Hello all,
I am considering a rear locker for my 97 1500 4x4 410 rear. I have heard many pros and cons with lockers. I really want the Dana posi I had in my 76 but can seem to find one that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. I was wondering what are the pros and cons of a locker. My main uses of my truck are towing my boat and some minor 4X4ing (Wife doesn’t like when we go Vertical The roads in TX when they get wet are slick and with one wheel spinning I feel a locker might help me. Same goes true with dragging my boat up a slick ramp when I forget to lock it into 4wheel (5-6 trips in a month). Ramp is at 20+ deg.
So My Questions.

1. What is the best locker that would not degrade my performance on the highway?
2. What locker is better an all time one or a clutch type or an Air locker?
3. Is the cost to changes worth it?
4. Is this a Sunday project with one helper usually my oldest daughter (gotta raiseum right!)

Thanks for the Information in advance


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A Detroit Locker can be a witch in the rain. I have no experience with 'em onna 4X4... but I've swapped ends more than once on two different ('65-69) Mustangs not even doing anything worse than shifting (at low speed). I run an Aurburn posi in my R/T now for that reason.

 

As much as you are driving on road, I would suggest a selectable locker or an auburn limited slip. With a detroit, you could very easily have your rearend spin out on you on wet pavement. Take megashifts word on how detroits handle on road. We have a brush truck for the fire department that has a detroit in a dana 60. You have to be very careful taking corners on wet pavement or it will turn around and bite you. Does great off road, but it is the ride back that is scary. Selectable lockers run around the $700 mark (uninstalled). Arbs are a little bit cheaper but you have to by an aircompressor and they can be finicky with air leaks. I am planning on putting an auburn in my CJ-7, mainly because it doesn't completely lock up creating more stress on my drivetrain. Plus it has great on road manners and no clutch packs that wear out like other limited slips. There are some cheaper lockers that you can install yourself but are noisy (loc rite, sp). Either way, installation is usually recommended by a professional and can be pricey, so consider also doing a gear swap. Make sure you swap the front and rear gears so you don't have two different ratios or say goodbye transfer case.

 

The prob is that your truck has the 91/4 so your limited to the detroit or a lunchbox locker unless you swap in a dana 60....

 

1500 with 4.10's?? Is it the "off road" package? Chrysler makes a clutch type "sure grip" for it. That would be my first choice.

 

1500 with 4.10's?? Is it the "off road" package? Chrysler makes a clutch type "sure grip" for it. That would be my first choice.