Locker up front, LSD in rear?

[90beater]

I've been thinking about getting some extra traction, since I have open diffs front (D35) and rear (7.5"). I'm not concerned with "real" offroading, but I want to make sure I never get stuck on a forest service road, in unplowed parking lots, on icy hills, or just generally in the worst possible conditions that a civilian vehicle could find itself in. I'll go 2mph if needed to get through, just so long as I won't get stuck. This is my DD, on proper roads the vast majority of the time, but I have no need for a "luxury car" ride.

My thinking was to put a lunchbox locker up front to start. Manual hubs, so it has no impact unless 4x4 is engaged, then it gives me a lot of extra bite to crawl my way out/home. Might handle squirrely when engaged, but this is for emergencies, so I'd just go slow and easy.

For the rear, I'm thinking an auto locker or an LSD. I've read a lot on both, and I appreciate the drivability of the LSD, but love the traction of the locker. A selectable locker would be ideal, but that plus the swap to the 8.8" is pretty expensive.

So what do you think about the combo of auto locker up front, open rear? Would front locker, rear LSD be enough for this scenario? Are dual lockers crazy overkill?

 

[Beanmachine7000]

I would not put an autolocker in the front due to driveability issues... I would do selectable lockers in both (ideally)... Or an autolocker in the rear and a selectable up front...

 

[strvger]

the way you intend to use the front locker would probably be ok. just remember every time you lock those hubs, the driving will be a bit more "challenging".
for the rear, i'd go locker for sure. i have a detroit in my 7.5 and love it! way better than the l/s with better traction, and near seamless engagement. to save on money, i got mine used with only a few months driving on it at less than half the cost of new.
if i ever swap to the d35 and 8.8, i wouldn't hesitate to use a detroit in both if the winters keep getting as bad or worse than this one!
just my $.02.

oh, Welcome to TRS!

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[brinker88]

sounds like you have the D35 TTB with D28 innards...IMO I wouldnt put a locker in there due to the front end being so weak. Also, your steering would drastically decrease and you would HATE driving in the snow with a locker. Just my .02

 

[90beater]

sounds like you have the D35 TTB with D28 innards...IMO I wouldnt put a locker in there due to the front end being so weak. Also, your steering would drastically decrease and you would HATE driving in the snow with a locker. Just my .02

It's definitely the D35, no D28 innards.

Definitely appreciate the feedback, guys! I don't have any experience with lockers, so it's great to hear some opinions.

 

[AllanD]

sounds like you have the D35 TTB with D28 innards...IMO I wouldnt put a locker in there due to the front end being so weak. Also, your steering would drastically decrease and you would HATE driving in the snow with a locker. Just my .02

The Hybred D28 in a D35 housing wasn't EVER installed in 1990-92's as it didn't exsist until the 1993 model year.

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[90beater]

From some more reading, it sounds like manual transmissions and lockers are a pretty unpleasant combination. Are those people just sissies, or should I avoid a locker with my 5 speed?

 

[4.0B2]

i like a auto locker front and lsd rear myself... but we don't have the snow/ice that others have since i'm in Mississippi..

get a aussie for the 35 and lsd for the 8.8, or aussie there to...
if you do the lsd, you can overpack it, check out the tech library or search for more info on that

i'd say drop an aussie in both and say screw it, be done till you can afford arb's or e-lockers.

 

[strvger]

i have a 5 speed manual and a locker on my ranger. had the same combination on my tracker trail rig. no problems, no complaints.
in fact, i don't plan on having anything BUT a manual tranny AND a locker in the rear axle at least on every vehicle i will have in the future.
but that's just me.

 

[Beanmachine7000]

i like a auto locker front and lsd rear myself... but we don't have the snow/ice that others have since i'm in Mississippi..

get a aussie for the 35 and lsd for the 8.8, or aussie there to...
if you do the lsd, you can overpack it, check out the tech library or search for more info on that

i'd say drop an aussie in both and say screw it, be done till you can afford arb's or e-lockers.

The problem with locking the front is that once you try and turn and it's locked up you can't... Plus, 8/10 times a rear locker alone will be enough to get you out of whatever you are in... It's that 2 times that you just flip a switch and lock up the front and flip it back so you will actually be able to turn...

 

[basilfaulty]

The problem with locking the front is that once you try and turn and it's locked up you can't... Plus, 8/10 times a rear locker alone will be enough to get you out of whatever you are in... It's that 2 times that you just flip a switch and lock up the front and flip it back so you will actually be able to turn...

You can turn with a locker in the front....get off the gas, turn the wheel, then stab the gas... it will go whatever direction the front wheels are pointed! Had a locker in the front once hated it on the street, good thing for manual hubs. I would put arb in the front and either a locker or limited slip in the rear.

 

[Beanmachine7000]

You can turn with a locker in the front....get off the gas, turn the wheel, then stab the gas... it will go whatever direction the front wheels are pointed! Had a locker in the front once hated it on the street, good thing for manual hubs. I would put arb in the front and either a locker or limited slip in the rear.

It's alot easier to turn with an open front... I'm not a fan of anything automatic though... I like to be in control of when my vehicle does what...

 

[88 Red Ranger]

When I had a locker in the front of my 77 higboy, if I was out trail riding, I would lock the passenger side only and run it like on open diff. Then when I came to something that might be bad and need both front tires, I would jump out and lock the driver side. When past that point, unlock the driver again. -- In the winter time for snow and ice I would lock the driver side only because most of the time the passenger side of the road would be were the ice is and no traction but the driver would get traction. I did not have bad handling on the road/street because only 1 tire was getting power just like on open diff. I drove it that way for 11 years until I sold it and bought a 78 Bronco.