Anyone add a locker to base?

So you got three options:

• Limited Slip
• Electronic locker (aka: E locker)
• Pneumatic locker (aka: Air locker)

Not quite sure what you mean by "full-time mechanical locker". Are you referring to the electronic lockers similar to what's available from the factory on other Broncos? Or do you just want it mechanically locked all the time? If it's the latter, all you have to do is weld the spider gears inside the differential, but I don't think that's what you're looking for.

Ford offers an axle upgrade to the one in the Black Diamond. It the Dana M220 e-locker P/N M4000446B. You need the 4.46 gear set to match the front 4.46 diff in the Base. Pricy alternative though. Approximately $2,500.

RagnarKon

So you got three options:

• Limited Slip
• Electronic locker (aka: E locker)
• Pneumatic locker (aka: Air locker)

Not quite sure what you mean by "full-time mechanical locker". Are you referring to the electronic lockers similar to what's available from the factory on other Broncos? Or do you just want it mechanically locked all the time? If it's the latter, all you have to do is weld the spider gears inside the differential, but I don't think that's what you're looking for.

Mechanical locker would be like a Detroit locker. Not a spool like welded gears. It ratchets when turning corners and unlocked. When it "senses" wheel slip it engages. Not as softly as a limited slip. God help you on ice... I haven't seen anything like that available for the m220. I think they've fallen out of favor with the advent of selectable lockers and manufacturers just aren't putting forth the r&d for newer applications.

Sozzy1269

Mechanical locker would be like a Detroit locker. Not a spool like welded gears. It ratchets when turning corners and unlocked. When it "senses" wheel slip it engages. Not as softly as a limited slip. God help you on ice... I haven't seen anything like that available for the m220. I think they've fallen out of favor with the advent of selectable lockers and manufacturers just aren't putting forth the r&d for newer applications.

Ah okay... I thought you were perhaps referring to a selectable cable-driven locker. They exist... haven't seen those outside of specialty and heavy-duty applications. Although now that I think about it there is (or used to be?) a company called OX that made cable driven lockers for Jeeps.

So the problem with mechanical lockers like Detroit lockers, Yukon Grizzly lockers, limited slips, etc. is they are going to mess with Ford's traction control system. Granted limited slips aren't quite as bad because those clutch packs do allow some slip, but obviously Detroit lockers legitimately locked when they decide to lock up. So if you want to retain full functionality of the traction control system, then it'll have to be some sort of selectable locker system like a E-locker, air locker, or a cable-driven locker.

Leaning towards the e-locker but it's pricey, especially when you consider the ring and pinion swap. Anyone know if I can add the hero button for a locker rather than an aftermarket switch? I'd like the factory look if possible. I'll probably end up adding a locker or torsen to the front axle at some point too. Is that an 8.8? I've added several limited slips to 8.8s over the and know it quite well.

Sozzy1269

Leaning towards the e-locker but it's pricey, especially when you consider the ring and pinion swap. Anyone know if I can add the hero button for a locker rather than an aftermarket switch? I'd like the factory look if possible. I'll probably end up adding a locker or torsen to the front axle at some point too. Is that an 8.8? I've added several limited slips to 8.8s over the and know it quite well.

You cant add a hero switch for it, the hero swiches are connected to electonics and go beyond just being a simple switch. But you can drive it with one of the Aux switches if you have the Aux switch option on your Bronco.

And the front is a Dana M190 with a FAD.

RagnarKon

You cant add a hero switch for it, the hero swiches are connected to electonics and go beyond just being a simple switch. But you can drive it with one of the Aux switches if you have the Aux switch option on your Bronco.

And the front is a Dana M190 with a FAD.

Thanks for the info.... No aux switches so might have to settle for an aftermarket switch... Bummer. What is a FAD? Never heard that acronym. Does the D190 have a welded ring gear like the 220?

Sozzy1269

Thanks for the info.... No aux switches so might have to settle for an aftermarket switch... Bummer. What is a FAD? Never heard that acronym. Does the D190 have a welded ring gear like the 220?

I've never been inside of the M190 front differential carrier assembly. So to be honest... I have no idea if its welded or not, but I would assume it is. Most people who are installing lockers in their front axle are swapping it out for the beefier M210, which obviously requires a complete front-end rebuild with a new differential, new half-shafts, etc. Because everyone is swapping out the entire front-end I've just never had a reason to open up the M190 carrier assembly.

I'll ask around and see if anyone else knows.

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FAD = Front axle disconnect. I'm sure you could figure out how it works from just that simple description. But for the benefit of everyone...

Older 4x4 vehicles had manual locking hubs to connect the wheel hubs to the axle. When the wheel hubs were unlocked the wheels could spin freely independent of the front axle. Most modern vehicles replaced those manual locking hubs with pneumatically-driven or electrically-driven locking hubs. The majority of 4x4 pickup trucks these days, for example, use pneumatic hubs.

The Bronco and many other other purpose-built off-road vehicles have permanent hubs. The wheel hubs are permanently locked to the axle, and therefore the front axle, differential, and driveshaft is rotating even when the Bronco is in 2-High. This obviously puts a lot of unnecessary wear and tear on the front drive line, and reduces overall fuel economy. BUT, it is MUCH more reliable than the pneumatic system used in most other vehicles... which is obviously important for an off-road vehicle.

A Front-Axle Disconnect system (FAD) physically splits one of the front axles in two allowing it to free-spin when 4x4 is not engaged, which effectively disconnects the axle from the differential. By doing this, the front driveshaft no longer spins when the vehicle is in two-wheel drive. Which leads to lower wear and better fuel economy. In the case of the Bronco, FADs are included on all Broncos that do not have factory lockers.