locking rear differential

[pm26]

I accidentally locked my rear differential when I drove the truck over my lawn and spun the rear tires. The differential remained locked and I noticed as I was leaving my driveway and made the right turn that the right rear wheel made noise trying to spin on dry pavement. I made that turn slowly, then drove the truck straight and backed up straight. That seemed to have released the differential lock. What is the best procedure for unlocking the differential? Is it supposed to do that automatically? Any possibility of doing any damage turning a corner on dry pavement at slow speed with the lock engaged?

[MikeNH]

You won't damage anything driving it normally and backing up will probably release it if it won't do it on it's own. It will release automatically eventually, the preload may have been too much for it to happen immediately in your case. What used to happen in my 03 was it'd remain open the whole way up my snowy driveway, tires spinning and the moment I went to turn onto the road, it'd lock up. Useless. I've yet to have it lock in my 2011. I'm still convinced the damn thing is a gimmick. I'll take an e-locker all day long over the crap in there now.

[Gone Again]

If your truck is a few years old with some miles on it, a differential lube change could help this problem. It should unlock automatically but sometimes the older lube hinders this.

[pm26]

You won't damage anything driving it normally and backing up will probably release it if it won't do it on it's own. It will release automatically eventually, the preload may have been too much for it to happen immediately in your case. What used to happen in my 03 was it'd remain open the whole way up my snowy driveway, tires spinning and the moment I went to turn onto the road, it'd lock up. Useless. I've yet to have it lock in my 2011. I'm still convinced the damn thing is a gimmick. I'll take an e-locker all day long over the crap in there now.

 

 

I think this is the first time I actually locked it - accidentally.

 

If your truck is a few years old with some miles on it, a differential lube change could help this problem. It should unlock automatically but sometimes the older lube hinders this.

 

 

I have very low mileage on the truck and the lube is still the original GM factory lube. Maybe I will change it.

[RockySierra]

its been known to happen before.

[waumo1]

I never cared for how the locker worked in my 1998 or the new truck but it does work. I much prefer a real limited slip.

My 1998 manual said to change the fluid after (I think) 5000 miles which I did and it always worked as designed.

[pm26]

I guess the important thing is that the differential locks when you really need it. I too prefer a good limited slip differential over this one, but an electrically actuated locker (by pushing a switch ) would be the best approach. After all, nearly all real tractors have a manually lockable rear differential.

[Daryl LBZ]

My 2009 did this 3 or 4 times when I had it. Mainly when it was cold. I've already locked the one in on my 2011 a few times so far coming up out of a friends mud & rutt filled driveway. The G80 has always worked great for me...

[LCPullman]

As others have said don't worry about it staying locked up, it will eventually unlock. I have 4 GM trucks all of which have the G80 and they've all worked very well, I personally prefer this locker to the LSD's I've had.

[foghorn23]

..........The G80 has always worked great for me...

 

 

+1

 

I know on the new F150 the e-locker only works in 4wd (except for the Raptor) I like having the locker in 2wd and 4wd.

[uh6tdrvr]

..........The G80 has always worked great for me...

 

 

+1

 

I know on the new F150 the e-locker only works in 4wd (except for the Raptor) I like having the locker in 2wd and 4wd.

 

and supposedly you can buy the locker control for the raptor and put it into the F150 so it works in 2wd and 4wd.

[foghorn23]

..........The G80 has always worked great for me...

 

 

+1

 

I know on the new F150 the e-locker only works in 4wd (except for the Raptor) I like having the locker in 2wd and 4wd.

 

and supposedly you can buy the locker control for the raptor and put it into the F150 so it works in 2wd and 4wd.

 

 

That would be okay. I didn't realize that it was possible. Wonder why Ford didn't make this a factory option on their trucks other than the Raptor?

[Stevens03]

My 2009 did this 3 or 4 times when I had it. Mainly when it was cold. I've already locked the one in on my 2011 a few times so far coming up out of a friends mud & rutt filled driveway. The G80 has always worked great for me...

 

 

x2

 

I've never had a problem with mine either. On my 03, I had the locker stay locked a few times and a quick reverse would unlock it without fail. It's not the norm for them to stay locked up, but it does happen. Not to worry.

[yamahas]

What do you guys mean by it staying locked? This is my first truck with a locking rear differential lock, my 97 sierra was just a regular 2wd.

[pm26]

What do you guys mean by it staying locked? This is my first truck with a locking rear differential lock, my 97 sierra was just a regular 2wd.

 

 

Just that - it stays locked. It has a mechnical locking pin which engages when the difference between rotational speed of the two rear tires reaches certain point. You will notice when you take a sharp turn at low speed on hard pavement, as the inside rear wheel will try to break free and make funny noises.