The OEM tie rods are not designed for the push/ pull forces of a locked front diff. They would cave in no time.

 

Anytime someone mentions a front locker this negative nancy response is usually one of the first things posted. If you've never run one yourself, don't comment on it.

I have added a front locker to one of my old trucks, one with an independent front suspension. I carried a spare axle around on off-road trips for years, never needed it. Even drove in the snow alot and was just fine. (Unless the Ford front end is uncharacteristically weak. Which I really doubt given the trucks towing capability and the fact that the front housing is also used in the Raptor)

My advice: If you drive it like you stole it, especially off-road, you'll break something faster with a locker. But that driving style breaks parts anyway. If you drive slow and steady you'll be fine. Best thing about going slow and steady too? You don't shake your passengers around as much. Learn how to get over obstacles with traction and not momentum. You'll be fine and enjoy the ride better for it.

Keep in mind when the front end is under the most stress, such as when turning, and go easier on the throttle then, and you'll be fine. Even off-road. From someone with EXPERIENCE.

 

Thanks kytann. It's nice to know that it's at least possible with an ifs setup. Even though the question was if anyone added a locker, I knew I would get the "don't do it, because I think it's stupid" comments. Oh well, you can't make everyone happy.

 

Especially on the internet

 

Alrighty rocket man, let's here your recipe for it and then your explanation as to WHY Ford/ GM/ and Dodge do not offer it on any of their IFS vehicles that I am aware of, and for the most part never have?

My experience: Well, lets see, pretty much every 4 wheel drive we have at the farm has a front air lock added. I have been hands on doing that, and also hands on when they fail and need to be repaired. I'm no mechanic, but I understand the fundamentals of it. The funny thing to note is that we don't add them to the new half tons we have. Why? They fly apart. Only the solid axle drive lines have a locker on them for a reason- but hell, don't take my word for it. The two mechanics at the farm make that call, you know, since they only have about 50 years experience between the two of them.

I do challenge you though, go online, find me some positive information that adding a front locker to your IFS vehicle is a good idea and easily doable and reliable. Let me know what you come up with. Had you, for even three seconds, read what my posts were and actually comprehended it, you would see that it's something I want to do, and I know it can be done, but things need to be beefed up because the OEM parts do not handle it well- they may handle it- but not well.

Man, if you're going to comment just to be a d1ck, move on. The drama squad around here is getting really old.

 

I don't think it's stupid at all, that's why I'm here and explained I have been researching it, and want to see the same thing you do.

 

No this is good. This is exactly what I was asking for. It sounds like you have actual experience. I just want the people who have never tried it to not chime in with an uninformed opinion.

So which one of the newer half tons have you put a locker in, and had it fly apart? Oh wait... I see, you haven't done it, you just assume it cannot be done. How do you know that without trying? The front diff in the F150 is already beefed up for the tow ratings and because it's used in the Raptor. We have the same Differential housing that the raptor has. So the housing and the bearing carriers and such are already beefy enough to handle the load. My opinion, and my eventual plan, it to get one and try it. Only AFTER i do that and grenade it will I start posting **** about how it's a bad idea.

And you sound like the one in the drama squad. I'm not trying to be a dick, I just get tired of mis-information constantly being propagated as fact.
I just want people with actual experience to be posting, not regurgitating some internet rumors.

I HAVE put a locker in a half ton independent suspension. Everyone said I would explode it, and you know what, it never did. Never. I didn't beef up any other parts, and in fact I used the cheapest locker, a lunchbox locker, because that was all I could afford. I had it on my truck for probably 50k miles, several off-road trips up through the mountains of Colorado, and every winter through the snow here in Minnesota. No failures. No CV failures, to tie rod failures, no nothing. No undue noises from the front end, no wierd traction issues in the snow. I will admit to driving slow and sane. After all my truck was my baby, I didn't want to break it. And with a locker you should be able to go slower. No need to get up momentum to bounce over obstacles, you just leave it in gear and crawl over them. Slow and comfortable.
Admittedly, mine wasn't in a newer F150, but these New F150's are alot beefier than my old truck, and not much heavier.

As far as your challenge, I don't need to find examples online, because I HAVE DONE IT. If you are too scared to try, then that's your problem.

But I bet you also cannot find me an example of someone putting a locker in the front of one of our newer F150's (say 2004+) and having a failure (I should note, a failure when being driven responsibly). And I don't mean an H2, we all admit GM's engineering is sub-par compared to Fords, so I would never expect the H2 to hold up to a locker.


Note: I do not get passionate like this over subjects in which I do not have experience. I do in this one, so I feel strongly about it.

 

That's fine, I can respect that and I will move along.

 

The one thing that comes to mind is the auto unlock that the factory rear diff has built in. If the front diff was wired in parallel to the rear one, then it would unlock at 30mph. I guess the front end might not survive rock crawling, but for dirt I wonder if it wouldn't be OK. Personally, I know that I sure could could have used a front locker a few weeks ago on some really greasy grass.

 

I wouldn't say it works better just they use different methods of doing the same thing.

My mechanical one works the instant the wheel slips and it great, have used it several times.

The electronic brakes the one wheel to transfer power through the open diff essentially locking the two.

I myself prefer mechanical as if and when something goes I can fix it whereas electric I couldn't even begin! lol

Front limited in the snow would be cool!