Do You Need Differential Lockers?

Understanding the various designs and applications is essential for optimal off-road performance.

Photos courtesy Summit 4X4 Company’s Team

Not every driver on the road needs differential lockers, but wheeling enthusiasts could use them at some point when off-roading. Most stock 4X4 vehicles come equipped with open differentials, including the Jeep Wrangler and e-locker Toyotas, while other models come equipped with factory options. If you don’t have lockers, you truly only have two wheels providing optimal traction at any given time when 4WD is engaged; one for the front axle and one for the rear axle. But first, before considering having them installed and your rig upgraded, it’s important to understand how most differentials work.

Differentials take the torque coming from the transmission through the driveshaft and transfer it to the wheels. That being said, the differentials are named from the mechanism that disconnects the wheel with the most resistance, so you can turn with ease without skipping the tires.

A differential locker can make a world of difference when it comes to off-road performance. If any of your tires lift slightly off the ground, all the traction from that axle is going to go to the tire with the least resistance, and the tire that has contact with the ground will have no traction. This is one of the reasons why so many wheelers get stuck.

In the same situation with a 4X4 that’s equipped with differential lockers, you would simply activate the locker in the cab (or it would activate on its own if it’s an automatic locker). Once it’s activated, both tires lock together and the one with contact to the ground will get the traction needed to go over obstacles or get the vehicle unstuck in softer ground.

Now, let’s highlight the various kinds of differential types you can get for your off-road vehicle:

Limited Slip Differential: This style of differential will automatically send some traction to the tire that is slipping. While it doesn’t provide a 100 percent lock, it’s recommended for mild off-roading, daily drivers, while towing vehicles, etc. Some examples are TrueTrac, Toyota LSD, and others.

Automatic Lockers: These lockers will provide a 100 percent lock while allowing the tires to spin at a different speed when turning corners, which allows for smoother driving experiences. The units will also lock automatically without the need for operator input. Some examples are Detroit, Aussie Locker, and Lock-Rite, to name a few. These are great for off-road vehicles but are not all that effective for on-road vehicles, especially in icy or snowy conditions.

Selectable Lockers: This is the most recommended since you can jump from an open differential to a fully locked one with the flip of a switch or the pull of a cable. These units provide a 100 percent lock and will disengage completely. So, driving would be exactly the same as driving a vehicle with open differentials, and having on-demand locking is great! But they are also the most expensive but worth every penny. Wrangler Rubicon- and E-Locker-equipped Toyotas are some of the most common off-road platforms. They offer this as a factory option for the rear or both axles. Electronic lockers, air lockers and cable Lockers fall under this category as well and are ideal for any kind of vehicle.

Spools: These will keep both tires locked 100 percent at all times. There is no mechanism for it to lock or unlock and both axle shafts move as one. They are only recommended for off-road vehicles equipped for extreme rock crawling or any kind of desert racing. This is the cheapest way to lock your differentials since welding your spider gears together is never recommended.

Article courtesy of the Summit 4x4 Company’s Team (www.summit4x4company.com)