This might be a stupid question but I think something is wrong with my truck. I lock my front end up, put the truck in 4wd high and both wheels are spinning. If I turn my steering wheel 10% to the left or right.. the passenger tire stops spinning.

The rear end is funny as well, if I only have the drive rear wheel spinning at all times and there is no power to the passenger wheel.

The way I thought it was suppose to work, you lock the front end, that is locked all the time. The rear end is suppose to lock up when power is applied.

Am I wrong?

 

That is normal for a truck with open/ non limited slip carriers.

 

So the front doesn't really lock up?

 

No, not from the factory.

 

Be thankful it doesn't, most people would be off the road in a heartbeat.

You need to get something like an ARB selectable, so you can turn when necessary.........

 

What about a eaton locker :P

 

Yea, if it locked, it would hop and pop. Especially on asphalt.

 

Can you turn it off?

I always thought you could put a full time locker in and run with one lockout in the free position, but they tell me it doesn't work like you think it should.........

 

I think the Eaton locker only locks when power is applied. If you didn't apply torque and just did a complete turn you would be fine. If you were doing a complete turn and applied massive torqued your axles would eat it. I'm leaning towards the Eaton locker, I like the ARB but 1100 is a too much money.

"The legendary Detroit Locker began the revolution in performance differentials and still leads the industry today as an Eaton brand. The Detroit Locker is the most durable and dependable locking differential available. The Detroit Locker provides maximum traction for off-road or racing use. The heavy-duty case and internals provide a dramatic increase in strength while giving 100% torque to both tires. The mechanically-operated unit works by automatically locking while under power and unlocking when you let off the gas, allowing you to turn. The choice of professional racers and off-road enthusiasts around the world! The durability of the Detroit Locker is unmatched!"

 

Eaton and Detroit lockers are noisy. They will also cause you to wear out tires faster if you run it in the rear.

What do you need a locker for? If it's offroad use only you could run a spool instead of a locker. It's cheaper and works. If you're going to be on ice and roads a locker is best. A Detroit or Eaton locks and unlocks itself. An air locker locks when you turn it on and doesn't disengage until you turn it off.

 

I use my truck mostly for on road use. I was going ice fishing and went down a rough trail to get there. There was a minor hill that I didn't think much of. Before dark I headed home and yep.. I was stuck on that hill. After hooking my 12k wench to a tree my truck slid into a minor gully. If I went forward I would have caused damage. I called my brother and he pulled me out and back down the hill.

After gunning the hill I barely made it up it. He notices that my front tire was spinning and the other one wasn't even going when the truck was straight. I'm thinking something is messed up and I won't know until I take the axle apart. If ARB is the way to go, I'll have to save up for it. It would just be nice in-case this happens. I had it happen last year, the dirt road I live on washed out, I had both front tires on hard pan gravel and my rear was sunk. I bunny hopped like crazy and eventually had to call a tow truck.

 

Your front diff is what they call an open differential. Power is sent to the tire with the least amount of resistance. There is probably nothing wrong with it. They are designed that way to keep from breaking as easy.
There is an old off roader truck of gently mashing the break pedal when you get in a situation like that and you can sometimes trick the other tire into turning.

 

We tried to do that with a piece of wood So is ARB the way to go? I think it would be a good investment. From what I read they're a open diff until you lock it.

 

For selectable lockers, ARB or OXLOCKER.

I used to run a powertrax in the front and it worked ok, alittle noisy and grabby on anything but slippery surfaces though. I would keep my hubs locked in all winter and just change the t-case for 2/4wd.

 

There is also an Eaton "E"locker, which is similar to an ARB except it's controlled electrically instead of pneumaticly. Also, I believe, when disengaged its a limited slip but engaged its a locker.
As far as the off roader trick of using the brake to get both wheels to spin, that only works with a limited slip diff and you should use steady ,light pressure instead of a "mash". Applying the brake equals the resistance between the two tires fooling the limited slip into thinking that both tires are getting even traction.