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What locker to get?

Locker

  • Total voters
    13
Thomas Fournier

Thomas Fournier

1/2 ton status
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I just went to change my rear differential oil and found out my ring and pinion are going south, and quik! I was wondering what locker I should get, I'm on a budget here and wanted to know if I do the rebuild with 4.56 gears, since I have a 44 ready with 4.56 for the front, I figured I would have the driveline ship toss a locker into it. But what locker should I get, a Detroit sounds awsome but pretty crummy on the street. The shop is suggesting I get a "factory style clutch type" locker. Also I just want down right reliability with this. Thoughts?​

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I'd have a hard time spending money on gears and a locker for a 10 bolt (assuming that's what you have?).

Have you thought about finding a military 14b FF that would already have the 4.56 gears and a Detroit stuffed in it?
 
It is a 14bff factory with 4.10s. Its a k20 Scottsdale. I could do the rebuild w/detroit locker for around 1400, ALL brand new, it's kind tempting. Here in cali there aren't many military axels anymore.

I also have a dana 44 in the back already regarded to 4.56, so until I can afford a 60 I figured why not.
 
I'm buying a detroit locker to put in mine. About your only other option right now is an ARB, which is expensive, and I'm not thrilled about adding a compressor and air lines and all that.

That said, I know Larry is pulling his detroit and putting in an ARB, because he doesn't like the clunking on long trips. So I guess it just comes down to how you are going to use it.
 
Oh, and as far as I know, there wasn't a factory clutch style. There was the gov loc, which would require a different carrier. But it doesn't use clutches, some kind of centrifugal force doohicky.
 
If your going to own the truck a long time and put a lot of pavement miles on it, put in an ARB if you can. Nice to have an open diff for the street, and rear tires last longer...which can significantly offset the cost of the ARB in time.

I got a Detroit 25yrs ago and it hasn't let me down. However, if the ARB was available I would have gone that route.
 
fyi 14ff are the best to learn how to do gears on YOUR SELF ! ! !

save the shop coin and do it your self . hardest part is crush sleave . . . but there is solid pinion spacers now for 14ff to ditch that .

and if me arb for best of both worlds . but if budget I love my 14ff with a gov-loc . . . . and I have a new n.o.s. 4.56up unit I would sell ya .

had a Detroit for around 1 year in the rear . never cared for it on the street . and in the snow season on the street it SUCKED ! needed 4wd to go anywere as the rear always wanted to kick out.
 
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If the truck in your pic is the truck in question, I'd laugh at anyone who says clutch style posi. It has little to no place in a truck that ends up with very little weight on one tire, as the clutch will just slip.

I'm very partial to the gov-lock due to it's street and off-road manners based on how my truck gets used, but offroad it's really not the right setup for those who spin the tires or need both axles locked up all the time, as it locks only with a 100RPM differential side to side, and unlocks at 25MPH (at the diff, so spinning tires=25MPH in a hurry) so you lose traction after gaining it. If quite mild offroad, it's a good setup.

For selectable I'd take an Eaton e-locker over the ARB just because I have no issue with wiring, but I don't know as it's even an option for the 14FF. It's not cheap, this I know.

I'm guessing any of the "real" lockers are going to be cheaper than the above options, although you might be able to find a matching-gear gov-lock axle for reasonably cheap.
 
dyeager535 said:
For selectable I'd take an Eaton e-locker over the ARB just because I have no issue with wiring, but I don't know as it's even an option for the 14FF. It's not cheap, this I know.

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Sadly, it doesn't appear they do. I'd love a cable actuated Ox locker, but they don't make one for 14 bolt either.

You guys are starting to scare me with the detroit locker. But man, the cost of stepping up to an ARB is huge. It might pay for itself in the long run, but with limited funds its all about the up front cost. lol.
 
I've had good luck with my Yukon grizzly's, they are a few bucks cheaper than detroits I believe.
 
The rust pitting on your ring gear is not the worst thing in the world. Just polish it out with a wire brush and run it while you figure out which way you want to go.

Fortunately for you the search function is fixed and you can read all the pros and cons of going gov-lock, lock-right, detroit, 14BSF, 14BFF, etc. 4.56 isn't super rare, but I don't think many (if any) 10-bolts came with that from the factory. So look at finding a whole axle before paying install costs. A new ring and pinion costs more than a 10-bolt axle usually sells for - not to mention install kit and install costs.
 
Blue85 said:
The rust pitting on your ring gear is not the worst thing in the world. Just polish it out with a wire brush and run it while you figure out which way you want to go.

Fortunately for you the search function is fixed and you can read all the pros and cons of going gov-lock, lock-right, detroit, 14BSF, 14BFF, etc. 4.56 isn't super rare, but I don't think many (if any) 10-bolts came with that from the factory. So look at finding a whole axle before paying install costs. A new ring and pinion costs more than a 10-bolt axle usually sells for - not to mention install kit and install costs.
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I don't think I would want to step from an 8-lug 14BFF down to a 6-lug 10-bolt. Lots of work for no net gain. :doah:
 
Phil513 said:
Sadly, it doesn't appear they do. I'd love a cable actuated Ox locker, but they don't make one for 14 bolt either.

You guys are starting to scare me with the detroit locker. But man, the cost of stepping up to an ARB is huge. It might pay for itself in the long run, but with limited funds its all about the up front cost. lol.
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I'm on
Ned Kelly said:
If your going to own the truck a long time and put a lot of pavement miles on it, put in an ARB if you can. Nice to have an open diff for the street, and rear tires last longer...which can significantly offset the cost of the ARB in time.

I got a Detroit 25yrs ago and it hasn't let me down. However, if the ARB was available I would have gone that route.
Click to expand...
It's just the price is insane, maybe go open different for now and set up an arb later on
 
campfire said:
I don't think I would want to step from an 8-lug 14BFF down to a 6-lug 10-bolt. Lots of work for no net gain. :doah:
Click to expand...

Thomas Fournier said:
I think I'm going with the detroit


No I have a 14bff in the rear with a d44 up front. I have an extra 44 w/4.56 gears so I wanted to just match the 14bff
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Oops. When I look at the picture, it's clear it's a 14B axle. Somebody else said 10B and it just made sense since these posts come up all the time.

In the case of the 14BFF, the Detroit is an easy swap, as it's like doing a lock-right or other "lunch-box" in a 1/2-ton axle.
 
Thomas Fournier said:
I'm on

It's just the price is insane, maybe go open different for now and set up an arb later on
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Well, unless the price changes, it will still be insane later on. :doah:

Thomas Fournier said:
No I have a 14bff in the rear with a d44 up front. I have an extra 44 w/4.56 gears so I wanted to just match the 14bff
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It sounded like Luke was recommending downgrading from your FF to the 10-bolt. That's what didn't make sense.
 
Blue85 said:
In the case of the 14BFF, the Detroit is an easy swap, as it's like doing a lock-right or other "lunch-box" in a 1/2-ton axle.
Click to expand...

Yeah, if you're regearing to 4.56 it will be a very small amount of work to add a Detroit to the carrier you already have (assuming it's open).
 
After much waffling, and reading everything I can, I'm going with the detroit. If I hate it down the road, then I'll go to an ARB and end up on a thread like this passing sage advice. If I love it, well, I'll be on a thread like this passing sage advice. lol.
 
Phil513 said:
After much waffling, and reading everything I can, I'm going with the detroit. If I hate it down the road, then I'll go to an ARB and end up on a thread like this passing sage advice. If I love it, well, I'll be on a thread like this passing sage advice. lol.
Click to expand...

Some of us just pass advice without the Italian seasoning. :haha:
 
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