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[RoughneckRico]

Can anyone comment on if they have swapped out the current diff for an Auto locking rear differential (i know eaton makes a few)?

[CanyonAB]

Lots of 355's came from the factory with the Eaton G80 locking rear...standard equipment with the Z71 off road package, and optional on Z85 and ZQ8 trucks. I know people have swapped axles with wrecked 355's to get the locker...not sure about any other bolt in rearend options.

[RoughneckRico]

I'm pretty sure my truck doesn't have the G80, any way to visually tell?

[zeuce]

open your glovebox, on the inside there is a sticker with a list of 3 digit numbers. these are your rpo codes. look for code G80, that means you have it!

[CanyonAB]

If you don't and you want a locker from a wrecked 355...I'm quite sure the axle on the Z71 trucks is a bit wider than the ZQ8 or Z85, so you might want spacers for your front end, or not depending on the thickness of the metal on your rims.

[RoughneckRico]

If you don't and you want a locker from a wrecked 355...I'm quite sure the axle on the Z71 trucks is a bit wider than the ZQ8 or Z85, so you might want spacers for your front end, or not depending on the thickness of the metal on your rims.

I couldn't find G80 anywhere. Can anyone confirm this width issue?

[xkmacx86]

yep 2 inches wider. eaton has a clutched lsd avail for the aam800 which i'd truct more for on road apps but off road not so much

[CanyonAB]

Yeah...you don't so much want a limited slip offroad...you really need the locking capabilities.

[hawkeye]

Hey Rico, since your truck is a 4x4 your axles will be the same width as the z71s, it's just the 2wds that have the narrower axles. You can find the G80 online every once and a while for $4-500 bucks or search the wreckers.

[zeuce]

the g80 is great but I bet it will burn out with heavy off road abuse.

[xkmacx86]

i'm on #2.

[CanyonAB]

I'm not...yet lol.

[hawkeye]

Mine is still holding out but with how hard it engages sometimes I wonder how long it'll last. It keeps me from playing around when it's slippery too - I don't want to have it engage just because I want to slide around.

[CanyonAB]

Mine doesn't engage harshly typically, so I'm hoping that's a sign that mine is still in good condition. Under the right conditions it can, but when I go to fishtail or anything like that, I just give it enough gas and both tires start spinning.

[RoughneckRico]

355's aside, what is the best option as far as differentials for mudding and offroading out there? (Detroit locker, AUburn locker, G80, Limited slip, Electronic locker, mechanical locker, open diff)

And what type of differential would I have if its not the G80, is it just an open differential? (Wouldn't it suck for offroading)