lockers and winter conditions

[BurnLatex]

I have destoyed a Lock Right in a ford 9". I don't like the design.

Detroits are a waste of money. Overpriced.

Auburn is good for street use but not offroading.

I'd look toward Eaton maybe..

 

[losikid]

I have destoyed a Lock Right in a ford 9". I don't like the design.

Detroits are a waste of money. Overpriced.

Auburn is good for street use but not offroading.

I'd look toward Eaton maybe..

I'm going for the aussie locker, if it breaks they'll replace it"thumbsup" No matter size of tires or anything (although i'm sure 30's are covered on any locker warranty)

The president or vp or something of aussie locker on pirate claims that (this was afew years ago) that they have never had to warranty a broken locker, i think the aussie locker has been around since the early 2000's...he even mentioned if it breaks past the 2 year warranty they probably would replace it.

here's a good thread about it, some interesting arguments too,
Aussie Locker: I read the review, so what? - Pirate4x4.Com Bulletin Board

 

[BurnLatex]

Meh, I still don't like the design of them. One plus about them is they are way quieter than a detroit. Not silent though.. still get a bit of metal pinging and stuff.

All I broke was a $9 pin. Not a big deal to fix. It still broke and left me away from home. I was being rough with it at the time.

 

[losikid]

Meh, I still don't like the design of them. One plus about them is they are way quieter than a detroit. Not silent though.. still get a bit of metal pinging and stuff.

All I broke was a $9 pin. Not a big deal to fix. It still broke and left me away from home. I was being rough with it at the time.

As described in the thread i posted, the pins in a lockrite are called shear pins...their made to break under too big of a load instead of something more pricy...ausie lockers didn't choose this route.

I've looked quite abit for afew days trying to find someone not happy with the aussie, haven't found a bad review yet...found lots of stuff though about other lockers breaking or wearing out or what not.

 

[xgerstandtx]

I DD my Grand cherokee with an 8.8 rear end and 4.56 gears. I use a detroit "hard" locker(full carrier) which will act similar to any aussie or "lunchbox" locker. In the snow and the adverse weather conditions it just makes you more aware of what's going on. Using the throttle wiser and knowing that it will want to push out the rear end is a must. I say go for it in the back of the comanche and enjoy the added traction.

 

[losikid]

I DD my Grand cherokee with an 8.8 rear end and 4.56 gears. I use a detroit "hard" locker(full carrier) which will act similar to any aussie or "lunchbox" locker. In the snow and the adverse weather conditions it just makes you more aware of what's going on. Using the throttle wiser and knowing that it will want to push out the rear end is a must. I say go for it in the back of the comanche and enjoy the added traction.

Its going in my 1990 Toy "thumbsup"

Commanche has a spool till i can afford an arb...if aussielocker made a 14 bolt locker i'd probably buy a locker for the commanche before my toy, but they don't.

 

[Typhoon]

I have a TrueTrac in the rear of my F350 and I forget it is there most of the time.
Traction when I need it and no negative effects that I have found. But only have 1 winter with it so far.

 

[C*H*U*D]

The predictably can't be any worse than full open,

Not necessarily true. With a full open, when one starts to spin on snow or ice, the other acts like an anchor. When both go fully locked, you lose that anchor.

I say go for it. Learn to drive with it off-road or an empty parking lot during the winter and just keep in mind how it's going to handle. If it's a handful, take it slow during bad weather on open roads. Not sure, but I think your weather is just a bit worse than ours here on the Front Range so I wouldn't sweat it.

I have an 85 4Runner as my DD with 33's. I plan to get the Spartan within the next 6 months since I'm a sucker for Made in USA.

 

[K_Willis]

Eaton G80 Locker

Don't know why the Eaton G80 of locker isn't available in anything other than a GM product, but they are fantastic.

Acts as an open diff most of the time, but if you start doing a one wheel peel, it locks up solid, to get you moving, then unlocks again once you let off the power. Also it has a safety system in it, so it will not engage at speeds over 20 MPH. That way you don't have any funky stuff going on at highway speed.

 

[DiEzel]

I'd recommend a nice Auburn limited slip. Best of both worlds.

 

[Mr.Slave]

I'd recommend a nice Auburn limited slip. Best of both worlds.

if one wheel gets off the ground will it send all power to that wheel like every other LSD?

 

[losikid]

Not necessarily true. With a full open, when one starts to spin on snow or ice, the other acts like an anchor. When both go fully locked, you lose that anchor.

I say go for it. Learn to drive with it off-road or an empty parking lot during the winter and just keep in mind how it's going to handle. If it's a handful, take it slow during bad weather on open roads. Not sure, but I think your weather is just a bit worse than ours here on the Front Range so I wouldn't sweat it.

I have an 85 4Runner as my DD with 33's. I plan to get the Spartan within the next 6 months since I'm a sucker for Made in USA.

That makes sense, BUT theres no weight in the bed so that anchor doesn't do me much good anyways...if i was to toos a few hundred pounds in the bed i can feel that "anchor" but i drive on ice the time all the time empty and its always loose back there, if i'm not in 4wheel 360's are easy on any turn:twisted: just a slight blip of the throttle and i'm toast.

Learn to drive with it off-road

Just a hint, heres a cell phone picture i took a few years back of our property, we have it all for the lower 2\3s of the pic,,,about 50 acres

Thats the area i'm questioning how well the locker will do, i know what a locker feels like down ice pack going a fastish rate of speed...i've never actually wheeled a locked rig in snow/ice though, so i'm just wondering if it'll be advantageous this winter or if i should wait till spring.

 

[AkFordfan]

I run a detroit year round in the back of my early bronco, you learn how to control it pretty quickly when you have a short wheelbase and 7" of lift. It will absolutely improve traction in snow. Just find an open back road and practice losing control and correcting it. You shouldnt have to much of a problem with something that low with a decent wheel base."thumbsup"

 

[dkf]

I have destoyed a Lock Right in a ford 9". I don't like the design.

Detroits are a waste of money. Overpriced.

Auburn is good for street use but not offroading.

I'd look toward Eaton maybe..

Eaton makes Detroit diffs so if the Detroits are "Overpriced, waste of money" then so are the Eatons.


For a DD I would go with the Truetrac. The truetrac works very well and doesn't have clutch packs that contaminate the oil as it wears. That said a good diff is just part of it. Good tires and weight help a LOT.

if one wheel gets off the ground will it send all power to that wheel like every other LSD?

Hes probably referring to the Ected from Auburn. Its uses clutch packs for the limited slip but is also an e-locker.

http://www.auburngear.com/aftermark...category=8946f7ff-e4b5-4b07-b738-c6f9d7f93179

 

[Cave Dave]

, BUT in 2 wheel, at a dead stop, its just about impossible to get going on a snow packed road (especially one with a slight uphill grade to it)

So thats my biggest question is how well they help on snow pack at slow speeds.

It will make it worse from a dead stop belive it or not.I've had a lockrite in the rear of my 88 4runner for years and on packed snow roads I have to have the hubs locked so I can put it in 4 high to get going.It was better on packed snow roads with the open diff.
Haveing said that,I wouldn't ever take the locker out.It rules on everything but packed snow and ice.I wouldn't run a welded or spooled diff on the street. There's my personal experiance and my personal opinion,do with it what you will and wheel safely!

 

[Coops]

I run truetrac's front and rear and haven't had any problems keeping up with others fully locked where we go. For a daily driver seeing snow and ice a limited slip is the way to go.

Have you ever been in a position (is. one wheel off the ground) where a full locker would have been needed? If not, a limited slip might be your best bet. Especially if you ever plan on letting someone else drive it that's not used to it.

 

[2500hdon37s]

like stated the G80 is nice if you have a gm axle....... but its kinda weak, but with larger tires it might as well be an open diff.

I dont have much weight on my rear either but i still do fine in the snow, and 13.5's only make it worse. with a little throttle control its easy to get going on/ in any snowy conditions excpet for up hill ice. I rarely ever lock my truck in 4hi when it snows, and if i am driving around and its fairly bad i put the auto-4wd in and I can tell when it kicks in and thats almost never)

and I would never DD a rig with a locked diff kinda stupid IMO. either get a selectable or aussie locker if you feel you need it after you put 200-400 in the bed. (prefurably sand)

 

[losikid]

like stated the G80 is nice if you have a gm axle....... but its kinda weak, but with larger tires it might as well be an open diff.

I dont have much weight on my rear either but i still do fine in the snow, and 13.5's only make it worse. with a little throttle control its easy to get going on/ in any snowy conditions excpet for up hill ice. I rarely ever lock my truck in 4hi when it snows, and if i am driving around and its fairly bad i put the auto-4wd in and I can tell when it kicks in and thats almost never)

and I would never DD a rig with a locked diff kinda stupid IMO. either get a selectable or aussie locker if you feel you need it after you put 200-400 in the bed. (prefurably sand)

You're also alot longer and do have alot more rear weight than my toy...those 37's probably weigh more than the entire rear end of my truck"thumbsup" Oh i toss a couple hundred lb of hay in the bed, but kills fuel mileage with a little banger, oh and only time i need the traction during the winter is to get up a icy hill. As its impossible to safely get momentum on 2 wicked slick hills as they are perpendicular to the main road. Normally, when its too slick, i'll toss it in 4wd. Normally i'll get going about 30 down the ice road, push the clutch in, tap the break, get er sideways, let off the clutch and roast the tires about 20 ft away from where the turn is, i'dd get enough forward motion of about 10 ft, slam into the hill bank/wall grab some fresh powder and cruise right on up....If theres any unexpected passengers, it'll scare all the turtles out of their pants. Normally though we try to salt the hills.

Whats wrong with a locked type diff (aussie locker) in a dd? Sure it may click alittle on the corners, but when you have 4 miles of dirt road to drive everyday, and go wheelin often its much better than 100% open. I can get my truck alot farther than most people can get a open diff rig, but i gotta work for it, a locker would just let me walk on through.

Now for a dd rig that never sees dirt, then yes its stupid to have a locker in it.

 

[k goodrich]

I have a 1990 yj with a 1991 vett motor and trans with a ford nine inch with 488 gearsand a detroit locker. When i know there is alot of ice i just adjust the tire preasure. I have a great time with it. It is my daily driver.

 

[C*H*U*D]

Just a hint, heres a cell phone picture i took a few years back of our property, we have it all for the lower 2\3s of the pic,,,about 50 acres

Uhhhh....can I bring my Dirt Bike :mrgreen: