A locking differential assembly, comprising: a differential case defining an axis of rotation and a gear chamber; a first side gear disposed at a first end of the differential case for selectable relative rotation thereto; a second side gear disposed at a second end of the differential case opposite the first end for selectable rotation relative to the differential case; at least two pinion gears rotatably supported in the gear chamber, each of the at least two pinion gears being in meshing engagement with the first side gear and the second side gear; a solenoid disposed at the first end; a plunger selectably magnetically actuatable by the solenoid; a lock ring selectably engagable with the second side gear to selectably prevent the second side gear from rotating relative to the differential case; and at least two relay rods each connected to the plunger and to the lock ring to cause the lock ring to remain at a fixed predetermined distance from the plunger; characterized in that the locking differential assembly further comprises: side gear dogs defined on an outside diameter of the second side gear parallel to the axis of rotation; complementary dogs defined around an inside surface of the lock ring, the complementary dogs being selectably engagable with the side gear dogs by translating the lock ring along the axis of rotation from a disengaged position to an engaged position; a spring disposed between the differential case and the lock ring to bias the lock ring toward the disengaged position; and a plurality of lugs defined on an outside surface of the lock ring, each lug to slide in a respective complementary slot defined in the differential case to guide the lock ring translation between the engaged position and the disengaged position and to prevent rotation of the lock ring relative to the differential case; wherein the second side gear is substantially prevented from rotating relative to the differential case when the lock ring is in the engaged position, and the second side gear is free to rotate relative to the differential case when the lock ring is in the disengaged position and wherein the lock ring has a lock ring thickness parallel to the axis of rotation. a differential case defining an axis of rotation and a gear chamber; a first side gear disposed at a first end of the differential case for selectable relative rotation thereto; a second side gear disposed at a second end of the differential case opposite the first end for selectable rotation relative to the differential case; at least two pinion gears rotatably supported in the gear chamber, each of the at least two pinion gears being in meshing engagement with the first side gear and the second side gear; a solenoid disposed at the first end; a plunger selectably magnetically actuatable by the solenoid; a lock ring selectably engagable with the second side gear to selectably prevent the second side gear from rotating relative to the differential case; and at least two relay rods each connected to the plunger and to the lock ring to cause the lock ring to remain at a fixed predetermined distance from the plunger; side gear dogs defined on an outside diameter of the second side gear parallel to the axis of rotation; complementary dogs defined around an inside surface of the lock ring, the complementary dogs being selectably engagable with the side gear dogs by translating the lock ring along the axis of rotation from a disengaged position to an engaged position; a spring disposed between the differential case and the lock ring to bias the lock ring toward the disengaged position; and a plurality of lugs defined on an outside surface of the lock ring, each lug to slide in a respective complementary slot defined in the differential case to guide the lock ring translation between the engaged position and the disengaged position and to prevent rotation of the lock ring relative to the differential case;