Detroit Locker....
Jan 14, 2010 | 06:10 PM
#11
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Joined: Nov 2006
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At one time, I had a truck that I used mostly off-road. I removed the open rear diff and installed a Detroit Locker. It worked extremely well off-road, and they are just about the strongest thing out there for extreme abuse & oversize tires.
However, its on-road characteristics were less-than-desirable. Here are a couple of examples of what I'm talking about.
When driving on the highway, if you are holding an even steady speed, you will not notice anything at all. Coast, and it usually unlocked, and the truck changed direction which required a minor steering correction. Accelerate, and it would ALWAYS lock, and the truck changed direction(usually the other direction), and a steering correction was again required. If there were ruts in the asphalt, and you were on/off the throttle, it could be a handfull. Put somebody behind the wheel who isn't aware of the "nature-of-the-beast", and the truck probably would have been wrecked.
When driving in the city, intersections and parking lots became a whole new kind of fun. The thing WILL lock anytime you accelerate, regardless of how light you think you are on the throttle. It will also unlock every time you coast. That said, every time you leave a green light at a turn, you will chirp the tires as you go around the corner. Cops love to hear and see this. If you get used to everything and pay attention, you can coast around most corners, and not chirp the tires. But red lights happen alot, at least to me.
Lastly, we have winter around here. Maybe you don't. If you see snow & ice with your Detroit Locker, you will learn how it does not like to turn if it's locked. I remember trying to back out of parking spaces, and dragging the front tires straight back, even though the wheels were cranked all the way to the steering lock. Learned a trick for that too, punch the gas to get moving, then coast & turn out of the space. Again, put someone behind the wheel who isn't used to your truck, and they will probably wreck it for you.
Detroit Lockers work well as designed, and they are tough as all hell. Tru-Trac or Eaton LSD are much more street friendly, and also very strong.
However, its on-road characteristics were less-than-desirable. Here are a couple of examples of what I'm talking about.
When driving on the highway, if you are holding an even steady speed, you will not notice anything at all. Coast, and it usually unlocked, and the truck changed direction which required a minor steering correction. Accelerate, and it would ALWAYS lock, and the truck changed direction(usually the other direction), and a steering correction was again required. If there were ruts in the asphalt, and you were on/off the throttle, it could be a handfull. Put somebody behind the wheel who isn't aware of the "nature-of-the-beast", and the truck probably would have been wrecked.
When driving in the city, intersections and parking lots became a whole new kind of fun. The thing WILL lock anytime you accelerate, regardless of how light you think you are on the throttle. It will also unlock every time you coast. That said, every time you leave a green light at a turn, you will chirp the tires as you go around the corner. Cops love to hear and see this. If you get used to everything and pay attention, you can coast around most corners, and not chirp the tires. But red lights happen alot, at least to me.
Lastly, we have winter around here. Maybe you don't. If you see snow & ice with your Detroit Locker, you will learn how it does not like to turn if it's locked. I remember trying to back out of parking spaces, and dragging the front tires straight back, even though the wheels were cranked all the way to the steering lock. Learned a trick for that too, punch the gas to get moving, then coast & turn out of the space. Again, put someone behind the wheel who isn't used to your truck, and they will probably wreck it for you.
Detroit Lockers work well as designed, and they are tough as all hell. Tru-Trac or Eaton LSD are much more street friendly, and also very strong.
Jan 14, 2010 | 06:15 PM
#12
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 16,820
Likes: 2
From: In a van DOWN BY THE RIVER
More then you going to throw at it. Both units are made by Eaton, but the eaton unit has clutch packs in it, as to the tru trac has worm gears. The tru trac is a solid hunk of steel, no clutches... I don't think I have ever heard of a tru trac breaking...
Jan 15, 2010 | 10:03 PM
#13
AK, my locker doesn't drive anywhere near that temperamental, if it did I don't think I would have been able to deal with it. I can go around turns under power without the tires chirping just fine. I was told the newer lockers are not as harsh as the older models (don't know if that's true or not) but honestly I don't know why our experiences would be so far off. I'm going to pull up my original thread to see what my driving impression was when I first installed it (if I can find it) 
Jan 15, 2010 | 10:17 PM
#15
detroit locker, same one we are talking about.
just re-read my old posts and the things I noted were that
1. it was quiet
2. off the line acceleration seemed better
3. I did finally notice some ratcheting noise when turning sharply (as in a parking lot)
4. and I did mention barking the tires out of a turn
just re-read my old posts and the things I noted were that
1. it was quiet
2. off the line acceleration seemed better
3. I did finally notice some ratcheting noise when turning sharply (as in a parking lot)
4. and I did mention barking the tires out of a turn
Jan 15, 2010 | 10:27 PM
#16
I guess the reason I asked that question is that there is more than one variation of Detroit Locker. They do offer a newer designed 'soft-locker' that they say exhibits better street manners.
Jan 15, 2010 | 11:08 PM
#17
Jan 16, 2010 | 10:58 AM
#19
I had a Detroit Locker with 4.10's in my 71 Camaro back when I was "a kid", and for an 18-19 year old, it was a lot of fun, but as mentioned, I couldn't make a turn without chirping the tires. The car didn't get driven in winter, but I can totally imagine how it would have reacted. I wouldn't recommend a full locker for a daily driven street vehicle, that's really not what it's intended for. The trutrac is definitely a favorite around here, with the Eaton LSD running a close second. If you do chose the trutrac, it's imperative that you run dino gear oil as it may not function properly if used with synthetic, that's straight from Eaton's recommendation and documented by members here who's trutrac's didn't lock at the track until they swapped their synthetic gear oil out for conventional.
Jan 17, 2010 | 05:46 PM
#20
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Thanks agian to everyone for all the helpful input. I am leaning towards the Tru-Trac due to the fact that it is a more streetable choice and there are no clutches to wear out.
Being that the Tru-Trac is a posi type unit is it more prone to making the vehice "go sideways" than a locker when the tires do break loose?
I do plan on turning up the wick once I get a better fuel system and hope to be running in the 700 rwhp range.
Has anybody run this much power on the street without damaging a Tru-Trac. I'm sure it's been done before but I'd just like to know before I drop the cash. On that note where is the best place to purchase?
Being that the Tru-Trac is a posi type unit is it more prone to making the vehice "go sideways" than a locker when the tires do break loose?
I do plan on turning up the wick once I get a better fuel system and hope to be running in the 700 rwhp range.
Has anybody run this much power on the street without damaging a Tru-Trac. I'm sure it's been done before but I'd just like to know before I drop the cash. On that note where is the best place to purchase?