Complete Diff Locker options thread

[debruiser]

How does a detroit locker go in a 90? still ok on the road?

I have one in my 109 it's pretty awesome! On the road sometimes you can feel it's affects.

[Ancient Mariner]

Been running Detroit lockers for last 40 years .If you have a problem with them
you need to change your driving style or get a pedal car

[debruiser]

Been running Detroit lockers for last 40 years .If you have a problem with them
you need to change your driving style or get a pedal car

was that directed at me?????????

I was actually wondering if it (a) affected the handling (b) increased tyre wear too much (c) did funny things to the drive train because they are constant 4wd.

Dad has a 1990 Patrol with the stock LSD, or maybe not.... but it was in there when he purchased it back in 1993. it scrubs tyres down REALLY well. But it's great in those slippery situations and when your towing. It's a 'no fuss always there for you, with no bits to go wrong' traction aid!

[redrovertdi]

Everything i have heard and read said a 90 wheelbase was to short for a detroit locker in the rear, i think they are reccomended for 120inch wheel base or longer in the instructions that came with mine last year. I have a 95 110 with detroit in the back and trutrac in the front and love it, i do on average a 1000ks a week on road and play hard most weekends.
Richard

[rick130]

Been running Detroit lockers for last 40 years .If you have a problem with them
you need to change your driving style or get a pedal car

Hmm, ever driven fast with the old style ones ?

They were atrocious IMO, they induced corner entry understeer (as the rear end is locked on corner entry) and were noisy, clanking, viscous devices, cycling back and forwards (ok, side to side) in the wet making the back end jump all over the place so you couldn't drive with any precision.
The only way to drive them was point the car and nail it, ie. get the arse around, get the nose roughly where you wanted it pointed and squirt, you couldn't actually drive with one fitted.

Supposedly the new soft lockers are virtually unobtrusive, but I hated the old ones with a passion.
They were simple and strong and great for a 4WD, but there were far better ways at limiting traction loss in race cars, but as I said, everyone seems to love the newer versions with the springs and whatever else they've done to soften the operation of them.

[Ancient Mariner]

The first Detroit was in a 52 series 1 the second in a series 2 109 trayback used to pull 5000 rpm at 26mph per 1000 rpm so you could it was driven fast for a Landy Driving style similar to a STI slow in pick your line and Go

Just stiring in earlier post not directed at any one

[PAT303]

Two mates had the early version in a RRC and LC tray back and they were clunkers,the RRC used to shear the drive flange bolts and the LC had the hub come off once and snapped the end off the axle,the local water fairies had their LC do the same,the soft locker would be good but you couldn't give me an earlier type. Pat

[debruiser]

I have a new style Detroit in my 109, it's great. It only gives the most vague feeling of understeer into the corner at highway speed, other than that you don't know it's there - no noises, or crazy undrivableness.... just gives you bucket loads of traction! I havn't managed to bog it in the 6months i've had lockers in it. have hung 2 wheels in the air and didn't even know about it...

[Judo]

Bump!!!

What the consensus on second hand Detroits? What sort of life expectancy do they have?

For some equipment I'm all for second hand - bull bar & side steps for example. But engine and drive line, I'd want to be sure I'm still putting something decent in, otherwise I would go new.

Thoughts?

[redrovertdi]

I think i paid $499 for my detroit "soft locker" last year so 2nd hand would want to be very cheap and why is it being sold?