Rear locker can save a front diff.

[MadMan4BamaNATL]

I know right? An M190 diff is super weak because of the shallow tooth depth and thin ring gear which deflects easily. But if we had just stopped and winched like I asked my spotter to do, it wouldn’t have broke. Or of course with the rear locker engaged I wouldn’t have gotten in that predicament in the first place and felt the need to hammer it.

Ahh, it happens man.

Just this past Saturday, had a group over to a wonderful and fun trail network over in Alabama called Little River Canyon. there's been a ton of rain for over a month over here and it was muddy and well rutted. Trails 8 and 9 were particularly nasty, yet fun and we had a group of around 11 Broncos and a few Jeeps. Some of the Broncos had no lockers and couldn't make it through, but it was mostly a clearance problem for those not on at least 35s.

There were some pucker moments that required a good bit of spotting and I didn't bring my MaxTrax which was stupid on my part. My Bronco made it through everything fine, but there were a couple of spots some of us got nervous.

Two things I see in your vids, and I appreciate your honesty and owning it, but don't be too hard on yourself, easy to get focused and forget to engage a locker.

1. I didn't like that line, but see why one would take it. I think a little farther over driver side would be best, but I've got a shorter wheelbase.

2. The horsepower hits once you banged. I don't like using the torque to get over obstacles where clearance is the issue as well. Not sure if you have skids, but even with, those were hard bangs that could cause more damage. I was concerned for your driveshaft.

For those situations, I shift to manual mode and would try that in M1, then maybe a shift to M2 with some torque load although I hate the way that feels. 37s and you would have walked that. I had a few spots on Saturday where I wanted 37s, but need to upgrade to the FP Rack first.

Hate you had that damage, but learn from it, you're a goddamn wheeler! Play this game long enough and we'll all hit that wall a time or two.

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[SierraBronco]

Honestly I mostly run with my rear locker engaged and only use my front when absolute necessary and/or I know I don't need any / zero steering input. if its that complicated, use the winch, its cheaper and wont get stranded. Yeah the front only locker is a thing, just not sure on this 6G.

Good examples for front use only-climbing something with an undercut and there is no other line available. Leaving the rear unlocked might let a tire slip back there to you aren’t putting everything into a bind as the front starts to climb. Not as good as an atlas but it does help.

Another good one is hard left turn on Milts Mile in Sand Hollow. The inside rear tire will be up on a rock and passenger side is fully drooped out. With the rear locked, the driver keeps climbing and you end up with a very exciting experience. Rear unlocked and front locked allowed the rear to simply pivot as the front pulled it around. Pretty boring video, that one.

 

[MadMan4BamaNATL]

What in the fat finger/ autocorrect....

Fixed thanks. Lol

I was dialing 911, thought your ass was having a stroke!

Just glad to know you're ok by fixing that.

 

[vrtical]

Good examples for front use only-climbing something with an undercut and there is no other line available. Leaving the rear unlocked might let a tire slip back there to you aren’t putting everything into a bind as the front starts to climb. Not as good as an atlas but it does help.

Another good one is hard left turn on Milts Mile in Sand Hollow. The inside rear tire will be up on a rock and passenger side is fully drooped out. With the rear locked, the driver keeps climbing and you end up with a very exciting experience. Rear unlocked and front locked allowed the rear to simply pivot as the front pulled it around. Pretty boring video, that one.

If I have to resort to that, I just go up backwards with rear locked

 

[SierraBronco]

If I have to resort to that, I just go up backwards with rear locked

Don’t break your ring and pinion! (Braptor probably fine in all reality. Dudes with Smol axles might run into problems eventually)

 

[vrtical]

Don’t break your ring and pinion! (Braptor probably fine in all reality. Dudes with Smol axles might run into problems eventually)

yeah but then I can put in a D60 floater.

 

[Fordified1]

Sorry that sucks.

This is why I preemptively use at least my rear locker on certain obstacles. The internet has people so scared to use them, or thinking of them as a last resort. But it's a tool that can save damage.

On another note recognize this trail at Hidden Falls. Great park!
Glad y'all have access to a place to work on it. I was over 700 miles from home when I visited.

Well, I had left it in four low because of the speed of the trails we were on, but I did not need the locker so I turned it off and then I forgot to turn it back on. I did not intend to start that climb without the rear locker on, that was me being old and forgetful.
It doesn’t have a front locker. I’m definitely not scared to use the rear. Back in the day, I used to weld spider gears so they were locked always lol. I used to run a spool in my Mach1.

 

[SierraBronco]

yeah but then I can put in a D60 floater.

Modern solution to a modern problem

I was so tempted to go full float on the D60 but it’s already going to be super wide and I didn’t want the hubs sticking out even more. Figure a semi-float one ton axle is still plenty strong for a lil bronco.

 

[GI_Jo_Nathan]

Well, I had left it in four low because of the speed of the trails we were on, but I did not need the locker so I turned it off and then I forgot to turn it back on. I did not intend to start that climb without the rear locker on, that was me being old and forgetful.
It doesn’t have a front locker. I’m definitely not scared to use the rear. Back in the day, I used to weld spider gears so they were locked always lol. I used to run a spool in Mach1.

I forget mine every now and then. Usually first mud hole of the day has me scratching my head wondering why I'm stuck already...

 

[Fordified1]

Ahh, it happens man.

Just this past Saturday, had a group over to a wonderful and fun trail network over in Alabama called Little River Canyon. there's been a ton of rain for over a month over here and it was muddy and well rutted. Trails 8 and 9 were particularly nasty, yet fun and we had a group of around 11 Broncos and a few Jeeps. Some of the Broncos had no lockers and couldn't make it through, but it was mostly a clearance problem for those not on at least 35s.

There were some pucker moments that required a good bit of spotting and I didn't bring my MaxTrax which was stupid on my part. My Bronco made it through everything fine, but there were a couple of spots some of us got nervous.

Two things I see in your vids, and I appreciate your honesty and owning it, but don't be too hard on yourself, easy to get focused and forget to engage a locker.

1. I didn't like that line, but see why one would take it. I think a little farther over driver side would be best, but I've got a shorter wheelbase.

2. The horsepower hits once you banged. I don't like using the torque to get over obstacles where clearance is the issue as well. Not sure if you have skids, but even with, those were hard bangs that could cause more damage. I was concerned for your driveshaft.

For those situations, I shift to manual mode and would try that in M1, then maybe a shift to M2 with some torque load although I hate the way that feels. 37s and you would have walked that. I had a few spots on Saturday where I wanted 37s, but need to upgrade to the FP Rack first.

Hate you had that damage, but learn from it, you're a goddamn wheeler! Play this game long enough and we'll all hit that wall a time or two.

I was following the line the two Jeeps before me had just gone up and where my spotter put me who knows Hidden falls like the back of his hand, but has been known to tear up some stuff too lol. Kind of pisses me off that he wasn’t paying attention enough to notice my rear locker was not locked. I can see that in the first video.
once the locker was on, it walked right up as it should have in the beginning before I got all crossed up. It has all the black diamond skid plates plus a transmission skid plate and control arm skids that I added. I think it was banging on my control arm skids. I forgot to look when it was on the lift.

 

[BluebroncoNC]

I was a knucklehead today and forgot to lock the rear diff. Got in a bind close to the edge and hammered it enough to knock teeth off the front ring and pinion (190 with no locker). When I figured my brain fart and locked the rear diff it walked right out of the bad spot I had gotten it into. Both embarrassing and expensive. Limped it to a buddies shop and we had the diff out and tore apart in about an hour to see the damage.

Don’t be too hard on me. Hopefully someone can learn from my mistake.

Well done. I always say, if you are going to do something, do it right! Go all in.

 

[GI_Jo_Nathan]

I was following the line the two Jeeps before me had just gone up and where my spotter put me who knows Hidden falls like the back of his hand, but has been known to tear up some stuff too lol. Kind of pisses me off that he wasn’t paying attention enough to notice my rear locker was not locked. I can see that in the first video.
once the locker was on, it walked right up as it should have in the beginning before I got all crossed up. It has all the black diamond skid plates plus a transmission skid plate and control arm skids that I added. I think it was banging on my control arm skids. I forgot to look when it was on the lift.

It's definitely the same line we took when I was there. Was a little more difficult for the four doors.
Hard to tell in the video, but a little to the left would give most people more problems.

 

[adam1991]

If I have to resort to that, I just go up backwards with rear locked

that's what she said.

 

[Felix808]

There is this organization that's been around since the early 80's if not before called Tread Lightly. Using your lockers makes it easier on the trail as well as your vehicle. I know it goes against the modern YouTube era of slap a set of 40's on & burn in big holes everywhere you go, but it makes good sense in helping to keep trails open

 

[builtMIbronco]

Another 4.46 M190 bites the dust, I've seen so many I've lost count at this point. Most of em I've seen break in reverse, either very lightly wheeling or stuck in snow/mud. Mine broke with 2200 miles on it, on a 20* decline trying to reverse to straighten up my line. Swapped an M210 in and it has held up through 3 steering racks and tons of abuse, 2 broken CVs.

I have a sneaking suspicion there's a casting issue in the 4.46s or there's just simply not enough meat on the ring gear, in the teeth and overall, to prevent deflection. I've seen and heard of at least 30 4.46 M190s taking teeth off the ring gear.

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