Locker confusion..

[Kotrin]

I'm in the market to finally get a locker for my rear end of my 97. Done a lot of searching and Googling and think I've finallycame down to a decision of a Detroit for my rear end. I would like some opinions of people who have either purchased one or wanted to but went other routes. Seen a lot go arbusa or electric. But that's a fair amount of money more then I current have and also not sure I felt entirely comfortable.modifying my rear differential, lol. Thanks for your time or input.

Not a daily driver much, but occasional trip but looking off dirt,sand performance increase over stock.

 

[the great him]

have you ever driven a vehicle with a locker in it (or a detroit)? it will defiantly make your rig a "truck" it wont have any of the nice driving mannerisms it once did. i have a detroit in one vehicle, its an old cucv k30, its a work truck that stays on a "ranch". the detroit works great in it, but i would never put one in a truck that would drive on the street. now with that being said there are some guys on here who have detroits in their runners and like them just fine. but they are an "auto locker" meaning that when you get on the gas they will instantly lock up, and when you let off they unlock, so if you dont mind re-learning to drive, then sure its a good cost effective locker. i personally would go with an ARB or Elocker. the ARB you dont have to modify you diff(other than drilling a small hole for the air line -not going to hurt a thing) thats my .02

 

[jonny828]

i will put my question in here as well...new here, warming up to real 4x4ing and my friend is suggesting to me that i should weld the gears up on the front end of my rig to lock it. its not a dd and it would be pretty strictly mountain driving afterwards. i have a 93 runner with auto hubs, and he tells me that if my 4wheel isnt engaged then i shouldnt be locked up front. any truth to this? and does anybody have input on his suggestion to begin with?

 

[J-money$$$]

to the OP: you need to drive one first. Dont just go lock it up unless you plan on really wheeling it hard.

and to Jonny: Horrible idea

 

[the great him]

i will put my question in here as well...new here, warming up to real 4x4ing and my friend is suggesting to me that i should weld the gears up on the front end of my rig to lock it. its not a dd and it would be pretty strictly mountain driving afterwards. i have a 93 runner with auto hubs, and he tells me that if my 4wheel isnt engaged then i shouldnt be locked up front. any truth to this? and does anybody have input on his suggestion to begin with?

yes, he is true, but as jason said a bad bad idea... the front ends arent strong enough to be locked all the time in stock form. you will either break axles or break the welds then you are F'ed... just get a locker, youd be better off welding the rear, but i dont recomend welding the spyder gears anytime, welds break and or weaken the metal around them so the gear itself will break, just buy a locker, it will be cheaper in the long run.

 

[awpsome]

To OP are you talking Detroit locker or Detroit truetrac.
For a mostly daily driven truck I'd go truetrac. It's a LSD and it drives and feels like stock but is a completely different truck when you do some off roading in it.
I love mine and say it's the best mod done to the truck.

For lockers. Unles you wheel a lot they make a lot of noise and aren't good for pavement. They are decent on pavement but not near close to a LSD. Their are pros and cons to each if you explain what your looking to do with it I can elp you make a decision. On which one will suit you best.

 

[SamSter0077]

I'm in the market to finally get a locker for my rear end of my 97. Done a lot of searching and Googling and think I've finallycame down to a decision of a Detroit for my rear end. I would like some opinions of people who have either purchased one or wanted to but went other routes. Seen a lot go arbusa or electric. But that's a fair amount of money more then I current have and also not sure I felt entirely comfortable.modifying my rear differential, lol. Thanks for your time or input.

Not a daily driver much, but occasional trip but looking off dirt,sand performance increase over stock.

I have a friend with the Detroit, had a lot of problems (not sure if it was the locker). I installed the Lockright in mine, been working fine although I am on my second third member.. yes, I am rough on it. If I had to do it again.. I probably would have thought harder about the E-locker although.. having it on all the time, and lock when I hit the throttle is nice on the trail. I have the E-locker on my Taco so I have driven both. If it's a trail truck, just go with the Lockright/Aussie. I paid 255 for the lockright.

 

[Gerdo]

The ARB does cost quite a bit more but it is totally selectable and open just like you have now until you need it. Then whit a flip of a switch it locks almost instantly. Also un-locks ~instantly. The e-lockers take a little roll-in and roll-out. I can try an obstacle un-locked and lock if I need to, even sitting in the obstacle.

The auto lockers can cause some bad road manners if you drive in the snow. They also can chatter on turns

 

[attitudeofgratitud]

The auto lockers can cause some bad road manners if you drive in the snow. They also can chatter on turns[/QUOTE]

AGREED!!! I ran a Detroit in an old Toyota pick-up and hated having having a full time locker. In a dusting of snow when 2wd would be fine, I had to put it in 4wd just to keep the rear from wanting to swing out. And I was being easy on the gas. Same thing in a little mud. And the first time that thing unloaded on pavement, which they do, I was sure I blew all kinds of things apart in the diff. I haven't driven one with a Truetrac, but I hear good things.