Does anyone have a line on an electric selectable locker for the 1/2 ton ('99 and newer) Silverado/Sierra IFS differential? I'd really hate to have to swap in a 3/4 or 1 ton IFS diff just to have a locker up front on the rare occasions when I'd need it.

putting the 9.25" in is your only option right now. 8.25" should be out next year if you can wait that long.

So.....what, exactly, is coming out next year? And according to whom? You'll forgive me, but I've been hearing "next year" for three years now, and still have nothing to show for it.

How difficult is it to swap the 3/4 ton unit into the 1/2 ton? I've heard some say that it's a "straight bolt in", and others say it's a major project. My limited understanding is that, pre 2001, the frame was the same for all the IFS trucks (1/2, 3/4 and 1 ton), and the IFS units shared the same mounting locations. Is this true?

Thanks for the fast response to my original post.

Negative, the mounting locations are in different locations, you could do with a little fab work but why not just buy a 3/4 or 1 ton truck...

...because I'm not made of money, and I already have a very capable 1/2 ton.

Originally posted by Sniper's Lair
So.....what, exactly, is coming out next year? And according to whom? You'll forgive me, but I've been hearing "next year" for three years now, and still have nothing to show for it.

How difficult is it to swap the 3/4 ton unit into the 1/2 ton? I've heard some say that it's a "straight bolt in", and others say it's a major project. My limited understanding is that, pre 2001, the frame was the same for all the IFS trucks (1/2, 3/4 and 1 ton), and the IFS units shared the same mounting locations. Is this true?

Thanks for the fast response to my original post.

Eaton E-Locker. 9.25" unit is currently available in the H2 Hummer front and the 9.5" unit is in the rear.

why waste your time and money on 1/2 ton IFS? Its just gunna break....

you mention your future plans are an SAS, etc. (on your website) why not just go ahead with those plans and forget about throwing money away in the IFS.

I've been wheeling her hard for 5 years now and nothing has broken yet...(knock on wood). The IFS has held up well, so I've decided to stick with it, and just beef it as much as possible as I go along.

Eventualy I want it to become my tow rig.....

Sniper, I thought for sure you would have done the sas by now. I remember Bob picking up the axle I sold you a few years ago now.

Yeah, well........

I own my own business now, and use the truck as my dd and work rig.....can't afford to have it down for any length of time. I still have a d44 hd front and d60 rear sitting around...just no time to work on either of them. Hell, I hardly have time to breath between the business and the club! I did get the d44 apart, but that's it. If you guys know anyone who'd give them a good home, let me know. Both are open diff with 4.10 gears.

Originally posted by Sniper's Lair
I've been wheeling her hard for 5 years now and nothing has broken yet...(knock on wood). The IFS has held up well, so I've decided to stick with it, and just beef it as much as possible as I go along.

Eventualy I want it to become my tow rig.....

Damn can I have your luck? Bottle it up and I know alot of people that will buy that stuff. I've got an '02 2500HD that hates bearings, idler & pitman arms, CV's, blah, blah, and thats just on the street. Offroad, forget about Upper Ball joints!

I've got a HP60 that has been packing its bags for sometime now looking at the chance to move under that thing. Like you said its hard to find the time to get it all done. But damn everytime you break the week stuff it just costs ya money that you could be saving (paying down) the cost of the SAS. Getter done! I think ya know the answer to this one in your head. No reason to keep bandaging that weak ass IFS. Now if you could cut and paste this back to me, so I can get the motivation to get mine done as well. LOL

You miss the point....I haven't had to "bandage" anything. I rock crawl, mud bog, hill climb....you name it, she just gets it done without ever complaining. I have almost 120,000 miles on her now, and all I've replaced is one set of unitized hub bearings and outer tie rods. That's it. And she's wearing 34's......with 5 inches of lift. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Now, that being said, if I end up with a blown up IFS differential down the road......say hello D44 HD front axle!

There have been rumors for years that the e locker or another option will be available soon for the 8.2" IFS. Its just that though, a rumor. The fact is that the aluminum fron diff is to weak for a locker, thats why none are made. In testing it has been shown that the extra stress a locker causes is enough to crack the diff open like an egg. Ive seen this done even without a locker. If I were you, I wouldnt be counting on one being out ever.

Now for swappiing in the HD ifs on a 2001+ truck. Its not even close to worth it. EVERY mount is different, the UCA and LCA are wider, the diff is bigger, steering will not line up. Its far more trouble than its worth.

Ive done extensive research on this, talked to eaton, tracktech as well as many many others, trust me, dont count on a locker for the 8.2" ifs, and if one does become available, it would be throwing a ticking timebomb into your diff.

Figured. My question is this:

On the 99-2000 model years (pre-HD), the 1/2, 3/4 & 1 tons supposedly shared a common frame. Wouldn't that mean, if true, that the 1/2 and 3/4 ton IFS diffs would be fairly easy to swap?

Also, as a locker IS made for the 3/4 & 1 ton (non HD) IFS unit from 99-2000, I assume the larger 9.2 diff stands up to the stress of a locker?

Not to mention, the e-locker is selectable, meaning the stress can be reduced versus a full time locker.

it would probably be an easier swap but I *think* that there still will have to be custom brackets made. The thing is you need new LCAs, UCAs, hubs, everything to swap in the 9.2. Thats where it gets to be a pain in the ass. Im not as sure about this with the light duty 2500 of 1500HD (same truck essentially)

Also yes the 9.2 is much stronger, its a totally different design in the case.