A cheaper option (and to me better then a auto locker) is installing a mini-spool. I don't even know if they are available for the 11.5, but if they are it's a cheap and easy way to get the rear end locked up. Then all you have to do is drop the carrier out, remove the spider gears and install this little unit and flop the carrier back in, no reason to have to reset the gears.

The downside to a spool is that the axle is locked up 100% so your going to scuff the inside tire in every tight turn and that will add to tire wear. The nice thing about them over a auto locker is they don't have the unpredictable nature of loading and unloading on long sweeping turns...

 

That, and every time you hit the throttle a little hard in a turn the truck's going to want to swap ends on you. Which on the days you need a locker, can lead to getting really stuck.

 

Yep, that's sure a good point. One great feature of having an open differential is the ability of the non-spinning wheel to anchor the truck from going sideways, especially on a side hill. For that reason, I don't think I'd install any locker in my truck unless it was selectable. Sometimes it just works better not to have the wheels locked together when the traction's bad.

To the OP, I don't have lockers, but I keep a set of tire chains in a rubbermaid bin behind the seat. They don't get used often, but they are my "safety net" in case I have to drive through some nasty snow. Maybe a set would keep you out of trouble until the snow goes away.

 

Yes it will act exactly like an auto locker when your on the throttle... The difference is that an auto locker might decide to ratchet at any given time and add a shock value to the ride...

 

I found the trick to an auto-locker was to not modulate the throttle.

I just don't think the drive-ability issues with a spool would be worth the trade-off. Especially under load.

 

Most LSDs can only Bias torque, which means they provide a multiple of the low-traction tire to the tire with more traction.

But anything times zero is zero. I doubt that you had zero torque, though. Especially with a fairly decent tire.



I've been wrestling with this issue myself lately, albeit on my older truck with different axles.

There is no substitute for locking differentials. Period.

LSDs help a lot, and are sufficient under many conditions, and even preferable under some uncommon other conditions.

But a locker is a locker and the only way to assure 50/50 torque split to each end of a driven axle.

I like the idea of an LSD in the rear and a selectable locker up front. That doesn't make that much sense, though, since you bought the compressor and such already for the front-- might as well do the rear, too.


Dual selectable lockers is the way to go if you really want to avoid getting stuck.

Since you pay so much for labor and setup just doing ANY differential work, I don't see how it makes much sense to try and save a couple bucks with an LSD.