Florida_F150

Cool.

If it were me, I'd go with the locker. I had some time on my hands so I've been looking into this for just for curiosity. (1) For sand, most people seem to say that neither limited slip or locker is all that helpful. Good throttle technique and airing down tires were the most effective. I don't drive on the beach, but my trails have pretty deep sand, and so far I've not had issues with just 4WD and rear either open or locked. (2) Limited Slips in the *front* seem to potentially have some issues. The limited slip is "always on" and working and trying to do its thing, apparently sometimes when you may not want it to. Results: tires chattering, scrubbing, etc. Again, this is not personal experience, but seems to be what many are saying. At least a locker is OFF when not in use, so your truck rides perfectly when its not needed. Plus as mentioned, for serious off-roading, a locker will get you out of or through stuff that an LSD won't. Just my thoughts on it, anyway...

PerryB

You don't want a LS in the front, you want a torque bias differential such as the Torsen (stands for torque sensing). It's a whole different animal. Basically it works on the principle that a screw can drive a gear but a gear can't (in practical applications) drive a screw. It's an ingenious design and works extremely well in the front or rear. Fully automatic and it basically sends the right amount of power to each wheel all the time.

Apples

But if when driving a 2WD you have one rear wheel in the air? over vastly uneven terrain... will it work, then? Like a locker would?

I ask, because there are no selectable lockers available for my '16 8.8 Super (you replied in my thread last week) other than the factory e-locker. I think. Thanks.

PerryB

With a hanging wheel the True-Track won't do any good. The Torsen, I don't know.
If we could just figure out how to incorporate a selectable locker into a TT....
I think I probably said this, but for my driving I'd really like to pull my ELD and put a TT in the back. I put one in the '05 and it's great. PLENTY positive for moderately aggressive wheeling and no one wheel peel in the rain. My son now has the '05 and I like to taunt him about taking my TT back. I wouldn't of course, but it's fun to yank his chain. Payback, you know.

P.S. From everything I've read, If you hang a wheel with the TT, ride a little brake and the the resistance will cause the differential to do its job and send power across to the unloaded wheel. I haven't tried it yet. I'll have to get the kid to take me 'wheeling and we'll hang a wheel and try it. ** That's a bonus, If we break something it's not my problem! Jeez I'm a bad parent.

BigNinja1197

I'm leaning toward the Eaton eLocker. I'm not sure I'd see a "huge" difference between Torsen vs Traction Control, and with an eLocker, I'm assuming when open, the TC would still function as normal. With that being said, I'd have the locker if I ever REALLY got into a sticky situation. I also believe I'm responsible enough to keep it at low speeds and try to stick to straight lines when in use.

I think an earlier post said that the Torsen is maintenance free. After checking the Eaton website, it also claimed that the eLocker was maintenance fee. I'm assuming the wear would be on the axles and front suspension.

Just curious if install is a huge difference. Other than the eLocker needing a hole drilled in the housing and some wiring run.

PARIAH

Have you priced the install? Also, what are the comparative prices between the eLocker and the Torsen?

BigNinja1197

I've found the Torsen through Ford for $660. The eLocker through S3M for $760. In the Q&A section of S3M they estimated 6-8 hrs for install. I'm guessing $100 an hr, so $600-800 for labor on the eLocker which should be slightly more invasive due to wiring.

Haven't done a ton of research though.

Apples

I appreciate the effort you've put into this so far, BN, but I am looking for a selective locker for my 8.8 Super rear axle differential. Mind going back to your OP and in "Go Advanced", editing the thread title to reflect Front Axle? Might better aim any future replies here. Thanks!

PARIAH

I would have thought the Torsen would cost more than the locker.

PerryB

Apples, no ARB air-lock available for the super 8.8? Also, can your axle accept the factory actuator/bulkhead assy or is the housing different with ELD? Sorry for all the questions but I'm interested to see if you pursue this.