Ordering a locking differential on a Big Bend

[bronco_billy]

is there a switch to turn it on? where is it located?

Yes, top of the dash.

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[dgorsett]

is there a switch to turn it on? where is it located?

Upper center of dash, they're called hero switches, flashers, traction control, trail turn assist, locker(s) and/ or sway bar disconnect

 

[lakesinai]

Almost, Black Diamond has 4.46.

Edited

 

[GroovyGeek]

Get it. A Bronco with an open dif is just a mall crawler. Not sure if the BB has LSD.

Lockers can come in handy on surprisingly pedestrian looking trails, particularly when there is sand, mud, or loose dirt involved.

 

[M Redwood]

i can't believe you wouldn't get it ..and for price with gears and a factory warranty its a no brainer..resale alone will sell it higher and quicker than without....i traveled to another state to get a bb with locker as they are so uncommon...will cost ya 3 to 4k to upgrade later...mud and snow will really make it useful and that comes without any serious off-roading...

 

[indio22]

Have you used yours yet?

On 6g it's not so much about actually using these functionalities, rather it's how they "make you feel". Or so I've been told several times, lol.

Probably you will waste $750 on something you'll hardly if ever get much use out of. That said, I'd get the rear locker anyway for the steeper diff gears and the ability to lock in some rare scenario.

 

[MNBigfoot]

Get it for the gearing alone, even if you never use the locker.

 

[mpeugeot]

Absolutely. I have it on my OBX along with the Advanced Transfer Case. Makes the car better in sand & rocks, increases value, reduces chances of getting stuck. Push a button to turn it on, or its automatic in Mud&Ruts and Sand modes. The upgrade changes the 3.73 gearing to 4.27 axles, giving you more torque, while losing about 1 mpg. As others have said, it helps make the car more capable of running larger tires.

It doesn't lose 1 mpg, it's not enough of a difference... It's all bad aero for the mpg in the Bronco.

 

[Imonamoose]

Have you used your locker yet?

Yes, many many times.

 

[mzman]

Would you or someone please explain why the gearing is so important? Is it because of the size wheels and if I decide to get larger one's going forward? I'm new to all of this.

 

[prospectfour]

Hi..

i just ordered a 24 BB this past week and wanted to get ya’lls opinion on getting a rear locking differential which is $750 extra. I’m going to do some light off roading but nothing too crazy and hopefully not in places where I could get stuck. I live in NC so weather is rarely a factor. Is it still worth it to get it?

Thanks..

Worth every cent. I optioned the $795 rear locker on my OBX and it’s been great to have for light off-roading. Plough through the softest sand for surf fishing with no problem.

The 4.27 gearing is also worth it if you get the itch to upgrade to 33’s or 35’s down the road. A lot of guys with BB and OBX opt for a bigger replacement set of tires.

Sas is the ripoff if you don’t need it. Locker alone is so cheap and useful it’s a must have IMO.

 

[a.smith]

Would you or someone please explain why the gearing is so important? Is it because of the size wheels and if I decide to get larger one's going forward? I'm new to all of this.

Basically yes. Lower gearing (higher number) means there is more torque to the wheels at the axle. That allows you to turn a larger tire effectively. The tire is a lever with a length equal to its radius. The larger the tire, the less mechanical advantage it has in converting the twisting force of the axle to a linear force on the road allowing you to accelerate. A lower gear ratio compensates for that. The flip side is the lower the gearing the faster the engine spins for your road speed. At some point the engine RPM at highway speed would become unreasonable.

 

[dgorsett]

Basically yes. Lower gearing (higher number) means there is more torque to the wheels at the axle. That allows you to turn a larger tire effectively. The tire is a lever with a length equal to its radius. The larger the tire, the less mechanical advantage it has in converting the twisting force of the axle to a linear force on the road allowing you to accelerate. A lower gear ratio compensates for that. The flip side is the lower the gearing the faster the engine spins for your road speed. At some point the engine RPM at highway speed would become unreasonable.

...but the Bronco's 10 spd has three overdrives and will not over rev even with a smallish tire.

 

[lakesinai]

Have you used your locker yet?

I drive on various beaches from Florida to the Outer Banks 20-30 days a year, so I've used the rear locker 20-30 days a year for the last two years.

 

[a.smith]

...but the Bronco's 10 spd has three overdrives and will not over rev even with a smallish tire.

I think the lowest would be a Badlands with a 4.7 and 33" tires at about 65mph at 2000rpm. Opposite would be a 3.73 axle with 32" tires at about 80mph at 2000rpm. What's too much? Not sure.

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