My current rear axle has been completely rebuilt from side to side. I'm really in need of more traction and I'm trying to get that as inexpensively as possible.
Are there any viable options aside from buying a new Auburn (et al) limited slip and pay the labor to install it? I'm assuming that's gonna be a ~$700 bill all said and done.
(I'm in no position to install an LSD at home, hence the labor charge)
Edit for extra information: I've daily driven spools and lockers and experienced zero side effects and/or nightmares you read about online. I'm not opposed to that direction either.
Lincoln locker, mini spool, or a lock right...
Lincoln Locker: love the idea. It'd have to be done really well (because I'm protecting my newly rebuilt investment). Expense is low.
Minispool is what I'm leaning towards but the reviews seem to imply they all need to be modified to actually fit. Expense moderate.
Lock Rite is my best bet but a family of 5...
Lunchbox locker is the easy button. Put one in the C10 12-bolt.
In reply to bobzilla :
Just trying to keep expenses to the minimum
I found a lunchbox for 250 and that doesn't require any gear setup so you can do it yourself to terribly difficultly.
In reply to buzzboy : I'd love to try but I mentioned above that I'm currently in no position to do it. That's why I have to include labor.
Cooter
UberDork
2/13/20 1:32 p.m.
Stay open diff until you can do it yourself or afford to have someone else do it. I've done lunchbox lockers in a creek using hand tools. If you can't install a lunchbox locker, you can't install a minispool.
In reply to Cooter :
I never said I can't, I just said I'm not in a position to. I've replaced two locking hubs in the mud, I know it's not that difficult. It's just that I'd have to do it outside, on the ground, in the cold and it's my only vehicle. And we're just trying to save for an addition to the house hence the budgeting.
How It’s Installed
The lunchbox locker replaces the factory spider gears inside of the stock carrier. This means that when you install a lunchbox locker you don’t need to reset your backlash. You can actually install one of these lockers without even removing the differential from the axle housing. This is much easier than most lockers which require fully disassembling the different since most lockers replace the entire carrier.
But, (and I quote)
Pros and Cons
The extremely simple design of the lunch-box does create a couple of issues. Lunchbox lockers make a very loud ratcheting sound when they’re cornering. They also have a tendency to unexpectedly lock and unlock. They’ll randomly lock and unlock because of how we corner in vehicles.
If you stay at exactly the same speed or decelerate in a corner the locker is fine and behaves how you would expect. However, if you have to accelerate for any reason the locker can pop into its locked position very violently. This can create unsafe handling characteristics. Due to the fairly violent locking and unlocking mechanic, lunchbox lockers are notoriously short lived.
I did not write this, I stole that info from here:
https://www.offroadxtreme.com/news/what-is-a-lunchbox-locker-and-how-does-it-work/
I hope this helps. It looks like there are pros and cons. Insert appropriate Venn diagram here.
In reply to noddaz :
Thanks, I appreciate the help.
I've driven vehicles with mini-spools, Detroits, Lock-Rites. The Detroit's were what some people might call harsh but I can put up with a LOT! Even with the spools' tendency to chirp the tires around corners.
Is there a friend or someone on here that would let you use their garage for a few hours? If you reuse the same gears you dont even need to pull th pinion out so you could be This and a set of sims from a limited slip.
