Locking Front Diff.

jonny72888 · January 27, 2011

Hey guys. I have a '07 1500 silverado with autotrak.

I wanted to get some better traction in the snow and mud. I think a front locker would be best for that. Anyone add on the their trucks?

66 ROG · January 27, 2011

A locker in the front isn't going to allow you to turn very well at all. It will want to slide the front tires the same as being in 4x4 instead of auto.

jonny72888 · January 28, 2011

Thats fine, Its not going to be used on road.

Just something better than the open diff.

hy_69 · January 28, 2011

A locker in the front isn't going to allow you to turn very well at all. It will want to slide the front tires the same as being in 4x4 instead of auto.

but if he doesn't have 4wd engaged the transfer wont transmit power to front dif... meaning the front diff wont receive forward pressure meaning it wont lock... right? isn't this the way mechanic locking differential works? like lock-rite??? the lock when they get pressure from the axle and then they release the locking when you let go the gas.... if this is the way it goes! then i think you should get a locker in the front! but i think you may have to forget about 4wd auto??

clemsonblozz · January 28, 2011

I doubt there is any demand for a air locker or any type of locker for the GMT800 and 900 front ends, as unless you are rock crawling or something, you aren't going to run a front locker.

jonny72888 · January 28, 2011

I was thinking about a E locker. It would be a open diff or a locked one when ever I want. I think the truck would be so much better with locking front and rear.

I couldnt find any for the truck tho. Does anyone know where i should look? What part is it replacing?

clemsonblozz · January 28, 2011

E- and Air lockers are great... Kinda pricey,, but they are nice to have the lock and unlock function..

Just finding one for the GMT-800 and 900 trucks will be the trick,, as most people who have those trucks don't use them for hard core off roading.. The locker market is going after the solid front axle crowd,, like a 10 bolt, dana 44 and 60, etc.

But, if there is one to be found, someone on here would be able to tell you!

jonny72888 · January 28, 2011

E- and Air lockers are great... Kinda pricey,, but they are nice to have the lock and unlock function..

Just finding one for the GMT-800 and 900 trucks will be the trick,, as most people who have those trucks don't use them for hard core off roading.. The locker market is going after the solid front axle crowd,, like a 10 bolt, dana 44 and 60, etc.

But, if there is one to be found, someone on here would be able to tell you!

I had one in my Jeep. It was a danna 44. It cost me $1100 installed. I plan on keeping the truck for awhile and getting a plow for it. It would be nice not to have to worry about getting stuck as much.

chas0218 · January 28, 2011

You want a locker or limited slip. My truck has a limited slip front diff and is nice for driving on and off road. At least I think its a LSD when on dry pavement the front end chucks and drives real hard in 4WD

chakis24 · January 28, 2011

i dont think they even make a front locker for our trucks- at one point i looked and couldnt find it. i totally agree though- fully locked front and rear would be pretty sweet. but the ifs on these trucks is just too fragile for it i believe. i think there are limited slips that you can get though- which is better than nothing and would be streetable.

chakis24 · January 28, 2011

You want a locker or limited slip. My truck has a limited slip front diff and is nice for driving on and off road. At least I think its a LSD when on dry pavement the front end chucks and drives real hard in 4WD

no thats not what that is- your front end has an open diff. your ruining your truck doing that. youre binding up your front end and it will break. 4wd should never be used on dry pavement.

chakis24 · January 28, 2011

A locker in the front isn't going to allow you to turn very well at all. It will want to slide the front tires the same as being in 4x4 instead of auto.

but if he doesn't have 4wd engaged the transfer wont transmit power to front dif... meaning the front diff wont receive forward pressure meaning it wont lock... right? isn't this the way mechanic locking differential works? like lock-rite??? the lock when they get pressure from the axle and then they release the locking when you let go the gas.... if this is the way it goes! then i think you should get a locker in the front! but i think you may have to forget about 4wd auto??

a locker can be engaged whether there is power to wheels or not- unless there is a fail safe that doesnt allow the front locker to engage unless 4wd is also engaged to help avoid accidental engagement.

TRCM · January 28, 2011

In snow/ice & mud, totally locked front & rear will not steer well, if at all.

A locked front will have both front tires spinning the exact same rpm, which will not allow turning if they have equal traction. Think about it, to turn, you have to turn the wheels, but you also have to have the front tires turning at different rpm (which allows the different radius travelled needed to turn). A locker will not allow this under any kind of power. You will end up with both tires spinning and the truck going straight, even with the tires turned (similar to trying to climb out of a deep rut in mud, tires are turned, but you still go straight).

Same reason why my other trucks (locked in the rear, lsd in front), will not turn worth a darn in mud or snow/ice unless you let off the gas to unload the locker. If the front tires have no traction, and the rears do, you are going to go in the direction the rear axle is driving, no matter how you turn the front tires. Even new 40" TSL's didn't help the turning unless you got off the gas in the situation described. Now, if the rears have no traction, you will spin around and be able to turn or you will still go straight, depends on the situation and amunt of power applied.

Only place a front locker will truly benefit is in an all out mud truck, or a rock crawling rig where you either have no traction @ all 4 tires (mud) or high traction @ all 4 tires (rock crawling)

a locker can be engaged whether there is power to wheels or not- unless there is a fail safe that doesnt allow the front locker to engage unless 4wd is also engaged to help avoid accidental engagement.

Not true unless it is an ARB (some other style selectable lockers may also act this way since they do not use driveshaft power to lock the differential, they use air pressure or electric power to lock the differential up).

A detroit or lock right locker will allow disengagement for turning if the driving force is NOT coming from the driveshaft. IE, if you are not in 4wd, the driving force is coming from the ground, and when you turn, one tire will travel farther in the same time (ie faster rpm) as you turn, and this faster rpm will allow the gear clutch to disengage for the outside tire and allow differentiation so you can turn. If power is coming from the driveshaft, the centerpin will be forced out against the gear clutches, and they will not be able to disengage to allow differentiation.

clemsonblozz · January 28, 2011

FWIW, you cannot install a limited slip in the front end of these trucks... You would have to have lockout hubs,, only one side disengages when the shift motor in the passenger side axle tube moves.. The drivers side is still live, and how it disengages,, is through the open differental.. If you have a limited slip,, you'd burn up your cllutch packs in just moments..

chas0218 · January 29, 2011

I don't think it will hurt the front end if its a open diff. That means the four wheel steer model silverados never had limited slip in the rear? When its in auto 4WD its still engaged in 4WD.

Just as a rule of thumb I don't drive my truck on dry pavement with the 4WD in but a lot of times I can't make it out of the field in 2 wheel and a load of hay in the wagon so I wait till I'm on the road to disengage the 4WD.

You want a locker or limited slip. My truck has a limited slip front diff and is nice for driving on and off road. At least I think its a LSD when on dry pavement the front end chucks and drives real hard in 4WD

no thats not what that is- your front end has an open diff. your ruining your truck doing that. youre binding up your front end and it will break. 4wd should never be used on dry pavement.