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.