What to offer-10 bolt w/ locker

[1969k10stepside]

I'm looking at buying an axle..its a 10 bolt front 3/4 ton with 4:10s and a locker.I don't know what kind of locker it is though.What do you think its worth? I plan to go through it all and make sure who ever installed the locker did it right and make sure ring and pinion are set up right,maybe change the seals throughout the axle while I'm at it.If I do buy it,I might not keep the locker as I plan to still use the truck on the roads some.Maybe put a posi in the front.In that case,what is the locker alone worth in general?
If I do keep the axle,I'll probably have the locker for sale in the parts board before long..

[1969k10stepside]

Any one?
Here is a few crappy pics

[DirtyLarry]

That looks like a Powertrax Lock Right locker….aka “Lunch box locker” & “Cheesy Locker”. Famous for slipping, making terrible noises (much louder than a true Detroit Locker) and hammering the hell out of the front hubs and u-joints.

They sell new for under $200. Everybody that I know that have used one of those for a full-size truck were scrounging around a short while later wondering where they put their old spider gears. I hear they work well in mini-trucks and Jeeps though.

Ask Zoomad75. One of our buddies gave me one after he tried it in his Bronco. I never used it but we threw it in Rob’s Blazer one day. Two weekends later we pulled it out and tossed it in the trash.

Lock Right’s are definitely not a favorite among the full-size off-road community.

[1969k10stepside]

I didnt plan on using the locker anyway..I think I'll put a posi in the front...

[DirtyLarry]

Limited slip would be best for a steer axle. I am running a Detroit Truetrac in the front of mine and a buddy is running an Auburn limited slip in the front of his Ramcharger. We have been real happy with both of them.

Here is the Truetrac....

[Zoomad75]

Larry's on the money. 5 minutes in the snow proved the ez-locker wasn't worth the gunpowder it would take to blow it up. Once I dropped the t-case into 4hi and leaned on the throttle it was plain to see and HEAR that no power was getting to the front wheels. It sounded like a family of elves were hammering away on my axles. CLANG CLANG CLANG!!!

It was worse than running open. Instead of spinning one tire only, niether spun under power at all. We parked it on the side of the trail and spent the day riding shotgun in our buddie's Ramcharger.

I've heard and read different things about the different brands of drop in lockers or lunch box lockers. The Detroit EZ locker (the one we used in mine) has by far the worst track record. The powertrax/lock-rights and newer aussie lockers seem to be better, but mainly for smaller jeeps and mini-trucks. Running a full size with 35's and one of these is a time bomb.

Not just the locker itself, but the smaller D44 or 10B axle shafts/u-joints are the weakest link. With it locked up and the wheels turned under power catching traction will most likely snap the u-joint in short order. Guys with a light right foot can baby one along with 35's for a while. Staying out of the throttle until the wheels are pointing straight ahead is key as is an light touch on the throttle itself.

As Larry has seen I've been known to let my right foot slam down when climbing throwing the front end over the obsticle and into the air. I try to drive calm, but every now and then gravity seems to pull harder on my size 13 shoe...

At least with a limited slip, you get most of the action of a locker with the ability to let the axles slip if you do something really stupid, reducing chances for breakage.

Yank the lunch box locker out, sell it on ebay for some $$$ to apply towords a tru-trac.

[1969k10stepside]

Good advice....
I only plan to use this axle till this winter at the latest.The truck's getting a dana 60 as soon as funds allow.Then I'll invest in a good locker.Right now I'm just upgrading from the 12 to 14 bolt F.F. and getting a 8 lug front with matching ratio and to upgrade from the closed knuckle dana 44...

[Zoomad75]

THe cheezy lcoker retails at $300 and up for the 10 bolt. Make sure he's not trying to gouge you on the price because it's got a locker. Without the locker it's a $100 axle if that.

It's a darn sight better than any closed knuckle drum brake D44.

[DirtyLarry]

I dunno Zoo…I see 8 lug hubs & rotors in that picture. Those alone are worth $100 around our area for the pair. I think I paid $50 per side for my 8 lug hubs & rotors and backing plates 10 years ago when I did the FF swap. The 8 lug rotors, nice one piece backing plates and axle are probably worth $200 - $300 all together. I don’t see the cheesy locker adding any significant value.

Definitely better than a drum brake mess.

[1969k10stepside]

Some new milemarker lockouts included too.Let's just say for what he wants for that all pictured I could almost buy the milemarker lockouts new The axle isnt for sale for much!

[Zoomad75]

Originally Posted by DirtyLarry

I dunno Zoo…I see 8 lug hubs & rotors in that picture. Those alone are worth $100 around our area for the pair. I think I paid $50 per side for my 8 lug hubs & rotors and backing plates 10 years ago when I did the FF swap. The 8 lug rotors, nice one piece backing plates and axle are probably worth $200 - $300 all together. I don’t see the cheesy locker adding any significant value.

Definitely better than a drum brake mess.

Never hurts to throw out the low-ball price and see if they bite! Most people are throwing 6 and 8 lug 10bolts out when they get a D60 anyway. They don't look at the prospect that the 8 lug hub/rotor parts are actually worth something. Best to let them go on beliving they are giving up junk and get it for a decent price right?