Trac-Lock Differential

[GI_Jo_Nathan]

Ford sales a switch for the lockers if you were to decide to add them later.
M14489BR According to the instructions they are not installed on the dash but installed in the cubby where the phone charger thing is or somewhere around there. I have 3.73 and was trying to piece together a gear swap.

I would personally pass on Ford's install kit. It's like $300 and it's just a plug a rocker and a relay.

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[SuperDave150]

I would not waste time/money installing a tracloc, worst of all the options….

Respectfully disagree.
Open is the worst.
I have had this diff in an F150 for 15 years and 180,000 miles. It is still tight, clean & quiet even after a hard life of towing, off roading, highway & daily driving.

 

[Brian_B]

Do you think you could wire up the factory locker buttons on the dash if you were to buy it and connect it?

Rear locker has been done, there’s a post around here detailing all the parts and programming. If I can dig it up I’ll link to it
*edit*
Link to factory rear locker Hero switch install:
https://www.bronco6g.com/forum/threads/adding-rear-electric-locking-differential-factory-ish.88656/

Front locker isn’t as straight forward and hasn’t been done to my knowledge.

$20 relay and rocker switch is all that’s required to make either work though

 

[2021FordBronco2]

Rear locker has been done, there’s a post around here detailing all the parts and programming. If I can dig it up I’ll link to it
*edit*
Link to factory rear locker Hero switch install:
https://www.bronco6g.com/forum/threads/adding-rear-electric-locking-differential-factory-ish.88656/

Front locker isn’t as straight forward and hasn’t been done to my knowledge.

$20 relay and rocker switch is all that’s required to make either work though

Which do you think would be easier, I haven't done any stuff like this before and would like the easiest option for the money.

 

[Brian_B]

Which do you think would be easier, I haven't done any stuff like this before and would like the easiest option for the money.

Relay + switch is ridiculously easy and requires no programming. Could also use an upfitter switch if you have them, or an aftermarket upfitter. All of those are just as easy. There are even bluetooth options (not sure why you’d want it for a locker, but it exists!). Wiring an e-locker is no different than wiring up a light, and way less complicated than a stereo upgrade.

Integrating the rear locker to a Hero switches I would not say is hard, but it’s significantly more involved, involves a lot more parts and wiring harnesses, and some programming. And if you do the front locker, current suspicion is that it requires a different AWD module all together in addition to all the other parts (not confirmed) - so you still have to figure out a front locker if you add that too.

The rocker/upfitter switch is going to be way easier than trying to integrate it into an OEM hero switch. That said, going the switch route the GOAT modes won’t automatically turn your locker on and off either (which, for most people around here, is a huge bonus and not a negative)

 

[2021FordBronco2]

Relay + switch is ridiculously easy and requires no programming. Could also use an upfitter switch if you have them, or an aftermarket upfitter. All of those are just as easy. There are even bluetooth options (not sure why you’d want it for a locker, but it exists!). Wiring an e-locker is no different than wiring up a light, and way less complicated than a stereo upgrade.

Integrating the rear locker to a Hero switches I would not say is hard, but it’s significantly more involved, involves a lot more parts and wiring harnesses, and some programming. And if you do the front locker, current suspicion is that it requires a different AWD module all together in addition to all the other parts (not confirmed) - so you still have to figure out a front locker if you add that too.

The rocker/upfitter switch is going to be way easier than trying to integrate it into an OEM hero switch. That said, going the switch route the GOAT modes won’t automatically turn your locker on and off either (which, for most people around here, is a huge bonus and not a negative)

How hard would you say it is to add a locking diff for a beginner?

 

[Brian_B]

How hard would you say it is to add a locking diff for a beginner?

Rear end - I did it as a complete mechanical no-nothing. It takes a bit of grunt and a second body definitely helps a lot, but nothing complicated and no special tools really apart from basic mechanics stuff. Electrical/wiring is not hard either. You need to find one very common electrical harness to plug into the diff for the locker, it's about $20 on amazon, and enough gear oil to refill the diff - a quart and a half or so?

If you can rotate your own tires, change your own oil and have a good set of jack stands and lift table or/and someone to help lug a rear end around to get it situated, piece of cake. It's really only about 6 bolts and some prep work to swap the entire rear end, then running your one fuse/switch/relay to your harness and plugging it into the rear diff.

Took me an afternoon by myself once I wrapped my head around it. (Then I found out my locker didn't work, so that was an entire different rabbit hole, but that seems to be an exception and not a rule. And that's when I learned all about the inside of the differential and pulling the internals apart - but you won't have to do that for a normal install)

Front end - a bit more involved, I haven't done that one yet, but not too much more involved from what I've gathered, just tighter area to work around and independent axles/CVs to deal with. And you may need ProCal or something if you have an FDU that has a FAD (front axle disconnect - which is most of the non-locking front ends)

*** One big caveat here.
Your gearing has to match, front and rear. If you upgrade your rear and it doesn't match the gearing up front, you will absolutely wreck something if you engage 4WD. If you want to change gearing, I recommend doing both front and rear together and ~not~ trying to just change gearing out internally. You can change the internal gearing out, but with these Ford units, it generally isn't going to save you much money if you have the welded carrier rings, is a good deal of labor, and you have to yank and re-install the units anyway.

I got lucky and found a take-off rear end with an ELD that was the same gearing as my front end, and the guy I bought it from was pretty good about explaining what I was getting into swapping the rear end out. That made it just swapping out the rear end - which, as I mention above, is pretty easy (relatively speaking). If I ever get around to changing out my FDU, I'll upgrade the gearing and get some shorter gears while I'm at it.

 

[2021FordBronco2]

Rear end - I did it as a complete mechanical no-nothing. It takes a bit of grunt and a second body definitely helps a lot, but nothing complicated and no special tools really apart from basic mechanics stuff. Electrical/wiring is not hard either. You need to find one very common electrical harness to plug into the diff for the locker, it's about $20 on amazon, and enough gear oil to refill the diff - a quart and a half or so?

If you can rotate your own tires, change your own oil and have a good set of jack stands and lift table or/and someone to help lug a rear end around to get it situated, piece of cake. It's really only about 6 bolts and some prep work to swap the entire rear end, then running your one fuse/switch/relay to your harness and plugging it into the rear diff.

Took me an afternoon by myself once I wrapped my head around it. (Then I found out my locker didn't work, so that was an entire different rabbit hole, but that seems to be an exception and not a rule. And that's when I learned all about the inside of the differential and pulling the internals apart - but you won't have to do that for a normal install)

Front end - a bit more involved, I haven't done that one yet, but not too much more involved from what I've gathered, just tighter area to work around and independent axles/CVs to deal with. And you may need ProCal or something if you have an FDU that has a FAD (front axle disconnect - which is most of the non-locking front ends)

*** One big caveat here.
Your gearing has to match, front and rear. If you upgrade your rear and it doesn't match the gearing up front, you will absolutely wreck something if you engage 4WD. If you want to change gearing, I recommend doing both front and rear together and ~not~ trying to just change gearing out internally. You can change the internal gearing out, but with these Ford units, it generally isn't going to save you much money if you have the welded carrier rings, is a good deal of labor, and you have to yank and re-install the units anyway.

I got lucky and found a take-off rear end with an ELD that was the same gearing as my front end, and the guy I bought it from was pretty good about explaining what I was getting into swapping the rear end out. That made it just swapping out the rear end - which, as I mention above, is pretty easy (relatively speaking). If I ever get around to changing out my FDU, I'll upgrade the gearing and get some shorter gears while I'm at it.

Awesome thank you for the help!

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