differential question

[gomer]

i have an 04' f150 5.4L

looking for decent locking differential. arb and detroit require additional compressors and or electrical components and then i heard of ox locker, a pulley actuated locker thats supposed to be better cause of less mechanical movements. anyone have previous experience with these products, or any advice, etc.

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[Baja Fool]

Detroit locker is a no nonsense mechanical locker. No air, no compressors, no levers, it just works. It's a little noisy turning corners and may roll a couple of inches when you put in park, but it's the real deal. Down side is they are a bit pricey.

My .02

[Tech Tim]

The Detroit is a proven mechanical diff lock; open when you're off the power and locked up when you are on the power. Easy to use (Just stab the gas) and have been proven to be quite strong. Can't say a whole lot more about them other than they are there all the time; strong, easy to use and reliable.

The ARB is also a proven diff, but it is a manual locker; completely open (spider and side gears just like an open diff) when off and fully spooled when you hit the little button. Stock from ARB, you order them with a compressor and it comes with a complete wiring harness to operate it electric over air (an electric switch triggers the air solenoid to send air to the diff).

Alot of people who run the ARB that want to make the system as simple as possible run them with a complete air system, eliminating the electric switch and solenoid in favor of air switches like used in a semi-truck.

I prefer a manual locker, off when you don't need it, fully spooled when you do. Though you do have to take the load off the drivetrain when acuating it. That doesn't mean fully stopped with the ARB, just take you foot off the gas and lock it in.


The OX locker is relatively new to the locker scene (iirc less than 10 years) and they've had their start-up new locker issues over the years; sometimes hard to find replacement parts, limited availability etc. There were basically copied from the ARB and McNamara (another Aussie locker) and use a cable and fork assembly to shift in and out. The cable can be a pain to set-up the first time and needs to be adjusted occasionally as they tend to stretch over time. You do need to be 100% stopped to lock this one in. There are a ton of people out there that run them in their recreation 4x4s.