Detroit

[Gary Vansleve]

G'day People

Recently posted a topic on getting quotes for lockers for the ute. Mentioned Iam also interested in a Detroit locker for the rear. What are your thoughts. The ute is to be used primarily as a tow vehicle for the Topaz Track Trailer that I own. Plan lots of remote touring and have a fixation about total or near total independence hence the lockers amongst other things. Reason I am looking at the Detroit is I like the idea of auto locking.

Have been doing some research and it seems the Detriot may not be suitable for my application. However I have read some articles that indicate a new an improved Detroit that is a lot quiter and smoother in operation in allowing wheel speed differentiation. I am assuming also the backlash setting is not as severe. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Regards Gary

[93patrol]

If your doing a lot of straight line bitumen driving they'll be fine IMO or gravel/dirt driving. As long as you won't get too much axle wind up and might chew the rear tyres a bit more.

Maybe also look at the maintenance costs of it all in the long run. But you seem like a pretty switched on bloke so you probably would have thought of that.
Cheers shane

[BigRAWesty]

I would swap your plan. Auto locker in the front, and e locker in the rear.

You say you do mainly black top. With a auto in the rear you'd wanna be taking Off around corners like a snail from the start gates or it'll engaging and doing God knows what damage..

As the others have said, e locker in the rear so you choose when it's engaged or not, and an auto in the front.

Only mod you'll have to make to run and auto in the front is a change over to manual hubs.
You can mod the auto hubs, quite easy to do.

So yea, imo auto locker in the front no worries.. But e locker in the rear if you must.

[liftlid]

Selectable lockers front and rear or put your money into a winch.
For what you want to do, you don't want a Detroit locker I've got one and they are a pig especially if your truck is manual. The best way to describe, it is like driving with a spool. The true track would be ok but it's only a limited slip so not much point changing.
If you can only put 1 locker in a selectable in the rear is better for all round control.

[Drewboyaus]

If you can only put 1 locker in a selectable in the rear is better for all round control.

Hahah. I hope you have your flame suit on Gary. Last time I made that suggestion I was laughed at.
But I agree. If you can only put one in, for ascending AND descending a rear on its own is better than front.
I didn't always think that way but have now driven both setups.

[Winnie]

Is a detroit locker similar to an auto lokka?

[liftlid]

Hahah. I hope you have your flame suit on Gary. Last time I made that suggestion I was laughed at.
But I agree. If you can only put one in, for ascending AND descending a rear on its own is better than front.
I didn't always think that way but have now driven both setups.

You watched all cars go down brewery trk did mine look stable compared to some of the others? It sure felt it! To the point I was able to drive down the hill not just " Coast down"

[liftlid]

Is a detroit locker similar to an auto lokka?

Detroit lockers " lock" when the throttle is pressed, so if you accelerate/ decelerate it will lock or unlock causing the back of the car to kick out. I would not let anybody inexperienced drive mine.
I believe some of the " lunchbox lockers" stay locked all the time and then unlock when loaded on 1 wheel. If this is correct it seems that they might be just a " extreme LSD" rather than a locker.
Your thoughts????

[BigRAWesty]

You watched all cars go down brewery trk did mine look stable compared to some of the others? It sure felt it! To the point I was able to drive down the hill not just " Coast down"

I guess again it comes to what ya use it for hay.
You guys a locked rear suits better to keep wheel speeds locked.
But in my situation On sand, mud rut tracks etc a locked front and lsd are better suited.

[liftlid]

I guess again it comes to what ya use it for hay.
You guys a locked rear suits better to keep wheel speeds locked.
But in my situation On sand, mud rut tracks etc a locked front and lsd are better suited.

I play in the Otways and I've been to beachport, if both wheels have equal grip you don't need a LSD or locker.

[Drewboyaus]

You watched all cars go down brewery trk did mine look stable compared to some of the others? It sure felt it! To the point I was able to drive down the hill not just " Coast down"

Absolutely. Having driven a mates Patrol down a couple or reasonably steep tracks recently with rear locker engaged, it's like chucking a boat anchor out the back and dragging it down the hill. Heaps more control.

[Gary Vansleve]

Hey all
The only reason I was lookiin at the Detroit was I read the manual wherin it stated they have developed a more user friendly Detroit. I am familiar with the manners of a Detoit locked diff but thought the newer version might be more user friendly.

Contacted Harrop today who informed me the Detroit for the Patrol is not the more user friendly one. Told him the primary use of the ute and was advised the Detroit may not be suitable. So there ya go no detroit for the rear. No harm in throwin it out there.

Asked about an E locker was told I would get the pin type and bigger carrier bearings that are Toyota. Seeing as I am a cruiser man from way back that made me happy. No offence guys oh puck it I don't care. On second thoughts I do care I think :D Told me pinion bearings are not part of the deal. If I go the e locker way would get them done especially for the rear as the ute is approaching 200 k.

[liftlid]

The upgrade sounds good, the user friendly Detroit might be the true track, gear type limited slip.

[Gary Vansleve]

The upgrade sounds good, the user friendly Detroit might be the true track, gear type limited slip.

Nah it was the locker not the lsd type. Harrop knew what I was yakkin on about but there isn't one for the patrol.

[liftlid]

Nah it was the locker not the lsd type. Harrop knew what I was yakkin on about but there isn't one for the patrol.

Sorry I was referring to your user friendly comment, not the info from harrop

[lhurley]

The upgrade sounds good, the user friendly Detroit might be the true track, gear type limited slip.

Possibly just less harsh? From what ive heard detroits like to destroy axles

[liftlid]

Possibly just less harsh? From what ive heard detroits like to destroy axles

Any locker will find the week link in the chain. Mines in a 9 inch so only damage was to the tred on the tyres.
The true trac isn't supposed to have handling quirks.

[threedogs]

not a fan of auto lockers had a lock right in the back of another 4x4 and it killed everything that turned'
I removed and replaced it with a Pro-locker happy days, Some allow you to turn but most don't
I wouldn't be putting one in the front with manual hubs, Save your $$$ and buy an air or 12v locker of your choice
then you decide when its on and off. And that torque kick can be alarming if you are not ready for it, LOL

@ liftlid not all 4x4 destinations have equal ground allowing equal grip


Without a locker, with open diffs only the back right and front left will turn in 4x4
at least with a LSD you might get 3 wheels spinning

[FNQGU]

My old man has had a Detroit in the rear diff on his 100series for years and is a real fan. No kicking out anywhere, just the odd clunk as it locks/unlocks, but nothing that effects driveability.

I've got one in the front of my Patrol, with manual hubs and am also very happy with it.

[Forced Offroad]

A auto front is not the best option,
A auto locker from Detroit for remote travel in Aus I believe is a poor option if anything goes wrong...
Also Detroit are expensive and with the new ARB lockers that are now out a lot stronger and no matter where your travelling in Aus you can always get you hands on ARB or the TJM pro locker around the country..

[FNQGU]

A auto front is not the best option,
A auto locker from Detroit for remote travel in Aus I believe is a poor option if anything goes wrong...
Also Detroit are expensive and with the new ARB lockers that are now out a lot stronger and no matter where your travelling in Aus you can always get you hands on ARB or the TJM pro locker around the country..

Not sure I agree with you totally there, but acknowledge your points.

My personal thoughts are that yes, the auto in the front means you have to adjust how you drive a little. I tend to flick back to 2WD a lot more than I used to when driving at speeds on the dirt roads, but otherwise do not see any real difference at low speeds.

Detroit have been building lockers for a long, long time now, and are proven bits of kit. If something 'goes wrong' then a vehicle would have to operate in 2wd, the same as any other vehicle. I personally was more worried about the air-lines, or wire getting damaged, than a cataclysmic failure happening inside the diff. I do acknowledge that both air-lines and a wire can be repaired on the fly though, and hopefully people who use them all carry a spare bit of hose etc.

Detroit might be expensive compared to Lokka or Spartan etc., but they are a whole lot more substantial than both, and a lot less expensive than ARB, PRO-LOCKER, or E-LOCKER. Last time I looked I could find one online for $699 shipped to my door.

I would think that getting a replacement locker in a remote location would mean the same (freighting one in), unless you are in a reasonable sized town, where you are right, the ARB etc. is more likely to be in stock. Otherwise it would just be a matter of limping home and sorting it later I would think.

My 2 cents worth...

[Gary Vansleve]

[QUOTE=BenK;485503


Detroit might be expensive compared to Lokka or Spartan etc., but they are a whole lot more substantial than both, and a lot less expensive than ARB, PRO-LOCKER, or E-LOCKER. Last time I looked I could find one online for $699 shipped to my door.



My 2 cents worth...[/QUOTE]

Opposite Lock are telling me they would do a Detroit for the price of an elocker

[Drewboyaus]

Opposite Lock are telling me they would do a Detroit for the price of an elocker

......and they'll be pocketing an extra thousand dollars. There is no way a Detroit locker is the same price as an e-locker.

[FNQGU]

Yeah, that is ridiculous.

Go to Just Differentials online, based in the USA. Still $699 shipped to Aus.

[liftlid]

@ liftlid not all 4x4 destinations have equal ground allowing equal grip


Without a locker, with open diffs only the back right and front left will turn in 4x4
at least with a LSD you might get 3 wheels spinning

That's the point I was making and the reason I run air lockers.
1 car with F/R air lockers
1 car with F air locker /R Detroit locker
1 car with R LSD/ F open

Even the patrol LSD will struggle if the wheel is off the ground.

[Gary Vansleve]

A
with the new ARB lockers that are now out a lot stronger ..

Took note of your comment an sussed this out namely forged gears an a new two piece design. As stated am leaning towards the elocker but not yet set in concrete. Also ARB's qoute was not formalised told me would do better on price if I committed. In view of this will go back to ARB an see what unfolds.

Have used ARB lockers in the past an with my current play toy (cruiser) I have an oil issue in the rear locker that takes the shine off of things. However in saying that I believe the locker was an owner install job an maybe the seals weren't done kosher. (No offence to the previous owner intended . I brought the truck knowing the leak situation)

Sounds like I am talking myself into ARB ha ha

[BigRAWesty]

I do know Arb have sorted the issue of oil coming back threw the lines and leaks around the diff.

But from the sounds of it they have just added more o-rings..

[Gary Vansleve]

Ok will sus this out as well also note they do a 5 year guarantee