lock the front or no?

xkotyx · Apr 6, 2011

im about to do my sas with a ford 9 and d44. the rear is spooled. but while the front is torn apart right now, i was thinking about lincoln locking it. and if i want it open i could always only lock in one hub. whats your experience/opinions?

it will be about half and half of street/off road. maybe alittle more street biased.

Surrey · Apr 6, 2011

Locking in 1 hub is a bad idea. It puts all your torque and power to the one locked side, and thats a good way to break things...

Simply put, if you lock it, you will have a bad turning radius, bad steering in wet conditions, and no steering in the snow.

If you wheel on really narrow, windy trails, I would say not a good idea. If its a DD that will see the snow, I also say no.

If you are in a pretty dry area, and you are looking for a mud queen, sure! Or if everything around is fullsize-truck sized.

edit - where is that most over-posted items thread? This needs to be on there if it isn't....

BLOODBANE · Apr 6, 2011

if its a truck you wheel a lot then yes, go ahead and lock it up, but if it is used on the street quite a bit I would say leave it open. I have Lock-Rights in the front of my Explorer and ranger, and even unlocking one hub its a PITA to drive on the street(remember the axle is still live(locked). My Explorer is my daily driver so it does see a lot of street use, so I know this from first hand experience. I take it you cant afford a ARB or selectable locker(I cant either) so I wont even suggest those.

xkotyx · Apr 6, 2011

selectable locker is far out of my price budget right now and will be for a long time

Surrey · Apr 6, 2011

He said lincoln. We're talking weld that bitch up!

If you have to DD it, only a good idea in very dry climates... (Even then, texas got snowed on this year...)

Hahnsb2 · Apr 6, 2011

Locker, yes, weld, no.

xkotyx · Apr 6, 2011

just what i wanted. some experienced answers. thanks guys! dont look like imma weld it

CHKNFKR · Apr 6, 2011

Don't listen to the naysayers. driving a front & rear spooled truck in less than ideal conditions is no more dangerous than an open diff 2wd.

That said it will take some getting used to and you will learn to drive differently.

Bennybooster · Apr 7, 2011

I would detroit it, however that is money

Sasquatch_Ryda · Apr 7, 2011

My vote after driving mine for a year would be an Aussie locker for the front.

Quiet, doesn't hinder my steering at all and I am in looooove with the extra control I have on the trail now. Tight, twisty, wet trails aren't an issue at all as some have stated, I have found it to be a god send on these types of trails specifically.

-Nathan- · Apr 7, 2011

Wheeling with lockers/spools brings wheeling to a new level. Ill let a picture of my last weeks progress do my talking, as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words.

....and before someone says something, this was mid way through welding it, and all the spatter was cleaned up.

--weezl-- · Apr 7, 2011

i would say some type of auto locker, or a selectable locker, OR open...

personally, i would not weld that up, not on the front... last thing you want is to be driving down the highway, and forgot to unlock the hubs, and go to make an emergency turn to avoid something, and because the wheels are locked, you don't turn...

also remember that because the differentiation between the front wheels is much greater than between the rear wheels, while turning, it puts a lot more stress on the axles, and diff, and you greatly increase the chances of it going POP or BANG!

ronclark · Apr 7, 2011

When the funds come around i was planing on doing one of these in front.

Detroit Truetrac Differentials

http://www.eaton.com/EatonCom/Produ...ducts/Differentials/DetroitTruetrac/index.htm

Sasquatch_Ryda · Apr 7, 2011

They are ok if you aren't on huge tires, then they just really start to slip unless your brakes to equalize the torque.

--weezl-- · Apr 7, 2011

this makes me want to re-build my dad's f-150 8.8 again! it was fun!!

nothing like laying under a truck, in a carport, drinking a beer, destroying your favorite sweatshirt in near 0 degree weather, when it's pouring rain... seriously, i was lovin it!

btw, i didn't vote, because i don't want my "lock it" vote, to go towards a weld

lock the front or no?

lock the front or no?

lock it

leave it open

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