Stupid... stupid question.

[koda6966]

Okay, so I'll admit I'm young, inexperienced, and new to trucks.

What exactly is a "locker"?

How hard are they to put on?

How much would one cost?

 

[Jspafford]

A locker is a device installed in either the front or rear differential that directs the power to both wheels at all times.

In a normal open differential the power is transmitted to the path of least resistance. This leads to wheel spin and often an immobile vehicle. A locker lockes both axles together, therefore forcing both tires to spin as one.

They are not something a do it yourselfer would want to try. You need a dial indicator and a knowledge of setting up gears and proper backlash.

There is also something called a L/S or limited slip differential. It is half locker and half open differential. In normal driving it acts like an open differential, but when one wheel slips more than a preset percentage the L/S kicks in and sends power to the stationary wheel.

 

[koda6966]

A locker is a device installed in either the front or rear differential that directs the power to both wheels at all times.

In a normal open differential the power is transmitted to the path of least resistance. This leads to wheel spin and often an immobile vehicle. A locker lockes both axles together, therefore forcing both tires to spin as one.

They are not something a do it yourselfer would want to try. You need a dial indicator and a knowledge of setting up gears and proper backlash.

There is also something called a L/S or limited slip differential. It is half locker and half open differential. In normal driving it acts like an open differential, but when one wheel slips more than a preset percentage the L/S kicks in and sends power to the stationary wheel.

My brother, or my neighbor, could do it. But if I get it done, probably going to have it done professionally.

But thank you for the information, it makes sense now.

 

[Jspafford]

My brother, or my neighbor, could do it. But if I get it done, probably going to have it done professionally.

But thank you for the information, it makes sense now.

Have they worked on a differential before?

I've worked on cars and rebuilt my B2, and I wouldn't attempt any gear work.

 

[Hahnsb2]

They are not something a do it yourselfer would want to try. You need a dial indicator and a knowledge of setting up gears and proper backlash.

There is also something called a L/S or limited slip differential. It is half locker and half open differential. In normal driving it acts like an open differential, but when one wheel slips more than a preset percentage the L/S kicks in and sends power to the stationary wheel.

Well, not exactly, a lunchbox locker drops in place of the spider gears and requires no special tools/setup. Limited slips don't just "kick in", the side gears are clutched to the carrier offering some resistance to differentiating and it's always the same resistance, on pavement there is plenty of traction to make the axles differentiate when cornering, off road anytime you get more weight on one tire the other will just spin and you won't go anywhere just like an open diff. A lunchbox locker (lock-right) is about $350 for a 7.5 new. Here's and LS verses locker video I made.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lydlwgiW6Y

 

[koda6966]

Have they worked on a differential before?

I've worked on cars and rebuilt my B2, and I wouldn't attempt any gear work.

My neighbors an Airplane mechanic and has built several vehicles from the ground up, he even machines his own parts when he cant find what hes looking for.

My brothers owned several rangers, and has a quirk for tearing everything possible apart and putting it back together, I'm pretty sure he has.

 

[Jspafford]

My neighbors an Airplane mechanic and has built several vehicles from the ground up, he even machines his own parts when he cant find what hes looking for.

My brothers owned several rangers, and has a quirk for tearing everything possible apart and putting it back together, I'm pretty sure he has.

Ok, just checking. It would only take a few miles for an inproperly setup set of gears to gernade.

 

[Taragon]

I've worked on cars and rebuilt my B2, and I wouldn't attempt any gear work.

Then how exacly do you plan to learn ad further your knowledge?

I learned (on a 9"), and what they charge to set gears up is a TOTAL rip off!!!

And I am sure somebody will pipe up and say something about the time and effort involved. Whatever. Most shops that set your gears up press off the old bearings, make a set of set up bearings out of them, and the install never sees a press again till the final install of the bearings.

So $400-$1K for about 2 hours worth of work? Not on my wallet!

 

[koda6966]

Yea, I was just thinking I might do that instead of selling my Ranger (2wd) and getting something thats 4x4.


Because something I see a lot on here is "A 2wd with a locker in the rear will go almost anywhere a 4x4 will, sometimes further."

 

[reginald fairfield]

Yea, I was just thinking I might do that instead of selling my Ranger (2wd) and getting something thats 4x4.


Because something I see a lot on here is "A 2wd with a locker in the rear will go almost anywhere a 4x4 will, sometimes further."

That is true to some extent, but the more hilly and muddy the terrain gets the more you will be missing that four wheel drive. Why don't you just do like me and just floor it through everything so that you don't have to worry about it! When in doubt, gas it! My ranger is 4x4, but it is nonfunctional as of now.

 

[swynx]

yeah thats true,i know that a locked 2wd will go a hella further than a open diff 4wd, will, since the open u might as well be high centered since it fallows the path of least resistance its almost like ur tires, arent on lol, and with the 2wd, both tires, act the exact opposite, but i had a back yard mechanic do mine, for $150, since my friends hadent gotten the tools yet, and one of my friends tried it himself and got not to far from his place and it grenaded. and he almost $#!t him self

 

[koda6966]

I would sell it, but I wouldn't be able to get enough money out of it to buy anything decent. And its still a nice truck for a DD. I just wouldn't mind going out on some trails, and having something a little more capable during deer season.

 

[swynx]

try and get a transfer case to put in it or something, or get someone with a 4wd to go hunting/ wheeling with, i never go hunting wtih one rig, cuz its not hunting, its called harvesting u drive a dirt road right before dark at about 25-30 mph untill u see a deer, cross the road or in a distance and if its in a field u drive into the field and hail @$$ after it, untill u get close enough to shoot it, lol, or u just jump out and shoot it from the, throw deer in back and drive away fast,and, then we dont tag them, if we get stopped just tell em u didnt want it to come off in the wind, and tag it

 

[koda6966]

or get someone with a 4wd to go hunting/ wheeling with

Last year we took my brothers Minivan. Yay for AWD .

 

[Mutant Pony]

A "stupid" question is one that isn't asked.