Thread: diff locks

Recently fitted a Detroit and HD rover tracks axles from lucky 8 - diff was about $680 landed in tassie and axles about $630 (I think). Highly highly recommended. Trutrack diff is also worthy of consideration for front instead of the full ARB - about $550 landed here.

In reference to a 2000 D2.

Are the axles a necessary change when changing to a Detroit (they come in a different spline config to std) or can you run std axles until affording upgrade?

I'm just trying to work out an upgrade path and if I can get the locker first (and fit it) then change out the axles later rather than have the centre sit around until getting suitable axles.

Finally if anyone is looking to buy a Detroit (whatever model) and wants to split shipping (or can point me to a current group buy). I'm in Sydney and will receive and forward on or can ship somewhere else and cover fwd shipping to me.

Originally Posted by clubagreenie

Are the axles a necessary change when changing to a Detroit (they come in a different spline config to std) or can you run std axles until affording upgrade?

Not necessary (key word), but:

Originally Posted by brenno

Depends on what you're doing with it, what tyres you're running, and how careful you are with the way you drive.

I'd advise to have them upgraded when you can afford it.

By locking the diff, you're essentially (at times) putting stresses on the axels that they weren't meant to take when leaving the factory.

You may find that you'll need to afford it sooner than wanting to save to afford it. That is, if you break a standard axle, your Disco's off the road until you replace it. Same could happen to the HD axles too, but it's less likely with the HD axles.

Having said that, there are guys on AULRO that run lockers with standard axles, and report not having issues with them.

Whats the spline situation? Are the std splines and HD splines the same?

Just don't want to end up with a centre I have to alter when changing axles.

Originally Posted by clubagreenie

Whats the spline situation? Are the std splines and HD splines the same?

Yes. Providing you buy the correct HD axles for your vehicle, they'll be the same spline as your standard ones.

personly i would upgrade your rear axles when running a locker, i broke an axle on 31's so it isn't hard to do when you start to get in to the harder stuff.
i'm now running 33's with a 24spline detroit and ashcroft axles in the back, havn't had any probs yet, in the front i'm running a 10spline airlocker with standard axles and cv's no dramers there either with 33's the standard front axles and cv's seem to take a fair bit to break, i give my disco a canning pretty much every weekend and sometimes on the way home from work in the arvo's and they still seem to be holding in there......touch wood
but if the $$$ are there i would certainly upgrade the front end as well.

Also when running a detroit locker in the rear aparently (coming from the supplyer's) if you break an axle in a detroit locker there is a chance of damaging the locker it's self as well, so this may be another thing to consider.
I have heard of a few people breaking axles in detroit lockers and have had no dramers at all...........


CHEERS TIM.

will 10 spline hd axles be good enough or am I better going the 24 splines ?
still not sure whats in there now though so im going to have to pull an axle out and see so I dont get the wrong locker.
and can anyone tell me what the difference with a soft locker and a hard locker is.

Originally Posted by wombat_831

will 10 spline hd axles be good enough or am I better going the 24 splines ?
still not sure whats in there now though so im going to have to pull an axle out and see so I dont get the wrong locker.
and can anyone tell me what the difference with a soft locker and a hard locker is.

personly i would go with the 24spline conversion, not even sure if detroit do a 10spline locker anyway
if you do stay with the 10spline gear i have some 10spline hituff axles you can buy, they have only done about 5000km's or so but are slightly damaged at the splines from when i broke my airlocker...

TIM.