Rear locker options poll.....

[Rock2pus]

Well, Im still wrenching away on my 01 and looking ahead to locker options....I'm set on an E-locker for the front, but in the rear,.hmmm...I've had good luck in the 4 years Ive been running a TrueTrac in the rear of my 98, but would like to go with a bulletproof automatic "full" locker...since this one will be run on the street as much, if not more than, on the trail, I'm just wondering about the street manners of a full Detroit Locker, especially in the snow, which is when it would be used most...it'll be into an 8-1/4, so selectables are out...whaddya think?
Rich

 

[MrSimon]

I drive my full Detroit on the street quite a bit. Around town. Back and forth to Rausch. All o er the place.

I don't mind it at all. Very pleasant road manners. Yes, at full lock in parking lots and what not you can feel the tires pulling against each other a bit - nothing major and I actually think it's cool.

It did unload on me one time. It was loud and scary. Apparently unloading is completely normal and doesn't hurt the unit .... but I've heard it can actually cause the truck to jump sideways a bit if it happens at highway speeds.

 

[Rock2pus]

and how about in the snow? does it push the front end or whip out the rearend?

 

[ktm racer 419]

im not a fan of my detroit on the street (rear application) it klunks if you let off the gas and get back on it. its an older detroit though.

the detroit i had in my old front 44 was smooth as could be.

i have run lockers at each end and spools at each end in the snow in all kinds of snow and not once did i feel unsafe. just drive easy in the snow until you get used to the way it handles. it's different, but its not "OMG SO DANGEROUS YOU WILL PLOW STRAIGHT AHEAD AND KILL CHILDREN IF YOU RUN LOCKERS IN THE SNOW"

 

[MrShaft696]

Ive never had a prob with my aussie locker, I know its not a "full" case locker but what the hell, its the sh*t basically. Its not noticable at all unless I want it to be. Its a bit trickier with a stick shift becasue it makes it easier to snap some necks in parking lots, but its worth every cent and no problem in the snow.

 

[5spd_xj]

i have run lockers at each end and spools at each end in the snow in all kinds of snow and not once did i feel unsafe. just drive easy in the snow until you get used to the way it handles. it's different, but its not "OMG SO DANGEROUS YOU WILL PLOW STRAIGHT AHEAD AND KILL CHILDREN IF YOU RUN LOCKERS IN THE SNOW"

Holy crap I found a 2nd person with the same thinking as me! :thumbup:

x2 on the above

 

[iant333]

The whole "you dont want to run lockers in snow" is a load of crap. My Jeep tracks so good in road snow with a locked rear end I dont usually even bother with 4wd, especially on days where it is all patchy stuff. Just be aware there is a little bit of a trick to driving it, slide around in a big parking lot the first time you get snow to get a feel for how it will drive.

As for the choice, I have heard good things about the brand new Detroits, don't own one but I have ridden in Jeep with them and they have similar road manners to my Aussie, which is to say pretty good.

 

[XJ Beater]

im a big fan of my welded 8.25, been in 2 different jeeps and arouns 40000 miles now and it still works just fine. yeah the tires wear a bit faster, yeah it chirps like hell in parking lots and on corners. but it cost virtually nothing but time and has done me well. i run 33" mtr's now and ive ran 33x12.5" a/t ,34x10.5" swamper tsl bias,and 33x12.5" swamper tsl radial, only problem i ever had was with the tsl bias, they liked to chatter and hop alot in parking lots and tight turns, think it was just the tread design being tighter then the 12.5's and being tall and narrow, because no other tires ive ran have hopped/axle wrapped

 

[Dustin_XJ]

I have a Detroit in the rear as well and love it. Its fine on the street and in the snow.

 

[Rock2pus]

Thanks for the input, all..Detroit it is! I just wanted experienced opinions, which is why I asked here...I dont mind pops, clunks, and chirps. Hell, I like 'em! Lets ya know it works. And 33's is what I'm planning on running, so I now know what I need to know.
Thanks All!
Rich
P.S. guess that means I have a TrueTrac for sale now, too! Pm me if interested.

 

[asp]

You could probably get more for your axle with the tru trac in it than you could for just the tru trac. I'd consider getting a whole new 8.25, they can be had all day long for ~$100 and they're all the same. Good luck.

 

[Rock2pus]

problem there is, my axle's been stripped and refit with the truss for the Clayton rear coil setup I'm running

 

[altierior]

I drive my full Detroit on the street quite a bit. Around town. Back and forth to Rausch. All o er the place.

I don't mind it at all. Very pleasant road manners. Yes, at full lock in parking lots and what not you can feel the tires pulling against each other a bit - nothing major and I actually think it's cool.

It did unload on me one time. It was loud and scary. Apparently unloading is completely normal and doesn't hurt the unit .... but I've heard it can actually cause the truck to jump sideways a bit if it happens at highway speeds.

i've experienced the same thing with the unloading (happened to me more than once). it startles me every time, and it always amazes me that something can *BANG* that loud without breaking. and yes, the truck jumps a bit.

i really don't like the tires working against each other, mostly because i feel that it is putting undue stress on other parts, and the tires chirping is indicative of the locker causing premature tire wear.

even so, if i were starting over (for instance, hypothetically, if my XJ were stolen), i'd likely duplicate the setup i have now: full detroit rear, ARB front.

 

[MrShaft696]

i've experienced the same thing with the unloading (happened to me more than once). it startles me every time, and it always amazes me that something can *BANG* that loud without breaking. and yes, the truck jumps a bit.

i really don't like the tires working against each other, mostly because i feel that it is putting undue stress on other parts, and the tires chirping is indicative of the locker causing premature tire wear.

even so, if i were starting over (for instance, hypothetically, if my XJ were stolen), i'd likely duplicate the setup i have now: full detroit rear, ARB front.

Hypothetically?

The auto locker does wear my tires out alot faster, it wore my old mud tires funny & they got rather loud from it, but its a trade off.

 

[altierior]

Hypothetically?

it could happen

 

[asp]

problem there is, my axle's been stripped and refit with the truss for the Clayton rear coil setup I'm running

Ah. I would say you have the right idea, then. I didn't realize you had a linked rear.

 

[mjma]

I would highly recommend the detroit for the rear. The new softlocker engages oh so smoothly. If you're driving in a normal manner on the road, you won't even know the rear end is locked, seriously. When you have to gun it out into a road and take a hard turn while doing so, you'll know you're locked. Doing the same maneuver (assuming no cars coming) without applying too much throttle, again, you won't even know it's locked. Every now and again you might get a pop from the locker unlocking hard....but it's very rare.

I think the detroits are very manageable in the snow. You just have to know how to tell the vehicle where to go. And again, if you're not getting on it hard, it won't even be noticeable!

 

[sunburned]

Got a no-slip in my 8.25 and love it on the street. The rear axle has been making some bad noises since my last wheeling trip and I think something might have let go in there. Been contemplating the full Detroit in the rear as well, glad to see this thread. Don't really wanna spend that much money though, so hopefully it's a quick fix.

 

[Rock2pus]

I'm glad I asked here...I've been getting a lot of feedback, including the fact that an ARB isnt really much more expense than the Detroit..I'm still molling that one over, but truth be told, I'd rather have a "set it and forget it", than have to start screwing with airlines...just seems like more stuff to fail, even though I still have to resolve what to use in the front...hmmm...(that will more than likely be a G2 44, but dunno what locker to go with there).
Rich

 

[RCman]

I'm glad I asked here...I've been getting a lot of feedback, including the fact that an ARB isnt really much more expense than the Detroit..I'm still molling that one over, but truth be told, I'd rather have a "set it and forget it", than have to start screwing with airlines...just seems like more stuff to fail, even though I still have to resolve what to use in the front...hmmm...(that will more than likely be a G2 44, but dunno what locker to go with there).
Rich

Rich, do some looking before you going buying that front axle. It really isn't all that hot of a setup. There are much better options for similar money.

As for the rear traction aid, I can't comment to much I'm spooled. :looney: I'd put that true trac in the street queen '01 and get the detroit for the '98.
Are you set on keeping that 8.25? That truss work you have wouldn't be all that hard to transplant over.