Home Forums Gear Hunting Trucks and Four-Wheel Drives G80 locker in a 99 Burban

I have a 99 chevy 2500 suburban 4x4 with the 7.4-4:10 rear. I use this for hunting and hauling. Is there a locker out there that will fit this truck? Is the g80 a good choice?

I dunno what diff the 99 has, but I'm guessing it's a 14 bolt semi floater. the G80 has it's fans and it's haters, but was the factory limited slip option.

in a long wheel base and automatic trans, I like the Detroit locker. they require a slight change to driving habits, but they work every time. IMO, the only step up from a Detroit Locker would be an ARB selectable locker.

The G80 is a LSD and not a real locker. It's better than an open diff but there are better LSDs out there. You probably don't need a true locker.

Actually, the G80 *is* a true locker, however it locks and unlocks itself under certain speed/slip conditions. It is not a limited slip diff, it actually locks. You can search old threads to fnd more on this, including a video by Eaton. Most folks like to pile on the anti G80 bandwagon, but the truth is for the average outdoorsman the G80 functions very well. I'm not sure I would retrofit a truck with one over other choices, but I wouldn't tear one out of a daily driver to put in something 'better'.

Is it? Or isn't it??

A locker locks the axles under normal driving and unlocks when needed. It is mostly locked all the time. The times it unlocks would be normal driving around curves and such. That's why they are a bit tricky to drive. You will feel and hear it when it locks and unlocks.

A LSD does not lock until one tire begins to spin a certain speed faster than the other. You usually can't tell when it's locking up under normal driving conditions. That is exactly how the G80 works. Other than selectable lockers, I don't know of anyone who sells a vehicle with a true locker in it. I'd hate to see the soccer mom accident rate if they did.

Here is a video that explains how the G80 works:



This is Eatons explanation:



For comparison, this is Eatons description of a true locker:



Bottom line, if the truck already has the G80, great unless you really need a locker. If it doesn't have a G80, there are far better choices unless it's free. The ones I've had worked pretty well for normal driving until the clutches wear out.

I think you guys are arguing semantics. The G80 is a true locker in the sense that it does fully lock and provide equal torque to both wheels. Most LSD do not provide equal torque to both wheels.

Not trying to argue, and yes it is semantics. To me, a locker is a device that never allows one tire to turn slower than the ring gear. It unlocks to allow a tire to free spin faster than the ring gear, for example the outside tire when going around a curve. A limited slip allows tires to turn slower than the ring gear (or not at all) and requires one tire to spin free before mechanically sending power to the other tire. The G80 is the second type.

Either way it matters not to me if you have one or don't. I've had two and have no complaints. They do not provide traction like a true locker and for the most part on a daily driver that's a good thing. If I had a truck that had one, I'd be happy. If I was looking to upgrade an open diff, the G80 would not be at the top of the list of what I would put in.

This is what I was trying to convey but didn't quite get it out. It is not a selectable locker nor is it a full- time locker, but it is a locker (as opposed to a limited slip diff).

Excellent post....



I've had one break, but I also know I'm hard on vehicles. Good thing they are easy to replace....