Thread: Lockers...

Well I have the Eaton Detroit locker in now, decided in the end to go the maxi axles and flanges too. First test drive up in the hills behind queenie seemed good, no wheel spin on sections that would previously require more momentum but now crawls up easily! And operation on street driving was flawless - don't notice it at all and no clunks. Can't really comment on supermarket carparks; don't have one of those here. But so far seems great and can't wait test further in coming Xmas break!

But of interest to the discussion, my mechanic was saying they used to fit the Detroits in trucks all the time as they handled better on slippery declines underground.

Originally Posted by Landy Red

don't notice it at all and no clunks.

When you do the first time it might be a bit of a shock. When I first fitted my Detroit locker the clunks were loud and were accompanied with a decent shutter from the backend. I'm not sure if the cogs round a bit but the clunks are softer now and so is the shutter. I've had it in for about 2 years.

Originally Posted by Rick

When you do the first time it might be a bit of a shock. When I first fitted my Detroit locker the clunks were loud and were accompanied with a decent shutter from the backend. I'm not sure if the cogs round a bit but the clunks are softer now and so is the shutter. I've had it in for about 2 years.

Curious here... but what's the difference between the Detroit Locker and the other Autolockers (Lockright brand)?

Seems they behave in a similar manner....

Originally Posted by Robmacca

Curious here... but what's the difference between the Detroit Locker and the other Autolockers (Lockright brand)?

The difference is the Detroit is far superior than Lockright and much more reliable - basically Lockright are crap (they regularly break) and Detroits are good .

On my 11 year experience with a rear detroit, you will only here them unlocking is if you do a tight U turn on bitumen. If you do similar on damp ground/grass it will probably not unlock and rip up the grass - as happens when I manoeuvre on my lawn.

Garry

Originally Posted by Rick

When you do the first time it might be a bit of a shock. When I first fitted my Detroit locker the clunks were loud and were accompanied with a decent shutter from the backend. I'm not sure if the cogs round a bit but the clunks are softer now and so is the shutter. I've had it in for about 2 years.

Felt a little bump this morning nothing much at all. Actually I would say less noticable than the trutrack in the falcon.

Originally Posted by 101RRS

The difference is the Detroit is far superior than Lockright and much more reliable - basically Lockright are crap (they regularly break) and Detroits are good .

On my 11 year experience with a rear detroit, you will only here them unlocking is if you do a tight U turn on bitumen. If you do similar on damp ground/grass it will probably not unlock and rip up the grass - as happens when I manoeuvre on my lawn.

Garry

Interesting... Exactly what u described with the behaviour of your Detroit is the same as what I've experienced with the AutoLocker that I use to have in the rear of my Zook & I had that in there for 7yrs or so until I snapped a rear axle. I rarely heard it unless I had to do a tight turn in a carpark where I also had to apply the accelerator...This is when it became annoying and when I did snap a rear axle and saw how the splines were twisted on both axles eventually replacing it with a Airlocker in the rear, but left the Front Autolocker in which has turned out to be a much better option in the Zook as I find I very rarely ever need the rear airlocker as the front AL gets me through most obstacles...

A good mate of mine has a Detroit in the rear of his 80's when he 1st bought it and normally u didn't really hear it either... unless u just happen to need to remove your front driveshaft for fault finding and u suddenly start hearing it a lot more because u no longer have any drive going to the front diff/wheels...

I assume with most full-time 4wds like the 80's/105's & LR's that this would be the case where a fair portion of the drive goes through the front, thus limiting any noise coming from the rear Detroit ??

Originally Posted by Robmacca

Interesting... Exactly what u described with the behaviour of your Detroit is the same as what I've experienced with the AutoLocker

All these "AutoUnlockers" all work on the same basic principle - just some like the Detroit work better than others.

Originally Posted by Robmacca

I assume with most full-time 4wds like the 80's/105's & LR's that this would be the case where a fair portion of the drive goes through the front, thus limiting any noise coming from the rear Detroit ??

In AWD all the noises etc of a Detroit in the back still happen - one of the original complaints in hot rods etc was these diff locks tended to try and drive the vehicle straight ahead on corners because of the lack of differential action until forces may the diff unlock on click and there would be sudden issues with handling.

In low wheel base awds, the front drive tends to overcome the tendency to drive straight ahead as the front pulls the vehicle in the direction you are wanting to go. Also - the makers of the Detroit changed to the "soft locker" version some time back, which is where all the unlocking etc happens "softer" so less banging and crashing which has been my experience. 99.9% of the time you would not know you have a newer detroit in the rear - and with a 101 and its big axles, axle problems are extremely rare.

Garry