Maximum Traction off road in Snow and Mud etc...

[hammersley]

OK - I'm tired of my open differential and want something else..... I don't like the limited slips - anybody have experience with the lockers???? Which one and what $$$ are we talking about????

 

[steved]

Full Detroit Locker...



Don't waste your time with a "lunch box" locker in a daily driver.



They will click, snap, and occasionally bang during normal operation.



steved

 

[CRuth]

Oh yeah, they'll make a lot of noise on occasion. But they won't slip. I got used to it in my Jeep pretty quick though.

I have heard some people say they be downright dangerous on icy roads. If it ratchets unexpectedly. I don't spend enough time on icy roads to give first hand experience.

 

[steved]

I have heard some people say they be downright dangerous on icy roads. If it ratchets unexpectedly.

They are really no different on ice/snow than a tight LSD...



I drove a 1500 with a rear locker... it was a daily driver. The traction was incredible, and snow driving was enhanced and far from scary. It was tolerable on dry pavement... but being able to move with one rear tire over a foot off the ground was awesome.



One thing a rear locker in one of these truck WILL do is show you every loose steering component on your ride... since they tend to "push" straight, the truck will wander badly (with loose steering components) when you get on and off the throttle. The locker was how I found I had a bad trackbar and steering gear in need of adjustment!



steved

 

[Bob4x4]

Lockers are great in snow but they are at least unsafe on ice. I have air lockers in my Jeep,so I have the best of both worlds. If you encounter ice with any regularity try a selectable locker.



Bob

 

[wildmanben]

unsafe on ice? I was told that too and still bought a full detroit. Love it, Its got more traction on ice in my opinion. Never had it spin around on me like people said. I think its the driver... . I would recommend one...

 

[AFoulk]

I was comtemplating a detroit as well. My limited slip does nothing but "slip". I'm gonna try and restack my clutches, but if they are shot, I think I'll just get a locker. An ARB is to expensive for my tastes. I figure the detroit can't react any worse that the LSD in my wrangler did... . that mights as well have been a locker, I could spin that thing around in the rain while lugging it in 3rd gear. Scared the crap outta me a few times

 

[Bob4x4]

unsafe on ice? I was told that too and still bought a full detroit. Love it, Its got more traction on ice in my opinion. Never had it spin around on me like people said. I think its the driver... . I would recommend one...

Get your self on an off camber situation on ice with a locker :-laf A selectable locker will always be the most versatile. Not the cheapest,not the strongest but definitely the most friendly. My Jeep will not turn very well with both ends locked,but I have the option of turning either end off to make it do what I want

Bob

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Hammersley, if you had a LSD that worked as well as mine I think you'd be happy. On my '98 I had my Dana 70 open diff rebuilt with a Power Lock and the guy stacked the plates for more aggressive performance. Result is great traction, far better than the other two OEM Dodge limited slips, yet smoother than either of them. In normal driving you'd have no idea the LSD is there. . . smooth, quiet, never a hint of jerkiness or chatter. But it saved my bacon driving down Highway 97 in Oregon last week on very icy roads. . . was able to motor up the hills without spinning out, I know I would've stalled out with an open diff (2wd truck). In another spot with about 2-3" messy snow on the road I was able to accelerate from 30 to 55 in a short distance to pass a semi going up a 6% grade.

I had it done at Palachuk's in Selah, price for all the parts to rebuild the axle+power lock installed was ~$850, worth every penny. . . would be worth the trip for you.

Vaughn

 

[ddechris]

Wheelbase makes all the difference in how safe a locker can be on ice.



I have a Lock-Rite in my CJ-7 (been in there for 50k and 7 years) and it can be downright scary on an icy road in 2wd. That's why it has 4wd, right. Of course, a CJ can be downright scary on an icy road in 2wd without a locker. Back when I lived at the top of hills in all directions, I got studded tires for the rear of the CJ which I run in winter. I would guess they make a difference, but I don't know if I could prove it. As far as off-camber situations, I have run into where the back end wanted to slide down a snow covered hill. That was with the 33" tires which have very low ground pressure. Switching to the narrower, studded 31" winter tires helps solve that problem. Or, I just throw on a set of chains when on the trail.



Now, take a standard pick-up which has almost twice the wheelbase and a little throttle correction will pull you out of almost anything, 2wd or 4wd, locked or unlocked. It's a stability thing. Although our trucks with so much weight of the front axle can be worse than others. Which is why a traction device in the rear should really make a difference. With all the low end torque, I have more trouble getting the truck moving (2wd open rear) on a slippery road because I break the tire loose before getting the torque to the ground. Now, my brother has a factory Power-Lock LSD in his '93 CTD and he doesn't use 4wd as much in the snow, but he wears out rear tires because it rarely unlocks. The Power-Locks are torque sensitive. The more torque, the harder they clamp. So, if you power through a curve, your going to drag a tire.



Anyway, in my opinion, I don't know if you will really be able to tell the difference between a locker or the factory power-lock performance or noise-wise in our trucks. But it will be worlds away from an open rear.



Let us know what you decide and what you find. I'd like to do something to mine, but we just bought a house, so there's no truck upgrade money right now.



This whole topic brings another question to mind: do limited slip equipped trucks go through front wheel bearings faster due to the additional side loading?



- Dave

 

[tgordon]

My 97 has a LSD and I have never touched it, probably not the best. I am at 180K and need to do my 2nd set of wheel bearings since 40K when I bought it. My biggest problem is life of tires. If I get 20K out of a set that is good, but that is a differant topic.

 

[hammersley]

Help on A detroit Locker......

If possible some help from you experts.....



1. Are they automatic in their operation????

2. Do they affect fuel mileage... ... sounds loke a dumb ??? I know... .

3. Do they wear out rear end parts quicker??????

4. Can you install one on the front end????

5. Does anybody have one of our trucks with Both Ends running a Detroit?

6. Do you need to eliminate the funky front end with solid axles and hubs???

 

[AMerrill]

No you don't have to change the front end. You can but you do take a chance of breaking something if you turn and it can't slip at all. I have heard of people putting LDS in the front or air lockers

 

[steved]

If possible some help from you experts.....



1. Are they automatic in their operation???? Depends on the Locker (detroits are, ARBs/electracs are manual/selectable).





2. Do they affect fuel mileage... ... sounds loke a dumb ??? I know... . No... doesn't affect mileage.



3. Do they wear out rear end parts quicker?????? I'm sure it would over time due to the added stress of having both shafts connected solidly.



4. Can you install one on the front end???? Yes, but in a CAD may cause a pull to the left until fluid warms up.



5. Does anybody have one of our trucks with Both Ends running a Detroit? Lots of guys on PavementSucks (and I'm sure on here) run lockers in both ends.



6. Do you need to eliminate the funky front end with solid axles and hubs??? See previous questions.

With the CAD you'll experience a touch of drag to the left until the fluid is warmed up (your spinning a wheel and axleshaft on the right side, and a wheel, axle, carrier, and tcase on the driver's side). In a non-CAD axle, the locker should be invisible until you lock into 4wd... it is simply coasting and ratcheting in 2wd.



You will notice increased rear tire wear from sliding them around corners... it takes some getting used to driving a locker and getting it to unlock around corners.



IMO, I'd look into a full detroit in the rear and a selectable in the front.



steved

 

[Ducman82]

i had a full size 89 blazer 14 bolt rear and 44 front. i used lockers in the front and rear. in snow or ice you can slip when in 2 wheel, if you break lose that is. but in 4 wheels ther is no stopin ya! and a word to the wise. dont just ulock the hubs, and leave it in 4 wheel. makes for a fun ride down the road!

 

[cummins82]

I'm a new member, and just so happens I am looking into this on my truck too...

I have the advantage of having the Dana 80 rear in my '02 2500, so my choice is going to be the Detroit TruTrac. I've driven fully locked trucks hooked to trailers, and I wasn't real impressed with the way the tires chirped and grabbed going around corners with the weight of the trailer added.
My friend has a '95 Chivvy *I know, I'm working on him!* and he just replaced his LSD with the TruTrac. Awesome performance! It drives like a loose LSD during normal driving, but under heavy throttle or air-wheeling maneuvers *i. e. crawling cars* it WILL NOT let one wheel spin and the other just sit.

And, with it's clutch-less design, there's a definite feel of reliability. Now, to find the $650 laying around to get it in the mail... .