What are axle lockers?
Locking differentials (generically referred to as “lockers”) can lock the axles together to provide 100% of available torque to the wheel with traction. During turns, a locking differential operates like an open differential – the wheels can rotate at different speeds.
What does a locker do?
A locker is made to LOCK something up. Without a doubt, most Americans have seen or used a locker before. Some of the places we see lockers are: schools, gyms, health clubs, mailrooms, breakrooms, locker rooms, fire departments, military bases, bus or train stations, airports, and countless other locations.
Should you drive with axle lock on?
Use the lock position only when you approach conditions where one or both wheels of an axle may slip. The valve locks the differential and causes it to act as a “through drive,” transmitting power equally to both axles. Avoid unnecessary use of differential lock since it will result in tire wear and axle strain.
Can you off road without lockers?
Lockers aren’t required for Overlanding, but they definitely help quite a bit. If you drive a 4WD or AWD vehicle, lockers aren’t as necessary. Even a 2WD car can be modified to go off-road with a good set of lockers.
Are rear lockers necessary?
Lockers make a huge difference off-road because they double your traction by spinning both tires. If you hang a tire in the air with an open differential, it will just spin while the other tire sits still. Adding a locking differential means that both tires turn at the same speed, regardless of the situation.
How fast can you drive with diff-lock on?
25 mph
How fast can you drive when the differential lock is engaged on the vehicle? When using the differential lock, your speed should not exceed 25 mph.
What is better front or rear lockers?
A vehicle will steer better with only the rear axle locked than it would with only the front axle locked. The advantages of the bonus traction most often far outweigh the disadvantages of understeer, but generally you will usually find no noticeable understeer as a result of only having a rear Air Locker engaged.
Can you engage a locker while moving?
Allow it to come up to pressure, then engage the rear locker while moving/rolling. HOWEVER, do NOT engage it while any of the wheels are spinning in a situation where you have a loss of traction.
What is an axle lock?
An axle lock, or locking axle, as it is more commonly called, is a device that applies power to both sides of the drive axle equally. It is often called by the slang term posi-trac, which is used to identify the positive traction of both sides of the axle. The axle lock is actually a gear engagement system instead of a locking mechanism.
How good is a Lincoln axle locker?
This locker is as good as the welds and the case that hold it together. Ideally you’d pull the carrier from the axle housing and clean it up well before “Lincoln Locking” it. Some folks have had lots of luck with Lincoln Lockers, but it is a very permanent, very harsh way of “locking” an axle.
Why are lunchbox lockers considered automatic lockers?
These are all automatic or mechanical lockers that do allow some wheel speed differentiation in a turn. They are considered automatic because they lock and unlock on their own depending on how the axle is loaded. The pros of lunchbox lockers is their cost and their ability to lock and unlock.
What is a locking differential and how does it work?
Locking differentials are a definite game changer when it comes to off-roading. They increase traction by forcing both tires on an axle to turn. But what is a locking differential?