Detroit Locker/T-Lock

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Riggs said:
Actually how good are mini spools?
Check the price on a mini spool,you get what you pay for.Its locks both axles together and isnt forgiving on turns.You ride a quad or a atc????same idea.

I see nothing wrong with a street driven detroit rear end.myself and a few other friends have them and although everybody says their noisy and clunky,i never even notice it.I had the TSD from Currie and the clutches lasted about 2 burnouts at the strip and then the other wheel would catch whenever it felt like it.
 
66StangFastback said:
You dont want a locking differential. You wont be able to take corners very well with one. It wont allow the outside tire to spin faster, to get the car around in a turn.

I believe you are thinking of a spool. The detroit locker has a clutch mechanism that locks both collars together when driving in a straight line. When you turn, the clutch disengages. THis keeps power going to one wheel and stops delivering power to the other wheel.
 
I dont know anything about detroit lockers, but thats a limited slip which you just described. A limited slip is ideal for street driving. You dont want a locking differential though, because it won't do what you just described, and will make it hard to take turns. If the detroit locker is a limited slip then thats what he wants. I just took locker being in it to mean it was a locking differential, rather than a limited slip.
 
66StangFastback said:
I dont know anything about detroit lockers, but thats a limited slip which you just described. A limited slip is ideal for street driving. You dont want a locking differential though, because it won't do what you just described, and will make it hard to take turns. If the detroit locker is a limited slip then thats what he wants. I just took locker being in it to mean it was a locking differential, rather than a limited slip.

Actually it will.

Under power a locker will lock the wheels togather, but under coast or float it releases, it is a little harsher than a Limited Slip, but no where near a spool.

http://www.tractech.com/TechTips.htm
 
i'd get a LSD for what you want. you're not racing hard core, so there is no real point to getting a locker. if you do decide to get a locker, STAY AWAY FROM THE CHEAP ONES! ones like a Detroit EZ locker.
 
I say "F" it. Depending on the amount of power you have go with a full spool, if you don't plan on driving it in the rain. The lockers aren't bad at all. A little noisy at a slow, tight turn, but not bad. Limited slip clutches do burn out, but it is usually from doing a burnout incorrectly. Detroit lockers can be broken with street tires, on the street. On the other hand, the only thing I havn't seen break is a full spool. I have seen a 31 spline go 5.39's in the 1/8. I have that spool now, and have now fear of EVER breaking it.
 
I think you should go with the trac lock. A traction lock is a friction clutch type posi system. A Detroit locker has a spring / Gear type posi system. Both unlock when turning corners. If you're looking for a road driving system, with the occasional drag, the trac lock is probably the best choice. No noise good power out of the hole.( Yes you can lay some rubber with it :D ) The Detroit locker is more heavy duty Non clutch gear to gear type posi. Also called a "No Spin" Differential. ( A little better response out of the hole) Ford used Both of these in their Hi po and Drag Pack optioned cars. For example The lower geared 4:11 cars in my year had the locker while 3:91 and 3:50 Geared cars had a trac lock. When turning hard and fast the Locker can give a little wheel hop before it unlocks and you can hear the locker make a rachet sound. Once you straighten out, it will "pop" hard as it locks back together. Good for going in a straight line. Best for the drag is a spool. Spools are designed for straight line drag racing. They do not unlock around corners and if you do turn a corner you will experience wheel hop. Something else you might want to consider is that Some Mustang II's Used a Trac loc Posi 8" with 3:55 Gears and 28 Spline axels. The center section is a direct bolt in. You may be able to pick up a complete unit from a junk yard for a reasonable price. Hope this helps
 
Unless you're making tons of power, i'd just stick with traction locks. Pretty much every rwd performance car in the last 4 decades comes with one (With the exception of a few highend musclecars int he 60s). They are definitely easier to handle on the street. Lockers can be tolerated in non-daily driving circumstances, but for anything approaching a daily driver, you'll want a limited slip/traction lock.