With the E-locker engaged on pavement in 4 high, I have trouble turning left at low speed. I can turn the steering wheel approx. 1/4 turn and then it locks up solid. I'm wondering if the steering box has a problem? My 1999 steering box went out and had a similar problem.

http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley5.gif I'm not to sure I would want to be turning with the elocker engaged, especially on pavement. I know when i have mine locked in i really can't do much more than go straight. I do know that excessive turning on pavement with a "front locker" engaged will result in some kind of suspension/drivetrain breakage. most likely CV axels. i had a 93 chevy 1500 with a lift and lockers all the way around. i found out the hard way about trying to turn with the front locker engaged. IMO i would turn the locker off and then turn.


Ry

i thnk i misread your problem, are you saying your steering completely locks up or to just the point that it will not turn any farther to one direction?


Ry

You need to unlock it to be turning on dry pavement, if one of the tires isnt slipping its gonna break something as one is going faster than the other turning.

You shouldn't even be in 4hi on the pavement in a HD truck. The transfer case has no differential built into it like a T-case that is designed for full time 4wd

Good question. Nice Trippinhttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley32.gifhttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley32.gif


John

OK, so I'll absolutely rock yours guys' world if I tell you that I drag race in 4 wheel drive high. 100 mph on pavement and nothing has broken yet. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley9.gif Mtomac is responsible for putting this crazy idea in my head. I'm just stupid enough to keep doing it.


I accept all the risks of broken parts, thanks for your concerns. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley20.gif


Anybody with an E-locker installed have a similar problem? It's fine during a right turn, only "hard" left turns present a problem. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley3.gif

Maybe you got a left turn only E-lockerhttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley5.gif, She's locked on left and open on right'shttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley29.gif. Might be something like the left hand crescent wrench that I picked up recently.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/hihi.gif But seriously I don't have a cluehttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley24.gif. I just like pulling your strings. John

Maybe you got a left turn only E-lockerhttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley5.gif, She's locked on left and open on right'shttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley29.gif. Might be something like the left hand crescent wrench that I picked up recently.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/hihi.gif But seriously I don't have a cluehttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley24.gif. I just like pulling your strings. John


http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley36.gif http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/hihi.gif

Trippin, why not just lock it in when your goin straight. i use my elocker when racing straight. straight doesnt hurt anything. but i would always make sure it was off during turns. as far it it making a turn one way and not another.... something doesnt sound right there. i would call eaton and talk to them about it. do you know for sure the elocker is actually engaged? it sounds to me like it not even engaging. when you said you could make hard right turns really wowed me. i can just barely alter my direction with mine locker in. it actually scares me to turn the wheel any father than a quarter turn because the force to turn the wheel becomes so great. i dunno got me kinda cluelesshttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley18.gif


RY

I can't get more than 1/4 turn left or right with the elocker engaged on pavement in 4 high

Ditto what Mtomac said.


Given what I understand the E-locker to do and how easy it is to engage/disengage, I've only had it engaged during straight driving.


Still haven't tried it at the strip - not to hijaak, but does anyone know if the E-locker has a top speed limitation?


Doug


On edit: I just went out and engaged the E-locker on the street and tried left and right turning. Both are equally difficult to do. When trying to turn off my street onto another, all the truck really wanted to do was go straight.Edited by: DMax_Doug

I am pretty heavy into the off-road world and have a pretty good explination for your problem...


IFS GM Pickups have a steering box that steers the Pitman arm form Left-Right... Older Straight axle trucks had Front-Rear Pitmans...


What happens is when you are Locked in the front, the non-Differentiation cuases the Steering Box to deflect.. As the truck turns rightthe steering box is forced against the frame, this will kind of Brace it... HOWEVER when you turn left your Box is pulled away and down on the frame as the pitman moves left and is tryign to move the tie-rods left... This deflection si very common with Lifted IFS rigs with steep tie-rod angles and large tires 35" plus... but its not as bad when the Front Diff. is OPen..





I am suprised ya'll are runnign front Lockers. I assume they are the Eaton E-Lockers since they are the only Fronts that I know of for these 9.25 IFS diff.


It is perfectly fine to drive in 4hi on the road with the front diff. being OPEN, The tranfer doesnt Differentiate, I am not sure what the guy who posted about All-Wheel Drive is talkign about... 4Lo is safe as well but , the RPM's simply want allow it.. But being Locked up front wouldn't be reccomended or safe if you had to turn at full-lock it wouldn't be to fun, the fornt would chirp and spin just like a Locked Rear does..


BTW: why are ya'll runnign Lockers in the front.. I would think that Locking the rear up would be Safer and perform better, The Open front would allow you steer down the track better, the LOCKED front would pull off the line I would think and once you tried to steer if needed to correct the Locker would Push the truck straight and could eb dangerous....I am surprised that the Gov-Loc rear in our trucks stock is holding up to the Power they get...


BTW: what kind of money are these Lockers runnign ya'll, they weren't cheap when my old 1990 was IFS and thats why I left it open.. CV Boots don't like 38" tires and off-road romping.





BIGhttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley2.gifEdited by: BigWill_21

We are using them for truck pulling. And they are at around 850.00 installed. John

John, I've been wanting one for racing and pulling. I assume you sell them????.........how much for parts only??....shipping to N.C.?? thanks, Ed.

We are using them for truck pulling. And they are at around 850.00 installed. John





Cool, I assume yall have some sort of Steering Upgrades as well then, I heard their is a guy on the board that builds Tie-rod and centerlink stuff.. I "V"ed my IFS when I pulled and I also drove my tires in on each other as well... I had to have it re-aligned and haven't pulled again becuase I havent figured out how to Beef It Up... Cool deal though..


BIG

It is perfectly fine to drive in 4hi on the road with the front diff. being OPEN, The tranfer doesnt Differentiate, I am not sure what the guy who posted about All-Wheel Drive is talkign about...* 4Lo is safe as well but , the RPM's simply want allow it..* But being Locked up front wouldn't be reccomended or safe if you had to turn at full-lock it wouldn't be to fun, the fornt would chirp and spin just like a Locked Rear does..


I was just talking about the fact that manufacturers who market their vehicles as full time 4WD use transfer cases with some sort of differential unit in it for the 4hi. My jeep had a viscous coupling in it's t-case so that if one axle was spinning faster than the other things don't bind up. That's why if you make a tight turn say in a parking lot in our trucks in 4wd the drivleine will bind up and tires will chirp and/or the truck will buck. That's why I don't use my 4wd on the road unless it's slippery anyway.Edited by: WAskier

Here's the quick way to see what is happening. Turn the wheels to lock with locker off. "Clock" the CVs as it they lie with a marker, then steer to the other lock, and observe the change. The wheels roll in opposite directions during the steer.





That and the fact that the VOV power steering is quite weak to the point that it's hard to turn a 20 psi 285 on pavement with the bars cranked down when not in motion...

I know the Elocker is good up to 113 mph in 4wd http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley1.gif

I know the Elocker is good up to 113 mph in 4wd http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley1.gif


http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley32.gifhttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley16.gif

Probably stating the obvious here, but the survivability of a locker is based on putting the power down in a straight line, AND keeping the tire diameter the same left to right (tire psi). As little as a 3psi difference in tire pressure can cause havoc on a front CV under WOT.

Bigwill_21, most of us have Superdiesel's center link and tie rod sleeves, they are a must if you want to run big power and truck pull. We carry the sleeves in stock and order the center link for those who want it. John

i just knew where i could get an e-locker put in for 850$. up here is WAY more... help help!

its actually not that hard to install, gettin the front diff. in and out is the hardest part of it . if you have a set of ramps or a lift, air tools and a couple of strong helpers it not bad at all. me and 2 friends had mine out and back in at about 3.5 hours. a tranny lift kart is ideal for puttin it back up in there. if you wanted to tackle it id be glad to give ya some ideas to make it go easier.


RyEdited by: RyanU