Auburn ECTED

[jwrezz]

Well I'm ordering my gears and master install kits from accuauto. They've been EXTREMELY helpfull, and their prices are great. Front and rear gears w/ install kits are a bit under $500. So now I'm thinking I'll be one of the first Aussie Locker guys for the IFS since that came out. My question is to any one that has a the Auburn ECTED, or any other selectable locker for the rear. I'd really just as soon get the Aussie Locker for the rear, but for an extra 250 I can get the ECTED. Is that extra money worth the benefits of a selectable locker? I drive this every day on the road, and am thinking more and more that it IS worth the money, but want all the input I can get from you guys. Thanx much!

 

[nissanboy]

That is a decision you would have to make for yourself. If you drive it everyday on the road a selectable could be good for you but there are many of us who drive with an automatic locker ont he road every day as well. Really jsut depends on what you want and like.

 

[j602]

I've heard the ECTED has bugs, and malfunctions offroad. The electrical components sometimes don't work quite right, causing it to go from open to locker randomly. Don't know this for sure though. Dreamr has been very happy with his Eaton selectable, which seems to work great. Honestly, I'd just go with the Aussie, which is supposed to be great on the street for an auto locker, and save the money for something else.

 

[nissanboy]

Oh and im not sure if it is Eaton Auburn or Detroit but one of them isnt a true locker. It just applies a current to tighten the clutches of a limited slip to give "spool like" traction. Honestly i like the Automatic lokcers. They are on and you know they are gonna be on and not malfunction b/c a wire came loose or something.

 

[V8BoatBuilder]

Get a selectable if you are in the snow and ice.

 

[FAT CAT]

I originally wanted an Aussie front and rear, but gave up after waiting for 10 months of promises “they’ll be on the plane by the end of the month”

Now that they’re out (maybe?) I like the price; you can get locked front & rear for the price of a selectable in the rear only.

Next I wanted ARB Airlockers front & rear, but ran into the same problem of nothing available for the front. So, now that I sold myself on a selectable, I ended up putting the No-slip up front and the Ected selectable in the back.

I went with the Ected only because I already had a limited slip and it would fit right in. If I would have had the open carrier, I would have gone with the Eaton. (The path of least resistance)

The good thing for me about the Ected is that even when it’s off, it’s still a hi-performance limited slip (much better than the stock Ford one) I haven’t had more that a few test runs, but I haven’t used it locked! When I found a couple steep loose dirt hills to climb, I just flicked the brown wire mod switch to lock up the front and left the rear un-locked. I climbed over everything like that, no spinning, no drama…

The Ected is the clutch type one and it will slip under huge loads (hehehe, you said huge load ) like 38-42 inch tires on a full size truck climbing up the side of a mountain, but for my area and application, it’s just want I wanted – only there when I want it to be.

Check some of Dreamr’s threads about his Eaton as well, but for the $$$ I hear the Aussies run sweet! But like V8 said for the snow & ice, the selectable ones are a good choice.

 

[BeauJ]

Ok, I'll admit I know all about engine, but don't know jack about gears/rearends. I've been looking for a ls or locker and I saw the ECTED. I'd really like it because I could use the locker for burnouts and the drag strip. CG said something about having an open rearend, like I have, and said he'd go with the Eaton. Would the ECTED work with it?

 

[jwrezz]

It doesn't matter what diff I currently have when deciding between the auburn, and eaton, right? They are both complete carrier replacements. If I have an open and I put in the Auburn ECTED I have an electric mechanical lock (so it says), or LS when not engaged. If I get the Eaton ELocker, I just have an electric mechanical lock, or open diff when not engaged. Both completely replace my open carrier.

 

[FAT CAT]

Best to check with the makers, it’s been a year since I was talking to everybody about lockers & maybe it was the Aussie that wouldn't go in the LS rear. Getting old!

Dead Link Removed

Dead Link Removed

 

[jwrezz]

Yeah, the aussie requires an open carrier/diff to go into. The others replace the entire carrier. thanx

 

[Racerx70]

Well, My ECTED will be here this week, so you know how I would vote. But wrap your head around this:

It takes some 400+lb-ft of torque to slip this unit when it is locked(forget exactly how much) That must be the difference between the two tires, not the total applied force.

If you're lucky this will be just before you lunch a shaft

This is the ONLY selectable that is lockable ON-THE-FLY Sure, you could lock another while moving, but if you're spinning one and lock it (BOOM)...With the ECTED it will just clamp till the sides match speed.

Only unit that is L/S when unlocked.

I will post up how I like mine as soon as I get in some test runs.

 

[jwrezz]

Thanx for that little bit of info. I'm wondering if there is ever a benefit to having an open diff? All the others are open when unlocked, but the ECTED is L/S. Any one can think of an instance where open diff would be good? Is mileage a factor? Thanx,

 

[rookieshooter]

I think an open would do better when you are going along sideways on a slippery hill not up or down. A limited slip might want to slid the rear end around.

 

[V8BoatBuilder]

Opens are also better in the snow/ice when you are travelling at-speed.

 

[FROADER]

Well, My ECTED will be here this week, so you know how I would vote.

Only unit that is L/S when unlocked.

The Detroit Electrac is a L/S when unlocked and a good unit.

 

[Racerx70]

The Detroit Electrac is a L/S when unlocked and a good unit.

My bad

Opens are also better in the snow/ice when you are travelling at-speed.

I had a posi before and drive around on ICE half the year. I also had a Cherokee with an open diff and MUCH prefer the L/S to the open diff on ice.

When taking off the open of course would spin one tire but not get sideways, but on some REALLY slick intersections the Posi did a MUCH better job of getting going.

On corners with the L/S you will almost always get a little sideways, but in 4x4 it is very controllable and predictable. The open was more stable but less predictable as to when and where it would slip.

A matter of preference for sure, but make mine a L/S please

 

[nissanboy]

i just saw an ECTED stop working as a locker a few weeks ago. He flipped teh switch and one tire spun... after we found out he had already flipped it to locked and was still spinning one tire we checked for a wiring problem. Grabbed the axle to slide under and the thing was very hot to the touch. I personally would go with a real locker where pins lock together to create a posotive lock. He was only running 33's on a Cherokee.

 

[Silver X]

I had a posi before and drive around on ICE half the year. I also had a Cherokee with an open diff and MUCH prefer the L/S to the open diff on ice.

When taking off the open of course would spin one tire but not get sideways, but on some REALLY slick intersections the Posi did a MUCH better job of getting going.

On corners with the L/S you will almost always get a little sideways, but in 4x4 it is very controllable and predictable. The open was more stable but less predictable as to when and where it would slip.

A matter of preference for sure, but make mine a L/S please

I also prefer the L/S to open on snow and ice. When I drive my Ranger with open diffs in the snow (in 4wd), it takes forever to get moving. My Explorer just goes, or spins all four and drives sideways down the street if I want to play a little. It's very controllable when it starts to slide, throttle induced or not. Even in 2wd, it's not too bad, just a little less predictable on the highway. The Ranger is useless in 2wd in any kind of snow.

 

[dreamr]

I have a few threads on here discussing the attributes of various selectables. But the general differences are this, and my reason will follow.

Auburn Ected = L/S when off, and electrically actuated

Detroit Electrac is nearly identicle to the Auburn but has a better field reputation for strength

ARB is open when off and fully locked when engaged, Actuation is achieved through a air compressor feeding the appropriate amount of pressure to engage the unit.

Eatons E-Locker is open when off and fully locked when on. Activation is achieved by a direct DC current.

Why did I go Eaton?

Well first off there is the debate of stability in an open diff VS. LS. While the LS will provide you more traction in say a hill climb it also sacrifices side stability when in off camber situations. If you are on a slick side hill, the down hill tire will have the most pressure and in an open will not spin providing you with a bit of grip to keep from sliding while the uphill tire will be able to spin and maintain forward momentum. In this same situation with an LS that downhill tire will spin causing you to lose your grip on the surface and have the whole vehicle begin to slide sideways/downhill. This is even more true on slick surfaces such as ice or snow.

My next thought was actual engagement, The L/s selectables are not true lockers in the fact that they do not lock the two axle shafts together, but rather they rely on the force of the clutchpacks inside which allow the L/S to work. While in most situations that force is considerable there is always the potential of slippage when really stressed, especially when running larger tires. On top of that as we have all seen the clutches in a l/s differential will eventually wear out making this slippage more frequent and adding up to having l/s with the locker engaged rather than fully locked.

With the ARB or Eaton when you flip the switch they actually have a device inside that locks the two shafts together rather than depending on pressure. While I do not know how to fully describe the ARB the Eaton uses a ball ramp mechanism to lock a set of pins into place which prevent any possibilty of slippage.

Next there was the cost factor. While the Detroit, Eaton, and Auburn were all comprably priced in the 600-700 dollar range the ARB after air compressor was closer to 900-1000.

I chose the Eaton as I travel a lot of sloppy and snow covered backroads in the Cascades and wanted the open diff for stability. I wanted to have a system that provided a positive engagement (fully locking the shafts together) when I needed it, and I couldn't afford the extra 300 for the ARB.

All in all the ARB and the Eaton are the best of the options.

 

[Racerx70]

Actually the Elec-trac is a basicly a true-trac gear type l/s when unlocked and mechanicly locks when activated.

I talked to the rep at Auburn and got these specs:
The ECTED takes 4200 Ft-lbs of torque to slip the clutches when activated. (I ws wrong with 400 before) Keep in mind that a stock 31spl Ex 8.8 shaft has a yield strength of around 6500+.

BTW, I got mine TODAY