Locking Differentials--Anyone add them??
Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,332
Likes: 442
From: Eastern Washington
Detroits are automatic lockers that unlock when a tire is trying to spin faster that the diff is driving it (think outside tire on a tight corner). When it engages and when under a load it is effectivly a spool, which has both tires locked together and turning together.
The new Detroit E-Locker looks promising, posi when unlocked and spool when engaged. Neat-O.
Pretty much every posi I've dealt with is only mediocre for these trucks stock, add tires or power upgrades and you'll quickly overpower them. The darn things are so long and heavy that the bad driving charictaristics associated with lockers are minimal and easy to deal with.
**disclaimer**
Bear in mind, of course, that my opinions are based on 18 years of driving overpowered vehicles in the winter and I'm quite comfortable with my vehicle pointed almost any direction other than the one I'm headed. I've had 3 jeeps on 35" and larger swampers locked up that I drove year round, along with a number of other lifted or RWD vehicles.
The new Detroit E-Locker looks promising, posi when unlocked and spool when engaged. Neat-O.
Pretty much every posi I've dealt with is only mediocre for these trucks stock, add tires or power upgrades and you'll quickly overpower them. The darn things are so long and heavy that the bad driving charictaristics associated with lockers are minimal and easy to deal with.
**disclaimer**
Bear in mind, of course, that my opinions are based on 18 years of driving overpowered vehicles in the winter and I'm quite comfortable with my vehicle pointed almost any direction other than the one I'm headed. I've had 3 jeeps on 35" and larger swampers locked up that I drove year round, along with a number of other lifted or RWD vehicles.
Junior User
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
From: Oskaloosa IA
I am very interested in putting a locker or aftermarket LS in mine. I had LS in my last 2 truck, an only been stuck 2x. I have not had an open diff since I had Chevy G20 (worthless in snow). I think that I still wont like it when we get some snow. I will be saving my allowance ( .50/week if I am good).
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 185
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by yellow401
Paul-I replaced my factory limited with a Tru Trac because I thought mine was shot. Went to my favorite off road store and told the guy I wanted to be able to have one wheel of the pavement, say in mud, snow gravel and still have power sent to the higher wheel on the pavement. I had problems with getting a tire off a driveway while plowing and that wheel would spin and get me nowhere, except in a big hole in a cust. yard. He reccommended a tru trac to solve problem. So I put it to work at the shop. One wheel in a gravel hole, the other on pavement. Only the wheel in the gravel would turn. So I "let it break in" and he "added the proper amount of friction modifier" and I had same results. Thus I went w/ the detroit. I think are trucks, or at least mine, are so heavy, especially in the front, and with my 35's the tru trac was not "strong" enough to transfer the power to such a dead weight. I did not floor it either. Wheel on high ground would not turn even at grandpa speeds. Turns out, my factory limited was "fine" in that it did exactly what the tru trac did, which for me was "nothing"
What If One Off The Ground Wheel Is Spinning?
Apply the brake a little, to give some torque transfer to allow the differential to enter its operating range.
Apply the brake a little, to give some torque transfer to allow the differential to enter its operating range.
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 527
Likes: 0
From: Central WA USA
I'd have to agree the detroit locker is the only appropriate diff for Yellow's purpose, plowing. Next best thing would be a selectable locker. I'm just surprised/disappointed that he couldn't get the thing to work in gravel.
Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,332
Likes: 442
From: Eastern Washington
Originally Posted by ssnh
These questions relate to our Detroit Truetrac® brand limited slip differential:
What If One Off The Ground Wheel Is Spinning?
Apply the brake a little, to give some torque transfer to allow the differential to enter its operating range.
What If One Off The Ground Wheel Is Spinning?
Apply the brake a little, to give some torque transfer to allow the differential to enter its operating range.
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Texas Bob
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