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Author Topic: buying a locker  (Read 12602 times)

Offline murraygmc

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buying a locker
« on: September 30, 2009, 11:18:33 am »
i maby loooking in to a locker,,, any tips on buying one ? (85 gmc stock gears 4 speed granny low 4x4 10 bolt rearend )....i do plan on some off roading but nothing hard core  i just have limited slip any ideas 
« Last Edit: September 30, 2009, 03:06:40 pm by murraygmc »
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Offline Captkaos

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Re: buying a locker
« Reply #1 on: October 01, 2009, 03:02:52 pm »
My opinion, keep the limited slip if it is working.
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Offline team39763

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Re: buying a locker
« Reply #2 on: October 02, 2009, 03:43:21 pm »
Maybe get an eaton LSD with the upgraded springs to make it more aggressive.  I heard that Randy's Ring&Pinion can set you up with those.
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Offline VileZambonie

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Re: buying a locker
« Reply #3 on: October 02, 2009, 06:25:50 pm »
What's wrong with limited slip?
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Offline murraygmc

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Re: buying a locker
« Reply #4 on: October 03, 2009, 11:06:22 am »
whell just one back tire spinning in the mud isnt as good as 2 lol, what is the difrence in the detroit locker and the ez locker ? are the air lockers and electric lockers the only ones that are not full time lokers ?
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Offline VileZambonie

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Re: buying a locker
« Reply #5 on: October 03, 2009, 01:47:17 pm »
I don't think you know what limited slip is. Limited slip means both axles wil receive powerflow.
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Offline Captkaos

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Re: buying a locker
« Reply #6 on: October 05, 2009, 12:55:41 pm »
sounds like you either have a broken limited slip, or you have a open differential.
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Offline murraygmc

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Re: buying a locker
« Reply #7 on: October 05, 2009, 02:15:58 pm »
O.....whell that might b it to iv had the rear end cover off to replace an axal but dont know what im looking at when it comes to all that so is there somthin i can do if i have a open diff?  in the glove box it says i have 3:43 gears so ...?
« Last Edit: October 05, 2009, 02:17:40 pm by murraygmc »
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Offline oldredtruck

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Re: buying a locker
« Reply #8 on: October 05, 2009, 02:41:05 pm »
I have a 10 bolt "Gov-Loc" and I would be much more " warm and fuzzy" about it if I had a limited slip...
lockers can be noisy, cantankerous and notoriously unreliable when you need them...
not a hater by any means...just not my preference for kickin around town...
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Offline Captkaos

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Re: buying a locker
« Reply #9 on: October 05, 2009, 03:28:22 pm »
gear ratio has nothing to do with the differential.  It would say G80 if you had a GM limited slip from the factory.  Otherwise it is an open differential where all the power goes to the wheel with the least resistance.

You can use a drop in locker if you have an open differential

oldredtruck, A Gov-Loc IS a locker that uses flyweights to actuate it.

Limited slip is a Type of differential along with Open and locked.
Positraction is the "trademark" name for ALL of GMs limited slip differentails
Gov-Loc is Eatons trademark" name for their automatic locker
Trac Loc is what Ford calls their limited slip
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Offline SUX2BU99

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Re: buying a locker
« Reply #10 on: October 05, 2009, 05:06:52 pm »
^ I read just last night that apparently Eaton doesn't know how the name Gov-lok ever came to be for their unit, which was apparently offically called the Eaton Automatic Locking Differential (it's now just called the Mechanical Locking Differential).  Gov-lok sounds like something GM would have made up but on the build sheet doesn't it just say G80 Locking Differential? On Eaton's website they don't call it gov-lok anywhere either. Kinda weird where then the name came from and why it stuck so well.

http://www.eaton.com/EatonCom/Markets/Automotive/ProductsandSolutions/Differentials/index.htm

Check out this funkiness:
http://www.aam.com/index.php?s=49&item=99

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85 Chevy Silverado C10 short, wide, yellow, 2wd. Lowered, 60-over 350 with Dart Iron Eagle heads and Comp Cams XE268 cam, TH350 w/ shift kit, 3.40 Gov-lok 12 bolt.

Offline VileZambonie

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Re: buying a locker
« Reply #11 on: October 05, 2009, 05:22:03 pm »
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Offline oldredtruck

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Re: buying a locker
« Reply #12 on: October 05, 2009, 08:17:24 pm »
Yessir - flyweights actuate the rods or whatever that locks her up - had a 3 series gear case limited slip but it got eggshelled last ride out with the meth heads who stole my truck and had their way with it...
I bought the "Gov-Loc" off the ebay seller "Dan's Gears" - it works fine but - I have quite a bit of knowledge as to how to set up/ rebuild the  factory limited slip diff - if I break the "Gov - Loc"  - I am stuck until I get some knowledge on it - no comfort level...yet...so...gave it a shot - so far so good - but not alot of confidence in the locker as compared to the limited slip unit - history and other folks trials and tribulations lean towards the limited slip unit...
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Offline SUX2BU99

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Re: buying a locker
« Reply #13 on: October 06, 2009, 10:24:13 am »
From what I have read about others who have working gov-loks and those who blew them up is if you treat them gently, they can last. Meaning, if you try to do lots of right-hand donuts, you might blow it up or strip it out. If you try to leave quickly from a roadside and one tire is on gravel and is spinning hard and the other on pavement, you might blow it up. If you need both wheels to get traction, let them spin slow so the locking action isn't so shocking to the unit. It relies on that large flat-looking piece to catch on something else for the locking so if it spins up really fast and then has to catch and immediately stop with a bunch of force behind it, something could bust. And if you are doing a burnout in the water box, it might be best to drive out of the box on the throttle to slow the tires down gradually.
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85 Chevy Silverado C10 short, wide, yellow, 2wd. Lowered, 60-over 350 with Dart Iron Eagle heads and Comp Cams XE268 cam, TH350 w/ shift kit, 3.40 Gov-lok 12 bolt.

Offline Captkaos

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Re: buying a locker
« Reply #14 on: October 06, 2009, 11:54:22 am »
For what the Gov-Lock was designed they work correctly.  They are NOT designed for drag applications.  And they are designed to NOT lock at above 20mph.  They are made for low speed traction needs.
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