4 Wheel & Off Road – November 2019

TRACTION ADDERS

16 NOVEMBER 20194-WHEEL & OFF-ROAD 4WHEELOFFROAD.COM

DIFFERENTIAL TYPE CASE STYLE ENGAGEMENT METHOD PROS CONS CHARACTERISTICS

Spicer

Parts

Trac-Lok

Clutch disc

limited slip

Full case

replacement

Automatic Factory option in

many Dana axles.

Nearly seamless

operation on

street. Can be

rebuilt at home.

Provides

marginally better

traction than an

open differential.

Requires friction

modifier in oil.

clutches wear out.

Best used on the

street and very

mild off-road

applications.

Eaton

Detroit

Locker

Mechanical

locking

differential

Full case

replacement

Automatic Simple. No wires,

no air lines,

no switches,

no special oil

required.

Can cause on-road

handling quirks

and does not play

well with ABS and

other sensors

found on newer

4x4s.

Automatic locking

function can be a

bit brutish for some

drivers. Best used on

4x4s that spend a lot

of time off-road.

Eaton Detroit Truetrac Gear-driven

limited slip

Full case

replacement

Automatic No clutches

to wear out.

No special oil

required.

Internals are

somewhat fragile

and can break if

abused.

Aggressive limited

slip that’s great for

snow and ice and

mild off-road use in

front and rear axles.

Eaton ELocker Mechanical

locking

differential

Full case

replacement

Selectable, 12-volt

electric engagement

Benefits of open

differential when

unlocked and

full locker when

locked.

12-volt wire could

be vulnerable.

Locker unlocks

and then locks

when changing

directions.

Engages and

disengages quickly.

Great choice for

front differentials

and front and rear in

daily driven 4x4s.

Eaton Posi Clutch disc

limited slip

Full case

replacement

Automatic Nearly seamless

operation on the

street. Great for

on-road snow and

ice. Can be rebuilt

at home.

Provides

marginally better

traction than an

open differential.

Requires friction

modifier in oil.

Clutches wear out.

Best used on the

street and very

mild off-road

applications.

G2 Core

Locker

Mechanical

locking

differential

Full case

replacement

Selectable via external

air or ma nually in a n

emergency

Benefits of open

differential when

unlocked. Can

be manually

operated in

emergency.

Heavy-duty

differential cover

included.

Limited

application.

Requires air

source. Complex

wiring. Vulnerable

air lines.

Engages and

disengages quickly.

Great choice for

front differentials

and front and rear

applications on daily

driven 4x4s.

OX Off Road

OX Locker

Mechanical

locking

differential

Full case

replacement

Selectable via shifter

and cable, electric,

air, or manually in

emergency

Benefits of open

differential when

unlocked. Can

be manually

operated in

emergency.

Heavy-duty

differential cover

included.

Heavy shifter

cable can be

difficult to route

and adjust.

very limited

applications.

Engages and

disengages fairly

quickly and easily.

Great choice for

front differentials

and front and rear

applications on daily

driven 4x4s.

Powertrax

Grip Lok

Mechanical

locking

differential

Full case

replacement

Automatic Simple. No wires,

no air lines,

no switches,

no special oil

required.

Can cause on-road

handling quirks

and does not play

well with ABS and

other sensors

found on newer

4x4s. Limited

applications.

The automatic

locking function can

be a bit brutish for

some drivers. Best

used on 4x4s that

spend a lot of time

off-road.

Powertrax

Grip Pro

Gear-driven

limited slip

Full case

replacement

Automatic No clutches

to wear out.

No special oil

required.

Internals are

somewhat small

and could break if

abused.

Aggressive limited

slip that’s great for

snow and ice and

mild off-road use

front and rear.