Thread: Detroit lockers

does a Maxi require the backlash etc to be setup again?

I put a Maxi in the back of the Disco but on my next car I'd seriously consider the Detroit /Tru Trac combo. Front and rear could be done for not much more than a single maxi in the back.
Maxis and airlockers are good but not having to worry about remembering to lock/unlock the bloody thing appeals. A few times I've put the Maxi in to get over a tricky bit and then forgotten to disengage it.
But the open diff landies certainly need something.

They all sound good in theory, I have yet to see a detroit sytle locker in practice though, should be interesting. The only thing I do not like is not being able to engage / disengage manually, surely a certain about of wheelspin has to be instigated before the locker engages, I can see the potential for this to get you in a deeper mess before the locker engages.


If this is the case that wheelspin has to be detected, how does it engage if you have T/C?

Hi Dobbo

Detriots should properly be called an unlocker. The normal state is locked, until traction on a high grip surface in a turn forces it it unlock, & the outside wheel freewheels. Straighten up, & it locks again.

They used to be popular in motor racing, when there wasn't anything better. Falcon GTHOs had them. Some of my cohorts in MGS had them. These things caused a few drivers to visit the weeds at Amaroo Park - boot in it up the hill, stays locked. Forget & lift off for the turn at the crest, it unlocks. Spin often results.

Anyway, t/c would just sit in the background, I'm sure. A detroit by design doesn't spin a single wheel.

Regards
Max P

Originally Posted by Tusker

Hi Dobbo

Detriots should properly be called an unlocker. The normal state is locked, until traction on a high grip surface in a turn forces it it unlock, & the outside wheel freewheels. Straighten up, & it locks again.

They used to be popular in motor racing, when there wasn't anything better. Falcon GTHOs had them. Some of my cohorts in MGS had them. These things caused a few drivers to visit the weeds at Amaroo Park - boot in it up the hill, stays locked. Forget & lift off for the turn at the crest, it unlocks. Spin often results.

Anyway, t/c would just sit in the background, I'm sure. A detroit by design doesn't spin a single wheel.

Regards
Max P

Thats makes them sound better, its better to be in incase and then disable to allow you to do things that dont require them.

Originally Posted by Tusker

Hi Dobbo

Detriots should properly be called an unlocker. The normal state is locked, until traction on a high grip surface in a turn forces it it unlock, & the outside wheel freewheels. Straighten up, & it locks again.

They used to be popular in motor racing, when there wasn't anything better. Falcon GTHOs had them. Some of my cohorts in MGS had them. These things caused a few drivers to visit the weeds at Amaroo Park - boot in it up the hill, stays locked. Forget & lift off for the turn at the crest, it unlocks. Spin often results.

Anyway, t/c would just sit in the background, I'm sure. A detroit by design doesn't spin a single wheel.

Regards
Max P

That said, given that it is locked most of the time and is forced to unlock on high grip surfaces, would it be fair to say:

if your car mainly does city driving there would be more wear and tear on the (detroit) locker compared to say if you had a manual locker?

As my car does do a fair bit of city driving I have been tending towards a manual locker.

My Detroit did carrier bearings in about 20K. I do not know whether the installer (Kraft Differentilals) replaced the bearings, but I think not.
If you get one installed get new bearings fitted, which of course increases the cost.
But I do think that a Detroit is hard on carrier bearings, due to being locked all the time.
Yes you have to reset the backlash with any of these lockers that replace the normal diff innards.
Regards Philip A

Originally Posted by PhilipA

My Detroit did carrier bearings in about 20K. I do not know whether the installer (Kraft Differentilals) replaced the bearings, but I think not.
If you get one installed get new bearings fitted, which of course increases the cost.
But I do think that a Detroit is hard on carrier bearings, due to being locked all the time.
Yes you have to reset the backlash with any of these lockers that replace the normal diff innards.
Regards Philip A

Did you put new axles in when you had the detroit put in?