Detroit Locker?

[DarrellB]

Anyone running one, that will say they are?



I trashed my Spider Gears and Clutch Packs last Saturday in my first hook in 4 years (More Hp than I thought) and I'm looking to upgrade to a little more aggessive limited slip unit. For now I just stuffed a whole new set of Dana guts in the 80 but down the road I'd like to lock it before next pulling season. I was curious as to what everyone thought about the on road manners of the Detroit Locker? The guy at the local offroad shop told me it was too aggressive for a daily driver. He said "I would rattle my teeth out", but then he also mentioned a much more expensive ARB air locker that would work great. Just looking for some feed back from someone with one of these units installed in a daily driver.



Thanks

DB

 

[Hohn]

I don't presently own either one, but I have experience with them.



The ARB is expensive (and requires plumbing the compressor and such), but it's a proven unit. It's fairly strong.



The Detroit is brutally strong, but can be quirky. It makes a loud CLICK as you go around corners as it switches from freespool to locker. The Detroit also can cause handling issues on slick roads. It takes a certain amount of "twist" caused by one wheel trying to go a different speed than the other to get it to unlock.



This can mean that it won't unlock on icy or wet roads. That's dangerous. it also cause steering issues, because the Detroit will fight the steering until it unlocks.



The ARB is more expensive for a reason-- it's just more livable and a lot easier on the truck.



The Detroit is more common in trail-built rigs and drag cars that don't have to spend a lot ot time on pavement.



I wouldn't personally put a Detroit in a daily driven street vehicle.



Justin

 

[Don-T]

I have been using Detroit Lockers in jeeps for many years. I have many thousands of miles or street driving with them. The main thing to remember on the street is to not apply a lot of power through corners if you can avoid it. If you coast or apply light throttle in corners it is hard to tell you have them. If you drive much on ice the ARB would be a better choice. My experience is with the light, short wheelbase vehicles. Your truck is much longer and heaver so the handleing issues will be less noticable. With the manual trans you will feel the locker when you shift, a lot of people don't like that, I never though it was a big deal.

 

[Tcolesanti]

In the U. S. Navy Seabees, we use 1 ton chevy SRW pickups with 6. 2liter diesels and TH400, the Corporate 14 bolts utilize detroit lockers. I've put a bunch of miles on those trucks, on the highway, around town, in the mud, sand, etc. There is'nt one reason why I would not run a detroit locker on the street. They are pretty bulletproof, and they always work. Just my $0. 02

 

[Jim Fulmer]

I've probably got 20,000 miles on mine and I have yet to hear it bang or be an issue, the only thing I notice is a little more tire wear (like I can tell) and it slipping the inside tire on turns.



Jim

 

[Rman]

I'm with Don and Jim... these are very streetable. It takes different driving habits and a bit of learning at first. I would recommend it, but be careful until comfortable with it. Turns are tricky, and slick surfaces are very tricky. The benefits to me far out weigh the cons.

 

[w-cummins]

They work great. In a long wheel base truck they handle just fine the only time I know it's there is when I take off fast from a stop on a sharp turn. With the power on it will some times chirp the tire on a hard trun from a stop. I don't think I would run one on the front end though the ARB would be the way to go there.

 

[jpickens]

Rear Detroit

Lock it up... you'll never regret it. :-laf

Okay seriously though... I ran lockers in a d60/d70 combo under an 85 ramcharger and loved them. 40" swampers and drove it anywhere anytime...

Just not to FL and back.

I'm REALLY looking for someone who makes a spool for our D80s to put in the back of my 2001. It's such a long wheel base... a chirping tire here and there would be music to me ears. I can't STAND it when my factory slipomatic rear end spins one wheel... :{ ... I've even had it apart and properly realigned the clutches for maximum friction. That did help... for a while.

 

[Rman]

are you being sarcastic? Spooling a street rear end is well, nuts. It'd sure be fun to watch though! Tires sure wouldn't last and there'd be lots of hopping around corners too.

 

[Tcolesanti]

You would TEAR UP that rear end putting a spool in it and driving on the street. At least a detroit locker will slip a bit and give the axles a break, but a spool has no mercy. I garuntee if you put any weight in the back of that truck you will have immediate problems.

 

[Sled Puller]

Hes from West Virginia, you bet hes serious!



SCS gear in Ohio told me once they could make a set of axles and spool for the 80 that I wouldn't tear up.



I went with a Detroit and Mosers instead.

 

[DarrellB]

Thanks for the feedback guys.



I'll think I'll go with that Detroit when the time comes, besides I drive strait most of the time.



DB

 

[MMiller]

I removed my detroit from my pulling truck because the axel shafts were not strong enough in the 60 rear(my puller is a lowly gasser, anybody want a 440 powered puller, I want a diesel!). Twisting them off when I really needed them(like around 280-290 feet). I put a 14 bolt under the rear with a gov lock in it and stopped breaking axels, then broke the gov lock. So I took an open gear set and welded them together, effectivly having a spool. I though there would be little difference in the spool and the detroit, MAN WAS I WRONG. I did not realize how much I coast around corners, and never hearing my detroit, but now just moving the truck in the yard I feel the lincoln locker. I don't like it, it is just temporary until I get a detroit for it.



As far as the locker handing in inclememnt(sp) weather, my 93 has a factory ls that has always been tight. I mean chirping tires around corners tight. So I have learned how to drive a nose heavy, high torque vehicle on gravel and icy roads that gets sideways with ease. I hate driving a vehicle with an open rear any more. Spend so much time spinning one wheel. As far as tire wear, well I like the tires to wear evenly, with an open the right rear always burns off. Heck my brother's diesel is terrible to even try and drive nice. It always spins one tire, where my truck just acclerates away with no spinning at all.



The only application where I would warn against a detroit in your truck is if you tow a heavy 5th or gooneck. My ls makes all kinds of noise when pulling my trailer around corners when accelerating. I would not like a detroit in the rear of my tow vehicle, as i forsee broken parts. I have yet to figure out how to pull 25,000 lbs away from a stop sign around a corner and coast at the same time!



Oh yeah, I live in the country, raised on the farm and go fourwheeling. It's no fun to be spinning one wheel on a 2wd truck or 2 tires and a 4X4. Lock it and love it!! Oo.



Michael

 

[2broke2smoke]

you guys sure seem to be experts on spools ... how many of you have actually run one?

i ran a spool (licoln locker) in a daily driven '93 ramcharger with a dana 60 full floater and absolutely luved it ... ran it for almost a year / 25k miles ... my wife and the guy that bought the truck didn't like the constant eeeeek - eeeeek going around corners



as far as wet/snowy roads it didn't handle any different than the tight clutch pack i have now in my 70 now you either have traction or you don;t :-laf



if i can find a srw disc braked 80 for my second gen it will be lincoln locked before it goes in ... unless someone comes up with a reasonably priced spool

 

[jpickens]

locked...

Agree with 2broke2smoke... Once your used to one it's traction and control at a whole new level. There's nothing like 55mph and hanging a 21' 8k lb. truck out around the corners on a damp morning heading to work...

Axles are cheap right? hahaha ... and I'll be the first to repost to this thread when/if I break one with all the glorious details. Oo.

 

[BigBadDodge]

Perhaps you should ask how many pullers have a ARB in there Dana 80



Daily driven Detroit here



BBD

 

[Straight6Jeff]

Been running hte detroit for aobut 15K now. Tires do not show any more wear than normal. IT is a dually and handles just fine. You can feel the occasional chuck back and forth, but it is not bothersome. It may take a litle getting used to, but it sure beats getting stuck in an inch of snow.