Best Locker for 14Bolt FF in 85 K30

[SquareRoot]

My main issue with the Detroit was on pavement or hard pack. Just pulling out of the driveway and any amount of turning would send shockwaves thru the drivetrain to the point it affected shifting into gear. Again, this was never noticeable when it had the automatic transmission. It was very noticeable after the 4500 swap.

 

[HotRodPC]

My main issue with the Detroit was on pavement or hard pack. Just pulling out of the driveway and any amount of turning would send shockwaves thru the drivetrain to the point it affected shifting into gear. Again, this was never noticeable when it had the automatic transmission. It was very noticeable after the 4500 swap.

It'll sure do that, especially if it's working real good. It's worse in some vehicles than others too. I'd imagine you probably had some real good tires that were either big or gripped the ground real good. You mention even hard pack, so I'm thinking wide tires. Soft rubber or smaller tires that don't grip that ground as good you won't notice the shock through the powertrain near as bad as you mention since the tires are more forgiving. You just had some good tires so you felt every bit of it.

 

[Vbb199]

I dunno, the gov-bomb in my 14bff help up great to tractor tire like 39x18" treads in mud and rocks

 

[HotRodPC]

I dunno, the gov-bomb in my 14bff help up great to tractor tire like 39x18" treads in mud and rocks

They can, they're for sure stronger in the Full Floater by design. And when they do fail, they don't explode like they do in the 10 and 12 bolts. They'll either strip the teeth off the governor ring or break the spring loaded governor itself. The good thing there too is, since it don't explode, it won't leave you stranded. It just won't lock up anymore is all. So many times, people will claim it's great and there's is holding up and they don't realize it's not working since they're able to drive and it's not making any strange noises.

 

[bucket]

It's not near as bad as it is in the 10 bolts, but it's not what I'd call great either. The Gov Lock only stays locked til about 20mph then it's unlocked again. This is why I'll say it's good for pulling a boat up a slippery boat ramp. If you're in mud and trying to spin your way through it, you'll just be peg legging it. But, you're correct. It is stronger in the Full Floater than the other smaller axles.

Here's the beauty of the design though, while they won't lock up at higher speeds (varies by tire size), they do stay locked up at higher speeds if they are already locked. They are designed to lock up and stay locked up, no matter the speed, until it senses that both wheels are under a similar load. The benefit is a locked rear when traction is needed, but then the benefit of a one legger while driving at speed down a a snowy or icy road.

I accidentally tested this theory of operation once on my '78 shorty van. I put a spare tire on the rear that was a different size than the other side and when I tried to drive it, it started pulling really hard to one side. Trying to go 50mph or so, it was still locked up and pulling extremely hard to one side.