G80 locking differential questions

[BuddyJr]

hey i know this is an old thread but if anybody still checks it i tried to look at ringpinion.com and couldn't find the tru trac locker by searching my truck does anybody the part number for this? and how hard is to swap out my g80? i'd like to do it before it bombs on me

[ShredSled]

I believe the part # for the 10 bolt 8.6" is 913A481


I'll be ordering one myself this week... Have it thrown in the same time as a fluid change and putting on the TA Perf girdle....


I've honestly had no problems with my stock G80 (for 157,000!), but it has been relatively stock for 90% of it's life, although still driven fairly hard.

[fatkidkustomz]

Originally Posted by ShredSled

what's the consensus on an ARB Air-locker? instead of D TT?

Seems it would give you great streetability/efficiency, but then lock at the push of a button, for off-road, donuts, burnouts, etc...

Anyone here run one?

Depends on what you're using it for. Only thing with the ARB is that you factor in a lot of other things that could go wrong. Don't get me wrong, they're well built units, but you have to mount the compressor and switch somewhere, route an air line, drill and tap the diff housing, etc.

[frank.jenkins]

I have a 2003 Chevy 2500 Duramax supposedly have a G80 rear end. If i go off road in any type of sand I am stuck I live in the dessert so sand is everywhere. Rear end also hops all over the place in my opinion due to the stiff rear end everything on dash board is on floor in seconds. How do I tell if my G80 rear end is working or not always stuck and tired of letting air out to get out.

[theholycow]

Check the RPO label in your glovebox for "G80". That will tell you if your truck came with one originally.

Go to a dirt road or some sand or whatever and lay on the gas. If you leave two skid marks from spinning your tires (or you get stuck and both tires dig in) your G80 is working. If only one tire has spun, you may not have a G80 or it may have failed.

[J-man67]

Originally Posted by frank.jenkins

I have a 2003 Chevy 2500 Duramax supposedly have a G80 rear end. If i go off road in any type of sand I am stuck I live in the dessert so sand is everywhere. Rear end also hops all over the place in my opinion due to the stiff rear end everything on dash board is on floor in seconds. How do I tell if my G80 rear end is working or not always stuck and tired of letting air out to get out.

If you are driving in the sand, you should let some air out before-hand...

[jhwalland]

do u think GM would install a tru-trac? i like to get everything i can done by them

[bluesrefugee]

Honestly, you will probably save money going to an independent mechanic of your choice. In my opinion, many dealers charge highly inflated prices for parts and labor. If you're worried about any warranty issues, the dealer won't warranty the aftermarket unit anyway, and they can't deny warranty coverage on other items due to an aftermarket part being installed (unless they can prove that the aftermarket part caused the problem).

P.S. Thats some pretty darn impressive "grenade lock" carnage in those pics. But I think I'll run mine till it breaks (if it breaks).

[Matt]

Originally Posted by brianZ71

these are all members on this site. and these are just a fraction of them. why do you think we have beefs with them?

I've seen all those images, but never the collage before. Nice work!

Shop around man. Ringpinion will have them if you call, but they will likely be more expensive than one of our vendors like A/T Fab. GM can certainly install something like this, but you're much better off going to an offroad shop to get it done. I'd venture to guess that a GM tech doesn't dig into nearly as many diffs as a tech at an offroad shop with healthy business.

As for whether the govlock is working, it's tough to tell without someone watching. Basically the govlock doesn't engage until it detects that 1 wheel is spinning (maybe 100rpm) faster than the other...then it locks up like a full-on locker. This is ok for stuff like mud where you're already spinning your tires a good bit, but it can suck in situations where you're just puttin around.

[SCORCH]

i just need a little clarification on the truetrac. I have a 98 sierra Z71 and I honestly cant figure out if i have the locking diff. or not. I havent yet tried it in snow but everytime i step it down on wet pavement or on a corner thats wet only the inside tire spins. But i have had a couple times where i was going about 25 and broke both loose on wet pavement while going straight and the back end wanted to swing around.

I am thinking of getting the truetrac and want to know if it will be a huge difference from this. I dont want only one tire to spin going around a corner because i have bad tires and they break loose alot.

thanks

[Smith]

Originally Posted by SCORCH

i just need a little clarification on the truetrac. I have a 98 sierra Z71 and I honestly cant figure out if i have the locking diff. or not. I havent yet tried it in snow but everytime i step it down on wet pavement or on a corner thats wet only the inside tire spins. But i have had a couple times where i was going about 25 and broke both loose on wet pavement while going straight and the back end wanted to swing around.

I am thinking of getting the truetrac and want to know if it will be a huge difference from this. I dont want only one tire to spin going around a corner because i have bad tires and they break loose alot.

thanks

z71 should have a g80. Just look in your glove box at the RPO codes and the G80 code should be there. If it was me i wouldn't replace it until it went out or you noticed issues that is unless you have some other reason to replace such as offroading and such or if you are abnormally hard on your truck. If its just a DD that you dont mess with then i wouldnt even worry about it

[Modified]

I had a TruTrac installed recently in my 03 Tahoe, absolutely NO regrets, wish I would have done it sooner. Makes the G80 seem like junk.

[SCORCH]

well i would like to get a lift and 35s for mine soon and then would do some more off roading aside for the average two tracks that are in the UP of MI when i hunt. I just hate that only one tire spins. yesterday i was two tracking and came to a hill off to the side i went up and there was about a 8" bump at the beginning of the hill and i couldnt even make that without 4WD. My tires arent the best either but i think i should have made that no problem.

How do i know what the codes are for things like the G80?
and
is the truetrac going to give me both tires spinning when i take a corner and give it gas and when i go up hills off road in 2WD?

thanks again

[theholycow]

Originally Posted by SCORCH

How do i know what the codes are for things like the G80?

The code for G80 is G80. Go look in your glovebox for your codes. If one of them says "G80" then your truck came with the G80.

Write your codes down and feed them into an RPO decoder to see what other equipment you have. There's an RPO decoder linked in my sig.

[FarmTruk]

Originally Posted by SCORCH

...How do i know what the codes are for things like the G80?
and
is the truetrac going to give me both tires spinning when i take a corner and give it gas and when i go up hills off road in 2WD?...

One thing we all should keep in mind, too, is that all GM "G80" diffs are not alike.

For the purpose of this board, G80 refers to the Eaton "Gov-Loc" differential. However, GM uses the RPO "G80" in many different cars/trucks, and it will not be the same unit as in these trucks.

In GM-speak, "G80" simply refers to the option for a traction-aiding rear differential. How they apply that will vary among the various models.



And the Eaton "Gov-Loc" G80 unit is not really designed as a street-performance differential. It is engineered to be a more utilitarian part-time locking diff, aiding traction only when one wheel has already begun to slip a predetermined amount more than the other (+100 rpm, IIRC).

It doesn't seem to tolerate locking under heavy loads, such as found at drag strips, or doing burn-outs, very well. It's more of a band-aid approach to increasing traction under very slippery conditions.

[ShredSled]

Originally Posted by SCORCH

well i would like to get a lift and 35s for mine soon and then would do some more off roading aside for the average two tracks that are in the UP of MI when i hunt. I just hate that only one tire spins. yesterday i was two tracking and came to a hill off to the side i went up and there was about a 8" bump at the beginning of the hill and i couldnt even make that without 4WD. My tires arent the best either but i think i should have made that no problem.

How do i know what the codes are for things like the G80?
and
is the truetrac going to give me both tires spinning when i take a corner and give it gas and when i go up hills off road in 2WD?

thanks again

yeah, like the holycow just said, "G80" is the code for the gov. lock unit and you can search for it in your glove box, easy to find.

The True-trac will really help out, I love mine. Has to be one of the most positive feeling diff. units I've felt out there. It really helps hang out the rear end when you want it to! But smooth enough to not make you squirrel out when you hydroplane on a curve on the expressway, for example (unless you're really on the gas anyway!).
If you want both tires to be spinning at the same speed all the time anytime get the Detroit Locker, but that's a bit more of a dedicated piece right there and not quite as safe for a daily driver IMO.


and where do you head to in the UP? just curious... I spent a number of years living in Marquette.

[SCORCH]

every year after the opening week for rifle whitetail season, we head up to L'anse for a week, then come down about 2hrs (cant remember town name, we just went there for the first time last year) and then at the end of the second week week hunt in curtis/gould city.

but maybe i'm just not getting it or something but has anyone given clarification of the 2 scenarios i mentioned? "is the truetrac going to give me both tires spinning when i take a corner and give it gas and when i go up hills off road in 2WD?"

I just mainly really dont like only the inside tire spinning on corners in slippery conditions like snow, i find myself putting it in 4WD alot!
I just need to know if the truetrac is going to be worth the money for me or if the G80 isnt going to be far off.

thanks a lot guys

[ShredSled]

Originally Posted by SCORCH

every year after the opening week for rifle whitetail season, we head up to L'anse for a week, then come down about 2hrs (cant remember town name, we just went there for the first time last year) and then at the end of the second week week hunt in curtis/gould city.

but maybe i'm just not getting it or something but has anyone given clarification of the 2 scenarios i mentioned? "is the truetrac going to give me both tires spinning when i take a corner and give it gas and when i go up hills off road in 2WD?"

I just mainly really dont like only the inside tire spinning on corners in slippery conditions like snow, i find myself putting it in 4WD alot!
I just need to know if the truetrac is going to be worth the money for me or if the G80 isnt going to be far off.

thanks a lot guys

to put it simple, YES, the True-trac is going to get you your two wheels spinning under load conditions, with no hesitation or question about it like the infamous G80. And no matter whether you're in 2wd or 4wd, rear is going to lock up when needed.
One of the better upgrades I've done to my truck I think. Spend the $350 on ronsmachine on ebay and get one.

My step-mother actually still has an old cabin up near L'anse, out on a small peninsula not too far north from the highest natural point in MI. Beautiful area up there, I miss it right now!

[bkrhoades]

I must be old, because I'm not really interested in doing burnouts or donuts in my 09 Z71 Silverado! I would buy a new Z28 Camaro if I wanted a hotrod, not a pick-up! I guess I just never thought of a pick-up as a 1/4 mile demon.

[ShredSled]

Originally Posted by bkrhoades

I must be old, because I'm not really interested in doing burnouts or donuts in my 09 Z71 Silverado! I would buy a new Z28 Camaro if I wanted a hotrod, not a pick-up! I guess I just never thought of a pick-up as a 1/4 mile demon.

fail.

Do you ever use your truck anywhere other than pavement, or even in the snow? Takes you a lot further than simply donuts and burnouts.

[SCORCH]

just did the RPO decoder and looked and there was no G80 code

[bkrhoades]

Originally Posted by ShredSled

fail.

Do you ever use your truck anywhere other than pavement, or even in the snow? Takes you a lot further than simply donuts and burnouts.

No not really. Did'nt buy a $35000 truck to off road or race, call me crazy!
I do however tow a 28ft travel trailer, with no problems, but to each his own

[theholycow]

Originally Posted by SCORCH

"is the truetrac going to give me both tires spinning when i take a corner and give it gas and when i go up hills off road in 2WD?"

Spinning both tires while taking a corner will get you sideways whether you want to be sideways or not.

I just mainly really dont like only the inside tire spinning on corners in slippery conditions like snow, i find myself putting it in 4WD alot!

4WD isn't a precious resources to be preserved for only the worst emergencies. It's a system that you already paid for that will seize up and fail if you never use it. It's especially appropriate to use in snow.

Originally Posted by SCORCH

just did the RPO decoder and looked and there was no G80 code

You shouldn't need to feed it into the decoder to figure that one out. If you didn't type "G80" into the decoder then you definitely don't have the G80.

[SCORCH]

Quote:
Originally Posted by SCORCH
"is the truetrac going to give me both tires spinning when i take a corner and give it gas and when i go up hills off road in 2WD?"
"Spinning both tires while taking a corner will get you sideways whether you want to be sideways or not."

didnt mean spinning meant pushing so that it would eliminate the inside tire from breaking loose on wet pavement

Quote:
I just mainly really dont like only the inside tire spinning on corners in slippery conditions like snow, i find myself putting it in 4WD alot!
"4WD isn't a precious resources to be preserved for only the worst emergencies. It's a system that you already paid for that will seize up and fail if you never use it. It's especially appropriate to use in snow."

it gets its use trust me, i just prefer not to be running around constantly in 4WD in the winter; bad mileage and just more wear and tear

Quote:
Originally Posted by SCORCH
just did the RPO decoder and looked and there was no G80 code
"You shouldn't need to feed it into the decoder to figure that one out. If you didn't type "G80" into the decoder then you definitely don't have the G80."

i know that i just worded it wrong


but thanks everyone, i think i now have the understanding i was originally looking for

[SCORCH]

well last night i went to pull in the garage and i spun the tires i little on the gravel(does it in both forward and reverse), this doesnt usually happen when there is no locker does it??

AND the BIGGER problem. to night i was riding a round and my finger slipped off the shifter into the push button 4x4 HIGH. went to take a corner and there was a ton of binding(harder to turn the wheel and took higher rpms to push the truck) way more than usual. The truck started to jump like the rear end kicked only every other second and the inside rear tire, from what i could tell, was squaking on the pavement everytime it kicked. This was the first time i had had it in 4WD in at least a month. a couple of friends thought it was the locker about to go but according to my codes in the glove box i have no G80. (whos to say the guy before didnt put a locker in, but as previously stated above, my inside tire and only inside tire slips a lot on corners and there seems to be no locker)

can i get some info here guys?
thanks