I'm after improving the OFFROAD traction of my 2000 ram 1500 4x4.
As I'm sure most of you have also found out, the stock open diffs suck huge when offroading.
I was thinking about some sort of LSD for the rear, and maybe a full locker for the front.

Am I right in assuming that locking the front diff would not really be an option sincethe diffis always engaged and thus turning would become quite difficult? Are there any options for the front other then converting to manual hubs?

What about the rear? What's my best option from both a performance aspect, as well as a cost effective one?

Thank you in advance for any help or suggestions.

Below is a picture showing in how little of a hole I got stuck yesterday due to this diff situation.

 

u have a few options u can do. 1 is get and easy locker and a posi lock for the front. then your diff will act normally until in 4wd. but your front driveshaft will spin all the time.

then u can buy a selectable locker, either detriot, arb, eaton, or asburn. but those are some cash.

for the rear. either get a detriot true track or get a full detriot locker. the lsd's are crap for these trucks and they all break easy. ive also heard that arb is coming out with a selectable locker for the rear this summer ( none exist at this time) but will wait and see

 

Can you please advise more on the POSI LOCK? From what I've read before, it sounds like it only replaces the vaccuum actuated system with a cable operated one. Am I understandthing that wrong? Does it actually lock the front diff instead of leaving it open?

 

Also... I wanted to help someone out yesterday and pull them out of a ditch, and to my shock, I discovered that my truck doesn't have any tow hooks...... front or rear! Is that normal?

 

Install a Detroit SL (soft locker) in the rear, and an Eaton E- locker for the front. Obviously both rears will drive full time. The nice thing about the Eaton E-locker is that during 4 wheel drive, the locker operates as a standard open differential. When the locker is activated, you will now have TRUE 4 wheel drive.

The only trade off with the Detroit SL is that you give up rubber for the luxury of both wheels driving. The locker allows slip only when power is NOT being applied to the wheels. The Eaton E-locker is available for the Dana/Spicer 60 axle 30 spline. They are not out for the 70/80 Danas yet.


It's an investment, but you'll be able to climb Mt. Rushmore.....lol.

The top pic is the Detroit SL, the bottom is the Eaton E-locker.


Good luck with your ride.




[IMG]local://upfiles/12792/E487C0D721D642C7A0763932AC949FDF.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]local://upfiles/12792/0E188A8CB2E94B11AD36E873D1186215.jpg[/IMG]

 

as great as a locker would be (i would love one myself ) those tires dont look very off road worthy. i think a new set of knobbys would do you wonders.

 

After reading your first sentence, Locker.

 

I totally agree and have plans for those as well, but I still can't get over these open diffs and their total "suckiness" (< my new word)

 

I had the Detroit True-Trac LSD installed on my last truck(2001 Chevy z71). It was impressive, solid, never had a problem. No noise, still easy to park, but somehow ALWAYS had traction. I was plowing snow last winter and backed up over a culvert and my rear axle was on top of it, LR wheel in the air. Plow on the front and I thought I was screwed. Drove right off of it! Think it was @ $500 installed. My Dodge has the factory LSD, whick is'nt nearly as nice. Sometimes it doesnt even seem to be working. Maybe just worn out.

 

I've stumbled across this product. Anyone have any comments on it?

http://www.powertrax.com/lockright.html