Detroit True Trac both ends

[rosco]

How good are the Detroit True Trac limited slips? would it be a good idea to run in both ends? I have a '98 XJ w/ D30/44 and I plan to run 4.88 gears and 35's this is my DD but I want to improve my traction for offroading.

 

[Clean Racing]

They are good for the street able traction aspect, but would recommend a full Detroit in the rear for better off road traction. That is the set up I have in my current 9" and D44Hp... Just my opinion..

 

[KarlVP]

Put a full detroit in the rear, and lunchbox the front.

You will be glad you did.

 

[rosco]

I hear a full detroit is scary for winter comutes.

 

[KarlVP]

I hear a full detroit is scary for winter comutes.

If you know how to drive, and are aware of the locker being back there, it isn't that big a deal. DD with detroits isn't BAD, it's just different. I've been doing it for years now.

 

[rosco]

If driving in the snow with a full detroit can be done safely then that's what I'll do. From what I've heard, detroits kick ass and are indestructable.

 

[Tim_MN]

How good are the Detroit True Trac limited slips? .

TrueTrac is made by Detroit and will never wear out or need to be rebuilt. They are excellent in DD that see mild to moderate offroad trails. You will not have the traction of a full locker or a lunchbox locker, ( or the clanking and banging) but you get great on road manners and decent traction on the trail. Just depends on what your priority is.

 

[Benjisaurus]

I'm running a Trutrac front and a full Detroit in the rear...the rear Detroit was the best mod I ever did. Winter drives are no problem, but your tires will wear a bit sooner in the rear...just remember to rotate often. Most importantly, don't have a heart attack everytime you hear that metalic thump sometimes resonating from your rear end when you round a corner with your foot off the gas...no worries, its just doing its job...waiting patiently to kick some @$$ on the next weekend trail.

 

[rosco]

Well here is the thing... There's this hill (Dions) that only 400cc+ dirtbikes & Snow mobiles make it up all the way. I try with my '98 XJ and almost make it halfway before I start spining the tires and sliding back down. My freind has a '01 Duramax with posi-assist and he makes it 3/4 up so I was just thinking that limited slips in both ends would get me further than that. Other than hill climbs I wheel my rig but nothing extreme.

 

[Vince]

I had Truetracs in the front and rear on my '93, but my 2001 has ARB's at each end. I keep my 242 in fulltime mode on the street and I miss not having the Truetracs in poor weather.

Offroad, certainly in rocks, the ARB's clearly have the edge. However, with Truetracs you just drive, I've found I'm wheeling more places unlocked now as I have been learning again (forgetting to switch on my ARBs) how far you can go with open diffs.

My ideal diff for both axles would conceptually be a Detroit Electrac. Pity it has a crap actuation mechanism. This was the main reason I went for ARB on the new one.

 

[Goatman]

The rear tires will not wear faster with a Detroit, or any other auto locker. There is nothing in the operation of an auto locker that will contribute to increased tire wear. The characteristics that are noticeable occasionally with a Detroit are from the locker differentiating, meaning letting one tire spin faster than the other around corners, not from the locker locking up on the street.

Truetracs are usually not recommended for a rear application, they can be weak when used hard in the rear.....seen them blow. Basically, it depends on what stuff you want to wheel. If you want to get over what the next guy gets over, or doesn't get over, then you need the Detroit. Personally, I've never seen the advantage of a rear Truetrac, it's not cheap and requires a carrier change and gear setup. If you're going to do all that, you'd be much happier in the long run with the Detroit.

 

[IXNAYXJ]

Not a big fan of the True-Trac. It's good for mild wheeling, but if you pull a front tire off the ground, it acts like an open diff. Detroit rear, Lock-rite/Aussie front is how I'd go.

-----Matt-----

 

[mattyj]

I had them front and back but not anymore.

Depends on the kind of wheeling you do. Big rocks or tech stuff where you lift a wheel or really load up a wheel they do act open. You can ride the brake a little to try and transfer torque to the other wheel but just remeber its still not a locker.

For intermdiate stuff they do help for sure but like Goatman and ixnayxj said, go the detroit for the rear, you wont regret it.

 

[PornstaR]

I've heard, detroits kick ass and are indestructable.

http://www.pnwjeep.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=8624

 

[Kittrell]

I had them front and rear. They were great to have in the snow and I loved them for that. If you are looking more for offroad traction, go with a full locker.

 

[IXNAYXJ]

http://www.pnwjeep.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=8624

Wow. Nice detective work.

The Detroit was damaged from when the alloy shaft broke...not from the actual event.

-----Matt-----

 

[CanMan]

Wow. Nice detective work.

 

[Gojeep]

I used to run TruTracs front a rear but after having the rear D35 one break the bolts that hold it together, twice, I then fitted a D44 with a Detroit No spin. The C clip TruTracs are weaker than the non C clip like the D44 or D30 front.
Driven every day and has been fine as have a auto and dont lift on and off suddenly on the throttle.

 

[Gojeep]

The rear tires will not wear faster with a Detroit, or any other auto locker. There is nothing in the operation of an auto locker that will contribute to increased tire wear. The characteristics that are noticeable occasionally with a Detroit are from the locker differentiating, meaning letting one tire spin faster than the other around corners, not from the locker locking up on the street.

Cannot say I agree with that I am afraid. The Detroit only free wheels the outside, or faster turning wheel, when not under power. I can feel the tyres squirming every time I take off around a bend after coming to a stop at a intersection as am under power. If rolling around into another road then it will free wheel and not cause extra wear then.
I will rotate more often and think it is a small price to pay from the added strength and traction.

 

[English XJ]

Truetrac front and rear is popular with a lot of Jeepers here (UK). I have noticed that the bigger tires (33+) exaggerate the 'open diff' effect you can get with them. I have a full Detroit in the rear and a truetrac in the front. With 31s the truetrac works pretty well but on rocks I do need to use the brake a bit to transfer torque back to a wheel if it starts to spin. Bigger tires suffer from this more as I said. If I were to do it again I'd probably go for a selectable locker in front (I have a 242 and like the use of full-time 4x4 on the road). As Vince said, a selectable with a LSD when turned off would be ideal.