14bff posi options?

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4WDKC

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My 3/4 axle swap has an open carrier and its ridiculous to have a lifted truck that spins a tire in grass and cant go anywhere with out 4wd. Google has showed me posts are articles about lockers, true tracs, eaton posi etc. What I can't seem to find is if the newer 14bolt axles have a better gov locker, or if there is a way to replace inferior parts with stronger and swap out my one tire fire. I plan only to use the truck for towing cars/house projects, maybe occasional off road, drive in the snow.
 

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Be glad you have an open carrier already. That'll save you some cash. On the 14b FF you split that carrier and install a locker and done. You don't have to buy a whole carrier unit that will be in the $600 range. You can go with a LockRight for about $350-$375 or you can with a Detroit Locker for about $100 more. Yukon Grizzly is another option that's about the same cost as a Detroit Locker.

Or you can go with a ***** Posi. That's for those who can't handle some knocking noise or the occasional tire bark going around a corner. The ***** Posi aka Limited Slip Diff, is much more comfy and quieter. But there's a price to pay for that comfort and quiet too. Many Limited Slip units have clutches in them similar to an Auto Transmission and need replacement after they wear.

Keep in mind, a Locker is Locked up all the time until enough resistance is detected as in turning a corner then the Locker breaks loose until the resistance goes away like after you've completed your turn, then it locks back up. Sometimes they hold on and don't break loose on the turn or they wait a bit to long to unlock and then you might get a tire bark or clunk in the rear end. Nothing wrong if it does, it's the normal for a locker.

***** Posi aka Limited Slip is a peg legger 1 wheel wonder all the time instead of being locked up all the time. When it detects enough slippage and finally decides the axle needs the other wheel to help out, then it'll grab the other axle and then you have 2 wheels with power. Some of them are very quick and work really well.

If you do a Gov Lock you have to change the whole carrier and they're just not worthy. If it was me, I'd just use the carrier you have and add the Locker to it and call it a day then go out and get every which way but straight when you light up both wheels.
 

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Be glad you have an open carrier already. That'll save you some cash. On the 14b FF you split that carrier and install a locker and done. You don't have to buy a whole carrier unit that will be in the $600 range. You can go with a LockRight for about $350-$375 or you can with a Detroit Locker for about $100 more. Yukon Grizzly is another option that's about the same cost as a Detroit Locker.

Or you can go with a ***** Posi. That's for those who can't handle some knocking noise or the occasional tire bark going around a corner. The ***** Posi aka Limited Slip Diff, is much more comfy and quieter. But there's a price to pay for that comfort and quiet too. Many Limited Slip units have clutches in them similar to an Auto Transmission and need replacement after they wear.

Keep in mind, a Locker is Locked up all the time until enough resistance is detected as in turning a corner then the Locker breaks loose until the resistance goes away like after you've completed your turn, then it locks back up. Sometimes they hold on and don't break loose on the turn or they wait a bit to long to unlock and then you might get a tire bark or clunk in the rear end. Nothing wrong if it does, it's the normal for a locker.

***** Posi aka Limited Slip is a peg legger 1 wheel wonder all the time instead of being locked up all the time. When it detects enough slippage and finally decides the axle needs the other wheel to help out, then it'll grab the other axle and then you have 2 wheels with power. Some of them are very quick and work really well.

If you do a Gov Lock you have to change the whole carrier and they're just not worthy. If it was me, I'd just use the carrier you have and add the Locker to it and call it a day then go out and get every which way but straight when you light up both wheels.


I was hoping for a cheap swap something like a gov lock from a newer truck with upgraded parts to be stronger, locker sounds great but not sure how it would act backing a trailer up. Are the eatons designed to do that? The Limited slip in my old camaro, s10 and the one in my Vette are locked all the time till I make a turn and the the over power the springs to disengage and left matching black marks.
 

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I thought lockers worked normally as a single wheel until there was enough of a slip that it engages and locks the two axle wheels together and forces them to turn at the same rate?

I may be wrong, but isn't the downside to LSDs that when you lose grip on one tire, it transfers power to the wheel with traction, which may cause that one to slip, and then transfers it back and forth between wheels?
 

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I thought lockers worked normally as a single wheel until there was enough of a slip that it engages and locks the two axle wheels together and forces them to turn at the same rate?

I may be wrong, but isn't the downside to LSDs that when you lose grip on one tire, it transfers power to the wheel with traction, which may cause that one to slip, and then transfers it back and forth between wheels?

I would think that having the rpm from a tire slipping instantly locking to a tire with traction would break all kinds of things. I remember when in High school someone had a tpi firebird with LS diff and it would alternate which tires left a mark in the same burnout. My 97 Z28 with LS did not work like that.
 

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There are no upgrades for the Gov Lock diffs. They wear out and or according to the nickname GovBomb, blow up pretty frequently. I have an 1988 V20 Suburban with a factory 4spd manual. When I still had the factory 3/4ton axles, I put a detroit locker in the rear axle. Night and day difference. The longer the wheelbase the less noticeable a locker is in the rear. Manual transmission vehicles are also know to get that pop and bang from a locker. I had neither in my Burb. It was completely unnoticed until you need the traction. I pulled with my Burb frequently before I ton swapped, put a doubler in, and locked front and rear axles. My experience is with the Detroit, but I hear the Yukon Grizzly is a great product. I would not mess with a limited slip in truck or larger vehicle. I even put a detroit locker in my 91 Z28 camaro, because limited slips dont do it for me. A detroit or grizzly is an autolocker. They unlock around turns, they lock when there is any wheel slip. It takes a minimal amount of slip to kick in. Detroits have been in military vehicles, grain trucks, commerical trucks since the 50's. I think you will be happy with one. Its a night and day difference. You will be able to do in two wheel drive what you struggled with in unlocked 4wd.
 

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put in a Detroit Locker and be done with it. highdesertranger
 

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I thought lockers worked normally as a single wheel until there was enough of a slip that it engages and locks the two axle wheels together and forces them to turn at the same rate?

I may be wrong, but isn't the downside to LSDs that when you lose grip on one tire, it transfers power to the wheel with traction, which may cause that one to slip, and then transfers it back and forth between wheels?


No, what you're explaining as a locker, is a Limited Slip Diff. Lockers stay locked until they need to be unlocked, like when they feel heavy resistance going into a turn or a corner, the overcome that resistance and let loose. This is why lockers can be uncomfy and noisy. Sometimes they won't even unlock and you might bark a tire turning a corner or feel it slightly binding before it finally lets loose.

Now a Limited Slip is just what you said. When one wheels slips enough, as in a limited amount, it then realizes it needs some help and grabs the other wheel to help out then releases as soon the need is not longer needed and it goes back to a one wheel drive. Usually the slip amount is about a 3/4 wheel turn when it realizes it needs help and by a full turn, it's got the other wheel hooked up too. And you're also right, some LSD systems don't even grab the other wheel, they just pass the buck and transfer power to the other wheel, and then when it's decided that neither wheel has traction then it'll decided to lock up, so it can take some time for the LSD to get the job done. Some systems are better than other bottom line. Other thing about LSD's many of the them have clutches in them just like auto transmission clutch packs. When the clutches wear out, no more LSD.

This is why I prefer lockers. Sure they're uncomfy at times, noisy at times, but unless you have a quiet exhaust system, you're not likely to hear them either.
 

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I have a detroit locker in the 14FF in my truck and I tow with it. The locker will lock or stay locked when you give it gas (when there is torque demand on the driveshaft). If your coasting or very light on the throttle and it feels you are going around a corner it will unlock. Stabbing the throttle in a corner will then cause it to clunk and lock back up. If you are on snow or gravel this can cause the back end to slide out (can be fun if you're expecting it)

Now when towing- it often will not unlock going around corners (as when pulling something heavy you are often on the gas more to get it moving). So it is a bit rough on the rear tires. The inside one will have to "spin to catch up with the outside tire" even on pavement when making a sharp turn.

The other option and I believe it is more expensive is the Eaton tru trac. It is a limited slip type diff- but no clutches. No special gear fluid. No noise. No added tire wear. It just has special gears in it. I have one in the front axle. A friend put one in the rear end of his Silverado and pulls a trailer. He doesn't even know it is there. The second a tire things about slipping it engages the other tire for traction. The bad? If you have one tire with ZERO traction (up in the air) then you are stuck. To transfer power over then you need to do the brake trick. Hit the brake pedal at the same time, this stops the free spinning tire- and then it transfers power to the other tire. As far as winter driving it is more "consistent" I guess I'd say... because you aren't wondering if it is suddenly going to lock or unlock on you in a corner.
 

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Well hell yes it can cause the back end to slide out. Can be Fun?!?!? IT IS FUN !!! That's what checking the posi is all about brother !!! Every which way but straight !!! :laughing1: That's always been my moto !!! Gotta check the posi (locker) make sure it's still working !!! :waytogo: That's just mandatory !!! I'd hate to get out somewhere and need it and find it's not working you know. :shrug:
 

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No, what you're explaining as a locker, is a Limited Slip Diff. Lockers stay locked until they need to be unlocked, like when they feel heavy resistance going into a turn or a corner, the overcome that resistance and let loose. This is why lockers can be uncomfy and noisy. Sometimes they won't even unlock and you might bark a tire turning a corner or feel it slightly binding before it finally lets loose.

Now a Limited Slip is just what you said. When one wheels slips enough, as in a limited amount, it then realizes it needs some help and grabs the other wheel to help out then releases as soon the need is not longer needed and it goes back to a one wheel drive. Usually the slip amount is about a 3/4 wheel turn when it realizes it needs help and by a full turn, it's got the other wheel hooked up too. And you're also right, some LSD systems don't even grab the other wheel, they just pass the buck and transfer power to the other wheel, and then when it's decided that neither wheel has traction then it'll decided to lock up, so it can take some time for the LSD to get the job done. Some systems are better than other bottom line. Other thing about LSD's many of the them have clutches in them just like auto transmission clutch packs. When the clutches wear out, no more LSD.

This is why I prefer lockers. Sure they're uncomfy at times, noisy at times, but unless you have a quiet exhaust system, you're not likely to hear them either.
A lsd is programmable all you have to do is tighten up the clutches with a bigger shim. It's kind of a pita but not to hard.
 

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A lsd is programmable all you have to do is tighten up the clutches with a bigger shim. It's kind of a pita but not to hard.
That's not true on all LSD units buddy. There are many different types. Like the spiral gear type mentioned above. I've also heard that shimming them to make them tighter so they work better also causes them to wear faster and that also makes senses.
 

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That's not true on all LSD units buddy. There are many different types. Like the spiral gear type mentioned above. I've also heard that shimming them to make them tighter so they work better also causes them to wear faster and that also makes senses.
Ok my bad I should have said clutch type and yes the do wear faster. But you can make them not release if you want to. I went with what I did to help not break stuff. And I got both the posis at little to no cost.
 

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