway in rain kinda sorta infront of a car being impatient. :haha:
 
454Sub said:
From what I have HEARD, they are pretty tough. Only downside I could see, as I have noticed it in mine, is its easier to spin out in the snow or rain with liberal use of the skinny pedal. I accidentally spun a complete 360 in my Burb when I first got the big block going good pulling out on the highway in rain kinda sorta infront of a car being impatient. :haha:
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learned all about posi's doing that in my vette back in 87...:whistle:

puckered up so bad I got hemorrhoids:whistle::doah::haha:...

iirc, Eaton E-lockers are what was in the H2's...
 
Yes, it scared the h#ll out of me. And sadly, I had droven it up to that point for about 3 years. :rolleyes: Just jumped the gun a bit trying to beat traffic and yea. I could see the white in that chics eyes from my birds eye view right into her little Honda. All she probably seen was frame rails and open headers.
 
Great, thanks all for the comments. I just wanted to be sure I wasn't jumping into a big head ache rather than a blessing. I'll probably drop it off at the diff shop later today and get this baby done!

It's been a long haul (thanks Irish for the help along the way!)
 
Not sure what your desired usage is, one thing I wasn't really happy to see was that you aren't supposed to engage it while moving.

Probably not a concern to most everyone, but compared to say, the Gov-lock, Torsen-style, or Posi, you apparently will have to stop to engage.
 
dyeager535 said:
Not sure what your desired usage is, one thing I wasn't really happy to see was that you aren't supposed to engage it while moving.

Probably not a concern to most everyone, but compared to say, the Gov-lock, Torsen-style, or Posi, you apparently will have to stop to engage.
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I'm good with that. I'll just tell my daughter to NOT touch the locker switch and I'll be good. :waytogo:
 
Yea....
In the wet ,the Posi in our Tundra will put you into a wall if ya ain't careful... :haha:
Smashing the gas in the rain, will assuredly produce a sweet drift, tho... :whistle:

6" lifted truck, drifting..... So safe. :haha:
 
I have had my E-locker in my 14bolt SF for a few thousand miles, like others say, you don't know it is there till you hit the switch. It is the same diff GM uses in the H2 so I figured it would have reliability since we have yet to see one fail around these parts.
 
Great to hear. I just went out and picked it up and it looks great! And, as a bonus, it came in cheaper than I had planned.....sweet! :waytogo:
 
dyeager535 said:
Not sure what your desired usage is, one thing I wasn't really happy to see was that you aren't supposed to engage it while moving.

Probably not a concern to most everyone, but compared to say, the Gov-lock, Torsen-style, or Posi, you apparently will have to stop to engage.
Click to expand...

Yes you don't want lock it in while moving, I found out the hard way and now have a non-functioning locker in 00 GMC Sierra.
 
Duntz00 said:
Yes you don't want lock it in while moving, I found out the hard way and now have a non-functioning locker in 00 GMC Sierra.
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Good to know....appreciate the heads-up.:thumb:

So, does the ARB also behave the same way (Need to stop before engaging)?? Just curious.
 
Not sure on the ARB's....

I'm going to fix mine hopefully soon...
 
dyeager535 said:
Not sure what your desired usage is, one thing I wasn't really happy to see was that you aren't supposed to engage it while moving.

Probably not a concern to most everyone, but compared to say, the Gov-lock, Torsen-style, or Posi, you apparently will have to stop to engage.
Click to expand...


Locking it while moving is fine, just don't lock it while spinning one wheel.
 
driney said:
Locking it while moving is fine, just don't lock it while spinning one wheel.
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I'd have to disagree with ya, got one in my 00 GMC that is broke because of locking it in while moving not spinning.
 
driney said:
Locking it while moving is fine, just don't lock it while spinning one wheel.
Click to expand...


I think I'll go with Eaton on this one:

"WARNING! - Only engage the Eaton ELocker™ differential while the vehicle is stationary or operating at speeds of 3 mph or less with minimal wheel slippage. Engaging the Eaton ELocker™ while the wheel is spinning at a high rate or the vehicle is moving at more that 3 mph may damage the differential’s engagement pins or lock collar will be considered improper or abnormal use voiding the warranty. Eaton will reject warranty claims if the returned Eaton ELocker™ has engagement pins or lock collars damaged by operation contrary to this warning."

http://www.eaton.com/ecm/groups/public/@pub/@eaton/@per/documents/content/ct_128304.pdf

While technically 3MPH is moving, that's not "oh crap I need a locker right now!" territory.
 
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