Thread: Detroit lockers

No, I ran with standard axles until I broke one, then later same year went into Nissan Trials and put 1/8 turn on both axle's splines, probably climbing "The wall" after the "Rock Garden."
I then had the diff centre broached by Jacmac and Jacmac axles fitted.
No further problems.
Oh I found that I also quickly went through rear trailing arm front bushes.

My BFG ATs did not seem to wear much quicker, but the treads were very badly "chunked" with about 40 -50K on them. this was after several mountain trips around Brindabellas, Clear Range.
Regards Philip A

I've had a detroit in the rear of my '89 Rangie for 9mths and love it. Except for the clicking in carparks etc i forget it's there (the softlocker is supose to be much better for noise). Mine is in a 24 spline diff center that i bought of a AULRO member. I then put in 24 spline axles, stub axles and hubs from a disco. Worked out cheaper than maxi/ JMac axles and so far i havent had any problems.
I'd put another detroit in again.

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?

i first one i had was over 7 years old and had been in several hard driven RR's (insert picture of maggot4x4 here) when i stripped it down for a look i couldnt find any sign of wear at all

the 2 new detroits ive bought come with carrier bearings! most places leave them out so you have to buy them....

cheers phil

I've fitted front and rear True Tracs to a D1 auto Tdi. Even with Michelin LTX's on it'll climb most things without hassles. It has Sorpion Evo suspension, and the extra droop travel and the detroits make it fantastic off road, and no chewed out cross shafts anymore!
I'm going to fit front and rears in my RR when it gets the Defender diffs under it.Eventuallly.

JC

Originally Posted by discowhite

pretty sure marcle aka defute and LRH are also running std axles.
cheers phil

Yup still running standard axles - will upgrade if / when they brake!!!

Defute and I both have autos behind our Tdis - so less chance of snapping.

LRH

the other question one should ask is how often are you actually going to use them

in trips to cape york, across the simpson desert, birdsville track, cameron corner, ondatta, strezlicki, flinders ranges, lawn hill qld and gul country, NT all over, beach driving in SA and WA ledergerg gorge, great dividing ranges in Vic, broken hill, never had use for diff locker.

if your into rock ledge climbing or deep mud play yes you will probably want them

and its probably the rough way you play that places the diff under stress to break not the diff locker whether its air locker or detroit locker style.

l had a front ARB air locker fitted to a 1990 patrol 3 litre wagon used it once in 3 years on the vehicle havent bothered fitting one to the other 4wds l have had since.