Electronic locking axle vs non-limited slip
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 1,297
Likes: 170
From: Hunterdon Cnty N.J.
I havnt used my E locker yet. I was wondering. When it disengages at 20...does the button return to original position? or does it re engage as you return below 20? Or do you need to engage it again if still needed?
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 3,422
Likes: 20
More Turbo
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 618
Likes: 69
I don't have any of those problems, it unlocks when cornering just like its supposed to. Yes the rear end can slide out if you lose traction but that will also happen with a limited slip, and you are less likely to lose traction with a limited slip or locker than you are an open differential. The Detroit locker works great for daily driving, there is no way I would trade it for a selectable locker.
Adam
Certified Thread Hijacker
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 14,441
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I've been in the wheeling community for 25+ years. I think you are the first to say that a Detroit "works great for daily driving." Your Detroit will only unlock if you lift your foot off the gas pedal. Otherwise, it is locked when under power. You must be coasting through the corners, which is what you learn to do when you drive with one of these lockers. Each locker has a set of compromises, but my preference is open/open with the ability to manually engage either electronically or via air and I'll take electronic over air after owning both for many years.
Adam
Adam
I’ve never understood why people were scared of them on the street... must be a Jeep thing
Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 4,064
Likes: 13
I had a Detroit Locker in my 74 F100 for 100k+ miles and it was perfectly fine in rain, snow and daily driving. Actually it made that 2wd truck a beast in snow storms compared to an open locker. The only time it acted funky was in tight maneuvers backing up.
I’ve never understood why people were scared of them on the street... must be a Jeep thing
I’ve never understood why people were scared of them on the street... must be a Jeep thing
Tuned
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 409
Likes: 12
My truck does have the limited slip now called traction control. It also has the electric locking rear axle. So as you say that with 4wd is the best of multiple options. I have no intention of doing intentional mud bogging, but for the backroads and remote destinations, everything helps. That is why I will be adding a winch too. This truck is a very impressive beast.
Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 3,523
Likes: 483
From: Southern OH
I've been in the wheeling community for 25+ years. I think you are the first to say that a Detroit "works great for daily driving." Your Detroit will only unlock if you lift your foot off the gas pedal. Otherwise, it is locked when under power. You must be coasting through the corners, which is what you learn to do when you drive with one of these lockers. Each locker has a set of compromises, but my preference is open/open with the ability to manually engage either electronically or via air and I'll take electronic over air after owning both for many years.
Adam
Adam
Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 3,523
Likes: 483
From: Southern OH
I had a Detroit Locker in my 74 F100 for 100k+ miles and it was perfectly fine in rain, snow and daily driving. Actually it made that 2wd truck a beast in snow storms compared to an open diff. The only time it acted funky was in tight maneuvers backing up.
I’ve never understood why people were scared of them on the street... must be a Jeep thing
I’ve never understood why people were scared of them on the street... must be a Jeep thing
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Joe Kucinski
Certified Thread Hijacker
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 14,441
Likes: 59
I agree, that's been my experience as well and like I said previously they even do fine in my Jeep for daily driving. Maybe some people are just bad at driving in the rain and snow so a locker makes it worse for them. If you drive sensibly, an auto locker is much better than an open differential in slick conditions.
Again, I never had issues and preferred it to an open differential. The Traction Control seems to do well.
Too bad the Super Duty doesn't have the AWD option like the F150... now THAT was awesome
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 3,778
Likes: 153
Toyota, not Jeep, but the short wheelbase rigs can be more easily upset by the autolocker. Im not sure what an open locker is, but I find it odd that someone would prefer an auto locker, with all its quirks, over a selectable locker for a street driven truck. The Detroit locker is good for what it is, it's used by many in off-road toys, but having full control with the push of a button just makes more sense, especially for a mostly street driven, daily driver. Sure you can get used to an auto locker, maybe the noise and extra tire wear doesn't bother you, but all that can be avoided with a selectable locker. Just push a button for the 1% of the time a locker is needed.
Also, there is the Jeep 97 in wheelbase vs the 140 ++ Superduty wheelbase. If get serious and technical in the off-road game the ability to lock and unlock becomes very important and that is where Detroit falls short you cannot control it...
More Turbo
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 618
Likes: 69
From Detroit's own website, "Operation During straight-line driving, the Detroit Locker captures 100% of available torque and sends it equally to both wheels."
Some of you guys driving Detroits don't understand how they work. If you are under power, the Detroit is engaged and the wheels are locked together. It will unlock when you lift your foot off the gas pedal. Simple as that.
This means that if you are under power in a corner, one of your wheels is being forced to slip and greatly accelerating tire wear. You get around this by lifting off the throttle to let it unlock. If you tires are slightly different sizes due to air pressure differences, they are always fighting one another in a straight line which also leads to greater tire wear. If you can live with their quirks and extra tire wear, more power to you. I've run ARB's, and still own a Detroit and 4 e-lockers in my current fleet of vehicles. A Detroit would be my last choice of a locker in any future vehicle.
Some of you guys driving Detroits don't understand how they work. If you are under power, the Detroit is engaged and the wheels are locked together. It will unlock when you lift your foot off the gas pedal. Simple as that.
This means that if you are under power in a corner, one of your wheels is being forced to slip and greatly accelerating tire wear. You get around this by lifting off the throttle to let it unlock. If you tires are slightly different sizes due to air pressure differences, they are always fighting one another in a straight line which also leads to greater tire wear. If you can live with their quirks and extra tire wear, more power to you. I've run ARB's, and still own a Detroit and 4 e-lockers in my current fleet of vehicles. A Detroit would be my last choice of a locker in any future vehicle.
Certified Thread Hijacker
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 14,441
Likes: 59
From Detroit's own website, "Operation During straight-line driving, the Detroit Locker captures 100% of available torque and sends it equally to both wheels."
Some of you guys driving Detroits don't understand how they work. If you are under power, the Detroit is engaged and the wheels are locked together. It will unlock when you lift your foot off the gas pedal. Simple as that.
This means that if you are under power in a corner, one of your wheels is being forced to slip and greatly accelerating tire wear. You get around this by lifting off the throttle to let it unlock. If you tires are slightly different sizes due to air pressure differences, they are always fighting one another in a straight line which also leads to greater tire wear. If you can live with their quirks and extra tire wear, more power to you. I've run ARB's, and still own a Detroit and 4 e-lockers in my current fleet of vehicles. A Detroit would be my last choice of a locker in any future vehicle.
Some of you guys driving Detroits don't understand how they work. If you are under power, the Detroit is engaged and the wheels are locked together. It will unlock when you lift your foot off the gas pedal. Simple as that.
This means that if you are under power in a corner, one of your wheels is being forced to slip and greatly accelerating tire wear. You get around this by lifting off the throttle to let it unlock. If you tires are slightly different sizes due to air pressure differences, they are always fighting one another in a straight line which also leads to greater tire wear. If you can live with their quirks and extra tire wear, more power to you. I've run ARB's, and still own a Detroit and 4 e-lockers in my current fleet of vehicles. A Detroit would be my last choice of a locker in any future vehicle.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 196
Likes: 2
From: Madison USA
I don't have any of those problems, it unlocks when cornering just like its supposed to. Yes the rear end can slide out if you lose traction but that will also happen with a limited slip, and you are less likely to lose traction with a limited slip or locker than you are an open differential. The Detroit locker works great for daily driving, there is no way I would trade it for a selectable locker.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 196
Likes: 2
From: Madison USA
I agree, but only for a street vehicle. If its purely offroad, the Detroit is very good solution, or perhaps farm use where on-road is minimal. But for a mostly street vehicle, definitely last choice.