Traction aid in the front axle or not?

[KD4UPL]

I just bought a 1986 K10 with a 4.3 V6, 4 speed manual, and 31 x 10.50 tires. The glove box says it should have 3.42 axle gears but by turning the wheel and counting driveshaft revolutions it's a 3.08. Also, my speedometer reads about 10% slower than GPS speed so I think that helps confirm the axle ratio is about 10% higher and they didn't change the speedometer gear.
I want to lift it and put 33 x 12.50 tires on it so will be doing a gear swap. While we're at it I'll be putting a traction aid in the rear axle and maybe the front.
I've had several trucks with the G80 in the rear and I really like it. Can they be bought and installed aftermarket?
I've never owned a truck with a limited slip in the front. I've never really had the need for one apparently but I figure as long as it's apart why not? Does anyone have a recommendation for a front axle traction aid (or recommend against one)?
The truck will just be for riding around on gravel and dirt roads. It won't likely be doing any four wheeling where you can't take a stock truck. I would like it to do well in snow however.
Thanks for you suggestions.

 

[Darty03]

I took the clutch limited slip (don't know the brand) out of my factory 10 bolt rear and put it in the 10bolt/dana44 front axle and I like it. I've never driven it on the road in snow or icy conditions though. As long as you have the hubs unlocked you don't know it's there (obviously), but when they are locked you can feel it grabbing while turning sharp. I've never used it in the snow so I cant say how it will act. I feel like it might cause the truck to want to under steer but I could be wrong. I have always used the truck in sand/dunes, mud, or rocky trails. It makes a huge difference in the sand and climbing rocks. I would not put a g80 or any type of locker in the front axle. A trail only rig sure, but not something for dirt roads etc. It will be to unpredictable and you are a lot more likely to break the little dana44.

 

[nvrenuf]

I have front lockers in my Blazer and my wife’s Jeep but not in my daily Dodge 4wd, I just don’t use the daily in a way that needs the locker.

A front locker would be a great option, I guess it really boils it down cost vs use.

 

[Zelph]

A tru trac in the front is a good option, as well as the rear.
Obviously a selectable locker gives the best of both worlds, but cost much more.
The GM 10 in front will hold up just fine.
You are not sending monster power levels through it, and don’t mash the gas when the wheels are turned as that’s when the axle u joints are at their weakest.

 

[Turbo4whl]

I have TruTrac's in 2 trucks, very smooth operation. They do have a flaw, they don't lock well in reverse. Because of this, make sure the TruTrac you chose is for the front axle if's that is where you plan to install it.

G80 with it's "govern bomb" nick name were designed for Mom and Pop America. Normal driving they work well. High load and high power starts will destroy them.

 

[Bennyt]

I had a Tru-Trac in the D44 front of my K5. Absolutely loved it!!!

 

[CalSgt]

The truck will just be for riding around on gravel and dirt roads. It won't likely be doing any four wheeling where you can't take a stock truck. I would like it to do well in snow however.
Thanks for you suggestions.

Leave the front open…. I’m not opposed to putting a locking differential in the front but it doesn’t seem like you need one for your intended use.

I daily drove my K10 with an open front for 12 years in harsh California winters with no issues to speak of.

For more serious off roading I would recommend an air or electronic locking front but those are the most expensive followed by a tru trac as a second more affordable option.

 

[PrairieDrifter]

It's pretty much pointless unless you use 4 wheel drive all the time.

I'm from up north and I only lock 4wd in a few times a winter. Always in 2wd unless 4wd is needed. I really think anything that's not a selectable locker up front would hurt slick road performance.

And if you're doing real wheeling with any regularity, you'd rather have a locker not posi.

Posi up front sounds real pointless in my opinion. A selectable locker yes, it has its purpose and works well up front. I see no benefit from a posi up front honestly, maybe straight line off-road drag racing... the cons definitely outweigh any kind of benefit if you could even name one.

Selectable locker or open diff for sure. Selectable if you've got the money, open if you don't.

Open diff front will pretty much take you anywhere, with what you stated your intended use is. Would be plenty good enough.

Selectable locker would be a cough up the extra cash and build it once and never think about it again deal. Will "outdrive" the skills of most people. Then like said above, the best of both worlds, open and lockable.

 

[Zelph]

“It's pretty much pointless unless you use 4 wheel drive all the time”

Isn’t N Dakota the flattest state? With the least amount of mountains.
Maybe it’s pointless on flat ground, but not for hills/mountains. A locker/posi in front is absolutely better than in the rear for climbing hills. Push vs pull and getting sideways.

 

[Old Guy Bill]

I'm running TruTrac diffs in rear & front.
Haven't used the front but twice just in an open field.. seemed really smooth..

 

[PrairieDrifter]

“It's pretty much pointless unless you use 4 wheel drive all the time”

Isn’t N Dakota the flattest state? With the least amount of mountains.
Maybe it’s pointless on flat ground, but not for hills/mountains. A locker/posi in front is absolutely better than in the rear for climbing hills. Push vs pull and getting sideways.

lol no it's not the flattest state at all. East side of the river, that half is pretty flat, but the west half is all rolling prairie, badlands, buttes, hills are endless, plenty of steep grades. I really can't think of anywhere that's even a little flat for any amount of good distance on the west side. Very few dead straight roads for any distance. I'm on the west side of the river.

I stated a selectable locker is the best option. Pulling with both front wheels is definitely a pro, about the only one for his type of use. But definitely not necessary. Daily my burban year round, in one of the harshest states in the country. Hardly ever need four wheel drive with good tires and driving skill. It's not a safety concern in the slightest.

I've never once threw it in 4wd when I needed and thought I needed any more than a rear posi/locker, other than a selectable front locker(for wheeling, not really on road). You lock the front in and it pulls? Never had an ass end trying to come around because I don't have a posi upfront issue? Manufacturers never did it, for any extent of time anyways. It's a non issue really. All you gain is two front wheels spinning all the time.

I just don't think a posi upfront would work out good on slippery curvy roads and turns with the hubs locked, maybe not so bad with 4 wheel locked in. But if I'm expecting to need 4 wheel I want to lock the hubs and leave them locked, but not be in 4 wheel the whole time, which I believe would be an issue. Wheeling is a different story. But he said he's only going to do a little bit of wheeling.

The ones who said they worked good havent driven them in icy snowy conditions or on slick roads with the hubs locked in. Most of my statements are based on slick road driving.

I've been driving in snow my whole life lol. I've got more snow miles than most people have in regular miles. Never crashed once. Don't drive like a grandpa neither. Pulled many many people out, never been stuck. "Oh well you just ain't trying" say that to my face and get in my truck then

 

[77Dmax]

I have a '17 rubicon as a DD. I live in the mountains. Having the abilty to lock both axles has gotten me home more than once. It snows like hell here and the roads are barely maintained, if it all in some places. Cell service is largely non-existent.

So one benefit, is not walking in -30° weather..

 

[AuroraGirl]

lol no it's not the flattest state at all. East side of the river, that half is pretty flat, but the west half is all rolling prairie, badlands, buttes, hills are endless, plenty of steep grades. I really can't think of anywhere that's even a little flat for any amount of good distance on the west side. Very few dead straight roads for any distance. I'm on the west side of the river.

I stated a selectable locker is the best option. Pulling with both front wheels is definitely a pro, about the only one for his type of use. But definitely not necessary. Daily my burban year round, in one of the harshest states in the country. Hardly ever need four wheel drive with good tires and driving skill. It's not a safety concern in the slightest.

I've never once threw it in 4wd when I needed and thought I needed any more than a rear posi/locker, other than a selectable front locker(for wheeling, not really on road). You lock the front in and it pulls? Never had an ass end trying to come around because I don't have a posi upfront issue? Manufacturers never did it, for any extent of time anyways. It's a non issue really. All you gain is two front wheels spinning all the time.

I just don't think a posi upfront would work out good on slippery curvy roads and turns with the hubs locked, maybe not so bad with 4 wheel locked in. But if I'm expecting to need 4 wheel I want to lock the hubs and leave them locked, but not be in 4 wheel the whole time, which I believe would be an issue. Wheeling is a different story. But he said he's only going to do a little bit of wheeling.

The ones who said they worked good havent driven them in icy snowy conditions or on slick roads with the hubs locked in. Most of my statements are based on slick road driving.

I've been driving in snow my whole life lol. I've got more snow miles than most people have in regular miles. Never crashed once. Don't drive like a grandpa neither. Pulled many many people out, never been stuck. "Oh well you just ain't trying" say that to my face and get in my truck then

the point about driving in 4wd in curves and roads is a good point because two LOCKED fronts would not like the behavior of shift on the fly, turned wheel and i could see it tending to try and deviate you from your path/arc becuase of the nature of it.

But most the t cases arent meant to go that fast in these trucks. iirc the max speed was intended to be 55 mph in 4hi on the later 208/241 or whatever

 

[KD4UPL]

Thanks for all the replies. It sounds like for snow driving a front locker or posi might be a bad idea. Here in VA our snows are usually 8" or less so you're not really trying to plow thru deep snow.
Now, to decide what to put in the rear diff. I'm sure there are tons of threads on that to read thru.
Does anybody happen to know a good shop to swap the gears in the Shenandoah Valley area of VA?

 

[AuroraGirl]

Thanks for all the replies. It sounds like for snow driving a front locker or posi might be a bad idea. Here in VA our snows are usually 8" or less so you're not really trying to plow thru deep snow.
Now, to decide what to put in the rear diff. I'm sure there are tons of threads on that to read thru.
Does anybody happen to know a good shop to swap the gears in the Shenandoah Valley area of VA?

not necessarily, posi would be fine. slower speeds, good tires, i doubt a smooth clutch based posi would be bad ever
but posi that dont share power smoothly would amplify the harshness when turning, but it all depends. selectable lockers are selectable and lets you have traction in the worst of it but open when not needed. just gotta use the right one. realize too the front axle bits are spinning backwards, and wear on the coast side of the ring gear, so it sounds like specialized front locker versions of them needed where things like not working in reverse in the rear ends would be needed or else they would only work in reverse up front