Off Roading front axle LSD's

[CFast]

A couple months ago I asked about putting a detroit locker in the front diff and everyone said go with a winch. Winches are expensive and i found some Tracl-ocs on ebay cheap. Anyone run one of these in the front axle in the mud, sand, snow? or what about the lock right's by power trax?

 

[CyberRanger]

Generally speaking, unless you offroad your truck exclusively, you'll want a traction device you can turn on & off. When you get on ice, on highway, & slip it into 4Hi, a limited slip would be a lot better than a Detroit Locker. A ratcheting device like a Detroit would make things very interesting... bad interesting. A limited slip, like a PowerLok or the like still makes slippery on highway driving a little too interesting, but not as bad as a locker/ratcheting device.



Ideally you'd want something that is controlled in-cab that goes from unlocked, to limited slip, to locked, on the front axle. So far no one has developed anything quite like that, but I do know someone who is workin' on one. Hasn't gotten a good workin' prototype yet.



Personally, I'd recommended a limited slip like a PowerLok on the front axle. That, or an in-cab controlled locker like an ARB or Ox Locker (air controlled & cable controlled respectively. )



BTW, a Trac-Lok functions almost identically to a PowerLok, but the PowerLok is a lot more reliable & works better functionally. In a front end, the friction pack of a Trac-Lok wouldn't last too long.

 

[XJSuperman]

I agree with the trac-loc... or trash loc as it;s so lovingly called in the jeep world. But if you just put a limited slip in the front end it's doubtful you;d even know it while driving on the road... unless they are extremly tight they still allow for wheel differentiation... unlike a locker which can cause some issues on the street.

 

[CFast]

well i scored a tracloc off ebay for 44 bucks. Took the truck out sunday for some off roading. Did good I thought. I redid the tracloc in the rear, what a difference!