Thread: Halfshaft clutches - please can someone explain

Thanks Ben!

How many and what type of lockers have you got Panda?

Originally Posted by Panda

Back up a bit Dave (I'm easily confused! )

Not a problem panda, I'll do you a thread on diff actions tonight.

Hi Ian,

I've got a Detroit in the front & maxi's in the rear.

Originally Posted by V8Ian

How many and what type of lockers have you got Panda?

Thanks Dave

Originally Posted by Blknight.aus

Not a problem panda, I'll do you a thread on diff actions tonight.

is your front detroit a hard locker (air actuated like an AR or a soft locker like the true track that we were importing from the US (the one with the funny spiral cut gears inside)

if you have a hard locker at the back (like a maxi or AR and a soft locker up the front (the detroit true track) then dont worry what has happened here cant happen to you in the manner that it happened in the first story because of the way the true track works..... your best technical down hill setup would be to manually lock the CDL and the rear select an appropriate gear (1 or 2 low) and walk it down with your left foot up under the clutch pedal pulling it backwards towards the steering wheel, hands at 10+2 with your other foot on the floor near the accelerator.

A similar but different thing can happen and have you in the same boat BUT by the time you got yourself that wound up, cross axled and side sloped that more than likely you would have already been beyond the point of no return anyway and the diffs contribution would just be the straw after the straw that broke the camels back.

The Detroit is a trutrak from memory ... it's not air actuated. I can't recall what the gear look like, we put it in as an experiment well over 10 years ago now, & it's been in ever since - keep toying with the idea of removing it, but I must say that I like it, despite the fact that it makes the already heavy steering even heavier (epecially if you run low pressure tyres )

The rear is a maxi locker ...

Can't say I've ever experienced any problems with either the front or rear locker. Don't worry about engaging the rear very often, as the front is usually enough.

Sorry didn't understand your "foot up under the clutch pedal etc ... " I just wack it in 1st (don't use 2nd much as it drops out - if it's particularly tricky it's too difficult to hold in 2nd & steer, though depends on the track), I don't worry about the clutch or brake ... just sit back & let the Landie do all the work. Obviously if going up a reaonable hill, have to use the accelerator. The steering's not that bad ... you get used to how to steer it with the front locker. Other people who have driven it seem to struggle with it, but I think they tend to fight against it & don't "feel" how to drive it. Tony's son drove it for the day not long ago, by the end of the day, he loved it & couldn't get him out of it But he's a rarity! Most people don't like to drive it, especially going from a Rangie or Disco, as you have to work a bit & anticipate how to drive it.

But what can I say ... I'm a sucker for punishment!

Originally Posted by Blknight.aus

is your front detroit a hard locker (air actuated like an AR or a soft locker like the true track that we were importing from the US (the one with the funny spiral cut gears inside)



if you have a hard locker at the back (like a maxi or AR and a soft locker up the front (the detroit true track) then dont worry what has happened here cant happen to you in the manner that it happened in the first story because of the way the true track works..... your best technical down hill setup would be to manually lock the CDL and the rear select an appropriate gear (1 or 2 low) and walk it down with your left foot up under the clutch pedal pulling it backwards towards the steering wheel, hands at 10+2 with your other foot on the floor near the accelerator.

A similar but different thing can happen and have you in the same boat BUT by the time you got yourself that wound up, cross axled and side sloped that more than likely you would have already been beyond the point of no return anyway and the diffs contribution would just be the straw after the straw that broke the camels back.

Originally Posted by Blknight.aus

is your front detroit a hard locker (air actuated ...

An Air Actuated detroit??? You been into the EP90 again today Dave???

AFAIK
There is the "old style" detroit locker (which I posted images of above) - an auto locker
There is the detroit EZ-locker or softlocker, basically a more refined (but weaker) version of the above.
Then there is a truetrac - which is NOT a locker, it is a geared Limited slip diff. EDIT - inserted this in the wrong spot: With a Truetrac, if you lift one wheel completely off the ground - or break an axle one assumes - the Truetrac will work like an open diff.
There is also the detroit e-locker and a few "lunchbox" lockers as well

Dave - instead of writing a tome on here on how diffs work (available everywhere if you google btw) - how about fitting that Provent...

Originally Posted by Panda

The Detroit is a trutrak from memory ...

If that is the case you have an LSD not a locker, and absolutely nothing to worry about.

My better half has been driving the IIA to work for the past few weeks. It has definitely raised her cred with the blokes at her work