Anybody running a mechanical locker?

[Bullet]

Been looking at lockers for the rear diff ever since the Goerend triple disc and accompanying full beef up to the trans.  I'm open diff now, no LSD.

 

I live in the dirty south where snow is an oddity.  Looking mainly from a performance traction standpoint.  The tranny grips hard and the rear is about 350 lbs lighter than it was before.  It is fairly easy to break one rear tire loose without trying.

 

Truck is not a daily driver...is only used for fun and for pulling a light boat (2k lbs).  So don't care about towing manners or too much about quirky road manners.  Just looking to put power through both rears to decrease slippage...and maybe a little more advantage off the line. 

 

Looking at Detroit full locker and Truetrac specifically.  Been doing a lot of reading and am leaning towards the full locker over the Truetrac.

 

I have never driven a truck with a locker in it, only LSD.  Anybody have experience with mechanical style lockers in our trucks and what's it like driving them?

Edited January 21, 2019 by JAG1

[Haggar]

Bullet,

 

I have a bit of experience, but not behind a Cummins.

 

Ford Super Duty with detroit.  Loved it.  BUT you must drive carefully.  It was my friend's and he had it a bit hopped up.  I had to be careful with the skinny pedal in the rain.  It would spin easily (and i didn't drive it enough to learn when the power came on) and i would find myself going sideways but I could control it. (never had trouble now that i think about it unless it was raining...)

 

Suburbasaurus (plural) and other GM trucks i had had the gov lock (aka timex bomb).  This is GMs version of the Detroit.  I love those, BUT you have to again pay attention to the skinny pedal and its application.  Low traction situations will allow the one wheel to spin until it locks, then depending on traction, you will either go forward or sideways.  A couple passing situations on painted surfaces allowed one wheel to spin, lock the axle, and elicited a counter steer to keep the vehicle velocity vector to stay straight. 

 

The nice thing is usually removal of the input allows it to unlock and there are no problems with trailing throttle over-steer  (which is easy to have with a spool).   

 

With our torque, you won't want to slam the skinny. lightly spin until it engages, then hammer it.  That is the way you have to drive the gov lock, otherwise you get the timex bomb.

 

hth

 

Hag

[Mopar1973Man]

One of the few reasons I love the standard open diff. It only spins one tire keeping the truck from sliding sideways on ice or slick surfaces. Whereas when its fully locked up it will now lose all traction drift sideways because both tires are spinning. 

 

Nearly 400k miles trouble free with good ol' Open Diff's.

[Mopar1973Man]

.

.

.

That one of the things. I'm an odd duck for reason. Longevity and performance are important. Now performance is not 1/4 mile or dyno queen stuff. It more along the line I want to pass the Ford in front of me. Matt the GO! pedal and I want it to hook up and pull right around the Ford before he's even got time to think about it. Then be able to set the cruise and let it sip fuel. 

 

Now like my 1996 Dodge 1500 that you have to have a clear mile to get around someone because it so slow to get up and go. You've got to mat that long and hard and fuel mileage shows. Either you drive like a Grandpa or suffer with the lower numbers. 

[Bullet]

5 hours ago, Haggar said:

Bullet,

 

I have a bit of experience, but not behind a Cummins.

 

Ford Super Duty with detroit.  Loved it.  BUT you must drive carefully.  It was my friend's and he had it a bit hopped up.  I had to be careful with the skinny pedal in the rain.  It would spin easily (and i didn't drive it enough to learn when the power came on) and i would find myself going sideways but I could control it. (never had trouble now that i think about it unless it was raining...)

 

Suburbasaurus (plural) and other GM trucks i had had the gov lock (aka timex bomb).  This is GMs version of the Detroit.  I love those, BUT you have to again pay attention to the skinny pedal and its application.  Low traction situations will allow the one wheel to spin until it locks, then depending on traction, you will either go forward or sideways.  A couple passing situations on painted surfaces allowed one wheel to spin, lock the axle, and elicited a counter steer to keep the vehicle velocity vector to stay straight. 

 

The nice thing is usually removal of the input allows it to unlock and there are no problems with trailing throttle over-steer  (which is easy to have with a spool).   

 

With our torque, you won't want to slam the skinny. lightly spin until it engages, then hammer it.  That is the way you have to drive the gov lock, otherwise you get the timex bomb.

 

hth

 

Hag

Thanks for your reply Hag...good stuff!  What you were describing is kinda what I'm looking for.  Not a spool but kinda like one.  I already don't drive it in wet conditions since traction is hard to be had.  I'm in 4x4 if I know I'm really gonna be putting the power down.  I have a good bit of experience with another car that is high horsepower and light in the rear so tail happiness doesn't bother me too much...kinda fun in a way.

 

5 hours ago, Mopar1973Man said:

One of the few reasons I love the standard open diff. It only spins one tire keeping the truck from sliding sideways on ice or slick surfaces. Whereas when its fully locked up it will now lose all traction drift sideways because both tires are spinning. 

 

Nearly 400k miles trouble free with good ol' Open Diff's.

I loved the open diff too with the single disc and stock valvebody.  Very trouble free and good road manners too.  Never really drive it in inclement weather so not too worried about ice, snow or rain.  Last time I changed the rear diff fluid the ring gear looked brand new with hardly any visible marks. 

7 minutes ago, Mopar1973Man said:

.

.

.

That one of the things. I'm an odd duck for reason. Longevity and performance are important. Now performance is not 1/4 mile or dyno queen stuff. It more along the line I want to pass the Ford in front of me. Matt the GO! pedal and I want it to hook up and pull right around the Ford before he's even got time to think about it. Then be able to set the cruise and let it sip fuel. 

 

Now like my 1996 Dodge 1500 that you have to have a clear mile to get around someone because it so slow to get up and go. You've got to mat that long and hard and fuel mileage shows. Either you drive like a Grandpa or suffer with the lower numbers. 

We're somewhat similar in a lot of respects.  Dyno...don't care, 1/4 mile...don't care, that feeling you get in your arse when you mash the GO and exorcize the demons...I care.  Also the ability to do many exorcisms without mechanical failure...PRICELESS!