Detroit Lockers and Fullsize Pickups

[English kanigit]

I'm considering the addition of a limited slip in the front and a Detroit in the rear of my F-250.

Is anybody on the board running a rear end like that in a daily driver that isn't a jeep? How is it treating you especially in the winter?

Ek


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[sigmanx]

I had one in a dd mustang with a 9" and it ran fine. It does clunk though. I know it's a slightly different vehicle but I never had issues with it.

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[Blowby]

I have one on my F250 diesel but I don't drive it in the winter. Pretty much for racing and nice weather cruising.

[Martinjmpr]

My Suburban has the G80 limited slip and it seems to do alright in the winter. Haven't noticed any issues (some people call the G80 a locker but my understanding is that it's more of a limited slip.)

I did have a couple of incidents on other vehicles where a limited slip caused the rear end to "kick out" when driving on icy surfaces. In the first case I was in my 1990 Montero and was in 2wd on an icy road, the 2nd time I was in a 2wd (RWD) Ford Ranger with street tires on an icy street in Laramie. IMO 2wd was the problem in both cases. My Suburban has the "auto 4wd" feature (I think your Ford might, too) so if the road is even intermittently slippery I put it in Auto 4wd and I haven't had any issues.

LSD in the front? Unless you're rock crawling, I wouldn't waste the money.

[Zundfolge]

LSD in the front? Unless you're rock crawling, I wouldn't waste the money.

In which case forget the LSDs all together and go with front and rear ARBs and an air compressor.

[Irving]

I've got the G80 rear in my Isuzu Amigo. It's definitely a LSD. Just keep off the gas around turns and you'll be okay. As already mentioned, 4wd will serve better than 2wd in slick conditions. If you aren't wheeling it all the time, then I wouldn't bother with either.

[hurley842002]

In which case forget the LSDs all together and go with front and rear ARBs and an air compressor.
This.

I'm not sure how much full size locker experience you will get here, but I had an 80's era 4runner with a Detroit in the rear, and it was very pleasant compared to the the many "lunchbox" lockers I ran in other rigs. In 2wd on slick stuff, the rear would definitely kick out from under itself if you weren't careful, driving it in 4wd was almost a must when it snowed, but I'm not sure how it would have handled with front LSD, as they can be a bit unpredictable.

What is your planned use and desired outcome OP?

[TFOGGER]

I've got a Detroit Locker in the rear of my 70 Powerwagon, but it might as well be a spool. Chirps around corners, even when not on the gas. In 2wd, it goes sideways rather than forwards on ice (although before the locker it wouldn't move AT ALL on ice in 2wd). Pretty much unstoppable in 4wd, though.

[Shooter45]

I have a built up Dodge Ram 1500 I used to drive regularly that has a Detroit in the rear and air locker up front. I never noticed trouble with it driving on the streets or in snow/ice as long as I was easy on the skinny peddle on the right. Coast around sharp turns and I rarely noticed it engage. If you give it gas going around a corner they will engage and you'll hear it chirp. In the future I'm looking at installing a limited slip in my F250 in the rear end. I think they're a huge help when the roads are garbage or you get off road during camping/fishing/hunting.

[English kanigit]

This.


What is your planned use and desired outcome OP?

Exploring old mining roads, four wheeling over the corpses of protesters on the highway, NOT getting stuck in fields (again) while out helping friends repair fences... typical truck stuff. I don't have any plans for
Crazy four wheeling adventures. As much as I'd like to run a selectable locker the cost/benefit just isn't there for me. I wish Eaton made an E-locker for the Sterling rearend.

Ek



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[BPTactical]

Detroits are harsh on the street as they are a direct mechanical differential.
You are better with an Eaton, Yukon or similar for a truck that is regularly on the street.

[gnihcraes]

As reported above. My detroit locker in my GM14 bolt. Bangs loudly sometimes on pavement in parking lots, it doesn't like the sharp turns and unlocks with some force. Chirps and Hops at times on pavement.

Great in winter, nearly unstoppable in snow etc.

[ColoradoTJ]

I wouldn't even consider a Detroit locker on the street, let alone in a truck. If you don't mind coasting through corners, never have any weight in the bed or don't tow, go for it.

Otherwise, get a limited slip with clutches so you don't explode something on the street. This is coming from a guy that has two Yukon Lockers, and has owned a "few" Detroit Lockers in the past. I had one explode right in front of my house while turning into my driveway. Axle shaft broke and took out the carrier.

For the G80 guys....it is a locking differential, not a locker. After 20 mph the locking mechanism is no longer useful. Pretty sweet setup so far for me.


https://youtu.be/mk5RAC8qpyo

[gnihcraes]

my 88 chevy had the gm locker/limited slip, it blew up one day out of the blue.

[ColoradoTJ]

Those years of Gov-locks were not very consistent...that is for sure.

[To Bear Arms]

Every 4x4 I have owned has had some sort of a locker in it.
I had a '78 Jimmy that I put an ARB up front and a Detroit in the rear. It was my DD for many years. On ice the rear end wanted to pass you, but in normal snow conditions it was fine. Every once in a while, while driving straight down the road the rear Detroit would "pop" and you could feel it "unload" the axle. Lockers and spools are hard on the shafts so it would be a good idea to "upgrade" your shafts if they are available.
My first "locker" I ever had was a lock-rite. Don't know if they are still around but was pretty easy to install compared to a Detroit or ARB. If you have the money I would run ARB's.

[ray1970]

My two cents...

Unless you are doing serious off roading or trying to drive through two and a half feet of snow smart decisions and good driving skills will likely get you wherever you need to go without the clunks, bumps, slips and extra wear and tear that you'll get from most locking type differentials.

[hurley842002]

My two cents...

Unless you are doing serious off roading or trying to drive through two and a half feet of snow smart decisions and good driving skills will likely get you wherever you need to go without the clunks, bumps, slips and extra wear and tear that you'll get from most locking type differentials.
I also agree with this, that being said, my current vehicle and previous vehicle came with factory equipped electronic locking diffs, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

[whitewalrus]

Detroits are harsh on the street as they are a direct mechanical differential.
You are better with an Eaton, Yukon or similar for a truck that is regularly on the street.

I agree with this, I love my Eaton I have now. Used to have a jeep with the Detroit, if I was to put another in a vehicle it wouldn't be in a daily driver and for something that is almost exclusive offroad use.

[Martinjmpr]

I also agree with this, that being said, my current vehicle and previous vehicle came with factory equipped electronic locking diffs, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

E-lockers are sweet. My 99 4Runner had one and it was awesome.


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[hurley842002]

E-lockers are sweet. My 99 4Runner had one and it was awesome.


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My previous rig was an 02 Tacoma with one.

[English kanigit]

I would love dual E-lockers but Eaton doesn't make one for the sterling. I'm not particularly interested in the ARBs.


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[ben4372]

I had a 90's F250 with a locker in the rear, open in the front and it was un-stoppable. Any locker or limited slip in the rear is great. Another post touched on the front axle. A locker in the front makes truck really exciting on the street for most drivers. Assuming truck with manual locking hubs and no transfer case dif.

[OctopusHighball]

Did lunchbox lockers front and rear on my TJ, was unstoppable off-road. I didn't personally mind the clunking and weird loading/unloading on the street, but it was scary as fook in the winter. If you hit any ice at all, it was carousel time. Forget mountain winter driving at highway speeds.

I would never do an un-selectable locker again for a vehicle I planned on driving in the winter. You could get away with a rear-only knowing the back will step out on ice, but with a front locker the front tends to step out the opposite way. Like I said, carousel time.

[sigmanx]

I'm curious on thoughts for a Detroit trutrac front n rear for a dd with some decent off-roading. Not so much rock climbing but just general trails n such.

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[hurley842002]

I'm curious on thoughts for a Detroit trutrac front n rear for a dd with some decent off-roading. Not so much rock climbing but just general trails n such.

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It would certainly be a step up from open diffs, but limited slips really show their colors when you start lifting tires off the ground. Personally, I think a person would be better served spending the roughly $1k you'd be spending on two trutracs, on an ARB (or other selectable) in the rear, and leave the front open. You get 100% road manners, with 100% predictability and performance.

I've only ever had rear lockers (in 4 different rigs), and can only think of a couple situations where I was wishing I had front as well, and I've been on trails rated 7 and 8.

[Martinjmpr]

I'm curious on thoughts for a Detroit trutrac front n rear for a dd with some decent off-roading. Not so much rock climbing but just general trails n such.

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My first question would be "why?" Or more specifically - is there something that you can't do now that you think lockers would help you do? particularly a front locker. Do you get stuck a lot or often find yourself in situations where you have a front wheel lifted off the ground? That's where a front locker would help.



To put it another way, would a better set of tires do what you need to do?

[hurley842002]

My first question would be "why?" Or more specifically - is there something that you can't do now that you think lockers would help you do? particularly a front locker. Do you get stuck a lot or often find yourself in situations where you have a front wheel lifted off the ground? That's where a front locker would help.



To put it another way, would a better set of tires do what you need to do?
The trutrac isn't even a locker, and is pretty well worthless once you start lifting tires off the ground.

[sigmanx]

I was just curious is all, I've never used a trutac just a Detroit locker and I know how those drive on the street.

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[The Extractor]

The trutrac isn't even a locker, and is pretty well worthless once you start lifting tires off the ground.

Not exactly true, you can touch the brake and it will pull, not like a locker but WAY better and any other limited slip.

My advice for the OP, Trutracs front and back if needed. Detroits just are not street friendly.

[hurley842002]

Not exactly true, you can touch the brake and it will pull, not like a locker but WAY better and any other limited slip.


Eh, your experiences may vary, guys I've wheeled with that had trutracs, were always wishing they had lockers once we started lifting tires. I'd still take one selectable locker in the rear, over front and rear trutracs any day.

[gnihcraes]

4x4 and Lockers just get you stuck worse. (confidence)

Done lots of things in a 4x2 pickup. Also dug it out a few times too.

[hurley842002]

4x4 and Lockers just get you stuck worse. (confidence)

Done lots of things in a 4x2 pickup. Also dug it out a few times too.
Statements like these never get old (I used to have an uncle that spewed that garbage all the time). Funny, out of 4 rigs with lockers, I never got stuck in any of them, me thinks it was being smarter than the average redneck...

[The Extractor]

Statements like these never get old (I used to have an uncle that spewed that garbage all the time). Funny, out of 4 rigs with lockers, I never got stuck in any of them, me thinks it was being smarter than the average redneck...

SO agree with this.

If this is the OP's intended usage e locker in the front and trutrac in the back, more than you will ever need.

"Exploring old mining roads, four wheeling over the corpses of protesters on the highway, NOT getting stuck in fields (again) while out helping friends repair fences... typical truck stuff. I don't have any plans for
Crazy four wheeling adventures. As much as I'd like to run a selectable locker the cost/benefit just isn't there for me. I wish Eaton made an E-locker for the Sterling rearend."

Ek