Info On Option Code G80 - Locking Dif Here

[timcosco]

If you're salesman was as clueless as mine about your Av, click here if you have a rear locking dif and want to learn more:

http://www.traction.eaton.com/

Click on "Product Information" (top), then "Mechanical Locking Differential" (left). There's a couple cool QuickTime movies you may want to watch as well.

The ELocker looks really cool. Wish GM would add that as an option as well.

Tim

 

[ygmn]

Cool site!!!

Thanks.

SO whats the traction assist button for then

 

[marc_w]

Isn't traction assist on the 2wd models? ?It controls wheelspin, probably by 1: upshifting the tranny, ?2: doing the whole torque management thing, and possibly, like some late model muscle cars, 3: applying the brake to the wheel thats spinning/loosing traction... ?

My g/f's Olds Alero definitely does the first two... not sure about the third.

--

I'm not a big fan of the Eaton Mechanical Locker (G80). ?

In the 10 bolt rear ends in the 1500's, you must replace the whole carrier if you ever wanted to upgrade to a lunchbox locker. (the small lockers you install in place of your spider gears)

I found in my Blazer (same 10 bolt, same locker - only available in the ZR2), that the locker does not engage early enough, or at_all sometimes. ?It may sometimes work great, only to release a wheel for no apparent reason (I hear this may be speed related though). ?The action was quite harsh, scaring me each time it engaged... I swore one of those times I'd snap an axle or spider gear. ?

I have heard of a few horror stories of G80's packin up shop and going South. ?Supposedly a few that locked while going down the highway, and when the driver got off their exit and turned, something would grenade out back. ?In one case I remember that the rear diff quickly locked up all together, damaging the transmission. ?I've heard of others that don't do anything...

I don't think I put the new Av's G80 to use yet... if I have, I love it! ?Never noticed it!! ? ? I actually spun and dug with all four wheels when I got stuck going up a sand dune a week and a half ago... that's quite odd... I though I'd only bury two... ?

 

[ShapeShifter]

I don't think I put the new Av's G80 to use yet... if I have, I love it! ?Never noticed it!! ? ? I actually spun and dug with all four wheels when I got stuck going up a sand dune a week and a half ago... that's quite odd... I though I'd only bury two... ?

I'm no offroad expert by any means, but if you buried all four wheels, I'd say the lock worked. Without it, you'd only have spun two like you expected.

My old Blazer didn't have locking diffs, and when I got in deep snow, only one wheel per axle would spin, and I'd be STUCK.

With the Av, however, I haven't been stuck yet. I've spun all four wheels, and never felt it when it locked. Even pulling the loaded trailer up a 45 degree dirt/gravel camp path, I kicked some rocks back, but a wheel never spun and I never stopped moving.

So far I like the lock, and I hope the horror stories don't come true, but time will tell...

Tim: good find on that site! And I agree, the ELocker would be nice to have.

-- SS

 

[marc_w]

That's really good to hear... The more I think back, the more I'm sure it kicked in nicely once or twice.

Maybe I had a real shoddy unit, but I was _not_ happy with it in the little Blazer. Maybe all the weight and power of the Av soften things up a lot.

 

[wrchism]

I like the Avalanche theme on that Eaton website! They couldn't have picked a better truck . . . obviously no prejudice here!

 

[shafman1]

I believe I read that the locker only works at speeds of 20 MPH or less.

 

[vf454]

Awesome I wondered how that worked.