Thread: Detroit Lockers, do they break axles?

I think its an interweb furphy, the same as when an axles breaks it destroys the locker, sure its happened, but not everytime

Originally Posted by rovercare

I think its an interweb furphy, the same as when an axles breaks it destroys the locker, sure its happened, but not everytime

I agee, I have broken an axle on old Series III and the broken piece was stuck in the side gear of the diff. It expand as it twisted. I can imaging if it it expanded a lot it could crack or shatter the side gear.

Took a bit of belting with a hammer and drift by my old diesel mechanic dad to get it out. I got lectured, he was old and wise and I was young and stoopid. (Yes you can lay rubber in a series III, quickly followed by a broken axle.) Now 30 years on I understand why he never believed the story I gave him.

Regards Gordo

Well IMHO and experience, I broke a rear long axle in my 77 RRC with Detroit by spinning up on a slippery surface and having a wheel find traction. NO damage to the diff but a take out to find the broken piece .
I then went in the Nissan Trials in 2000? and after trying to climb the rock steps had a look at home to find 2 axles with a 1/4-1/2 twist on the splines.
Then I went and had Jacmac broach the Detroit and fit Jacmac axles. No further problems. Fine spline axles may be better but IMHO Jacmacs or similar would be better insurance.

Regards Philip A

Bit like asking" Do these pants make my arse look big?--No love, yours arse makes your arse look big."
Try hard enough and sure axles will go, I never had any issues with my lockers.
Its up to the operator at the end of the day I would have thought.

Where's a good place to get a Detroit at the moment. I have found it a bit hard to get a straight answer on web serches. Sorry for the Hijack...

It's the same answer you will get about guns killing people.

You can also break axles with a standard diff.

The thing about a Detroit unlocking diff, is that will allow to get to somewhere where it's more likely that you will break an axle.

not yet.....

Originally Posted by mrapocalypse

Where's a good place to get a Detroit at the moment. I have found it a bit hard to get a straight answer on web serches. Sorry for the Hijack...

Lucky8 in the USA have them for $598 plus $55 postage (US$)