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Driving your 4WD over uneven ground is one way of causing "wheel slip". Wheel slip is the loss of traction that happens when one front and one rear tire lose contact with the ground. The result is a stuck vehicle. The ungrounded tires spin freely while the grounded tires do nothing.

The differential is what causes this. When driving under normal conditions, the differential sends the same amount of torque to both wheels yet when turning a corner it allows them to spin at different speeds. A mechanism of side and/or spider gears allow this.

The remedy for this traction loss is to "lock up" these gears thus forcing both tires to rotate in unison. This is accomplished with a limited slip differential (LSD) commonly referred to as a locker or locking differential. There are many types of LSDs available. This article will explain their differences.

Spools

While not technically a locker, the spool's purpose is to function like one. A spool replaces the side and spider gears and essentially creates a solid drive axle. Having a solid axle means both tires will always spin at the same rate one-for-one no matter what the driving conditions may be. The advantage of this is 100% traction, but it comes at the price of early tire wear if the vehicle is mostly driven on pavement because one of those tires will always be "skidding" around corners.

It's also important to make sure each tire has equal air pressure or they will wear down unevenly and cause a loss in fuel economy. A spool is not typically recommended unless the vehicle will spend the majority of its life driving off-road where traction is essential (especially for rock crawling, mud, and steep hills). A spool is the least expensive way to professionally lock the axle.

Trac Locs and Limited Slips

Trac Locs and Limited Slips have sets of clutch packs that force pressure on the side gears. When one tire loses traction, it begins to spin faster than the other one. When this spinning becomes fast enough, then the clutches engage on the non-moving shaft and equalize the torque applied to both shafts restoring traction to the stuck tire. Trac locs and limited slips are good on the street (drag racing) or for mud.

Their downfall is that they need to spin very fast for the clutches to engage. This will eventually cause the clutch plates to wear out and require replacing. In addition, they typically require a special lubricant for the clutches. Popular products in this line are the Detroit Tru Trac, Eaton Posi, and Auburn Limited Slip.

Light-duty and Heavy-duty Lockers

Light-duty and heavy-duty lockers are the recommended "entry level" locker for off-road use. Similar to the units discussed above, these units also replace the side and spider gears, but they're replaced with a ratcheting gear mechanism. This allows for the best compromise between street driveability and off-road performance in an automatically locking unit and are highly recommended for drivers that do the majority of their driving on streets, but still want a locking differential while staying on a strict budget. On a price-for-performance scale, these types of lockers have a lot to offer and are without a doubt the most popular type of locker used for off-roading for that reason. Probably the most popular products in this line are the Lock-Right by Powertrax followed by the Detroit Locker and E-Z Locker by Tractech.

Air Lockers, Electric Lockers, and Manual Lockers

These are called selectable lockers because they allow the driver to select when to engage and disengage them. Selectable lockers are the most advanced types of LSDs because they offer the convenience of an open differential with the option to lock at the push of a button (or flip of a switch or lever). Air lockers use compressed air, electric lockers use a solenoid, and a third kind uses a cable for locking the internal gears. These types of lockers are the most expensive, but you get what you pay for. Whether on or off-road, the performance of a selectable locker will always be superb. Popular products in this line are the ARB Air Locker, Eaton E-Locker, Auburn ECTED, and OX Locker.

Many locker choices are available and two of the best are the Detroit Locker and the Powertrax Locker. Both brands have units to fit your budget and are available through MY4BY.com.

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