14 bolt yukon grizzly locker finally in

kd7kmp

kd7kmp

Registered User
Location
Springville, UT
Hey all,

I thought I'd post up my experience with installing a 14 bolt Grizzly locker in my 1990 GMC Suburban. By the way, I didn't take any pics, sorry :(.

It's the first time I've ever done any real work on one of these axles and boy, was it ever easy. It took me about 3 hours (did it in my driveway yesterday without jacking the truck up). The hardest part was cleaning all the years of thin black goo off the differential carrier. The locker dropped right in without issue. It works great, too. I get a bit of tire chirp if I hit the gas going around a sharp corner. Otherwise it's smooth with no noticeable changes in handling.

And a special thanks going out to Mesha and pLEYgroso. They gave me a great deal on the locker. Now I just need to replace the clutch in my Taco...

Kevin
 
Good deal! I had a Detroit in the Blazer, 14 bolt, and it was pretty transparent unless I was making it do something goofy. HUGE difference offroad. :D
 
I am not sure what I want to do with my 14 bolt, I want to drive it on the road but that all depends if I can get it past emissions/inspections. thought about welding it but I have a feeling that I will regret it. Have to let us know how it does offroad.
 
blznnp,

In my opinion if you are going to drive your rig on pavement for anything other than getting to or from the trail you're better off putting a locker in than welding the diff. And even if you're only driving to/from the trail you'd have to be real close to the trailhead to make it worth saving a few bucks.

Kevin
 
kd7kmp said:
blznnp,

In my opinion if you are going to drive your rig on pavement for anything other than getting to or from the trail you're better off putting a locker in than welding the diff. And even if you're only driving to/from the trail you'd have to be real close to the trailhead to make it worth saving a few bucks.

Kevin
Click to expand...

Yea, i agree with that. I have heard mixed reviews on the mechanical lockers for off road use.i would love to get a selectable but thats just not possible right now, especially since i just bought a propane conversion. I have a lock right for my front that i need to put in, but i need to get something for the 14 bolt. Was also thinking about a mini spool but that would obviously be the same concept as welded.
 
blznnp said:
Yea, i agree with that. I have heard mixed reviews on the mechanical lockers for off road use.i would love to get a selectable but thats just not possible right now, especially since i just bought a propane conversion. I have a lock right for my front that i need to put in, but i need to get something for the 14 bolt. Was also thinking about a mini spool but that would obviously be the same concept as welded.
Click to expand...


I ran the grizzly lockers in my rear 14 bolt and my front 44 and I absolutely loved them offroad they were always locked when they needed to be and always unlocked when they didnt need to be
 
I haven't taken it off-road yet, but I have done a lot of on road testing. When I coast around a corner there is a slight click. If I get on the gas at all when going around the corner the locker locks up immediately and the tires chirp. Going in a straight line with one tire on snow/ice and the other on pavement there is zero slip. Both tires move at the same speed. It will be fun to get it off-road when I can.

Kevin
 
Since this thread has gone this way...

I love my detroit. I had it in a 14 bolt in a full size bronco (6500lbs) it was pretty obnoxious until I got about 5000 miles on it. My friend had a similar experience, it was less obnoxious after 5000 miles.

I think that with an auto they behave better, (I have manual transmissions) When you shift it will kind of push the rear of the vehicle a little. bigger longer vehicles will be less noticeable.

That axle and locker and now under the xj, I also believe that since the xj is linked in the rear it doesn't push the axle around but it will make the body sway a little when going from loaded to unloaded when shifting.

I knew a guy with a full size bronco that got a 14 bolt with a spool (mini spool?) and he swapped in a detriot and his tires started lasting longer. her drove on road quite a bit.

nathan
99 xj d60, gm 14 bolt and other stuff
build thread here;
http://www.rme4x4.com/showthread.php?83436-Nathan-and-Tanja-s-99-XJ-Build-up
 
I've had the same experience with the Spartan I just put in the back of my yota. I was expecting all sorts of misbehavior from it, but even in the snow I had to drive like a retard to get it to really screw with me. Even accelerating around a corner isn't a problem as long as I don't put my foot in it. I can't wait to get it on a trail!
 
The pros of a locker definitely outway the cons. I like welded stuff for only off road but on road it stinks and your tires shred in a hurry. Detriots, spartans, grizzly, lockrite, ez locker, all seem the same to me. A selectable is very nice to have though if it is driven a lot on the street.
 
What exactly have you heard about mechanical lockers offroad? Detroits and the uh.. similar Grizzly heh are super bomber. They work great, and work on-road too.
 
i have read about people having problems with them not un-locking an some saying that they are not as strong or that they got destroyed quickly, but just like any product you will hear the good and bad. and some could have defects to.
 
I wouldn't say they aren't as strong as a selectable, but maybe not unlocking.

Detroit has a Minimal bad Rap for breaking if you break a shaft. I guess they can't handle the backlash or something. Grizzly lockers don't have that problem. In fact if it does break Yukon will replace your grizzly and pay up to 2000 dollars for collateral damage and labor to make it right!
 
mesha said:
I wouldn't say they aren't as strong as a selectable, but maybe not unlocking.

Detroit has a Minimal bad Rap for breaking if you break a shaft. I guess they can't handle the backlash or something. Grizzly lockers don't have that problem. In fact if it does break Yukon will replace your grizzly and pay up to 2000 dollars for collateral damage and labor to make it right!
Click to expand...

That's a great policy, has anybody been able to collect?

nathan
 
skippy said:
First there has to be a failure in order to collect......And I havent heard of a failure yet...........
Click to expand...

ditto. We have sold a ton of them and not had a single failure. Haven't even had a spartan fail on us! It is definitely a great policy but I doubt Randy's will have to honor it much. The Grizzlys are pretty bullet-proof! (I hope I'm not jinxing myself!)
 
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