From: Shaw, Steve
Sent: Friday, February 05, 1999 2:21 PM
To: Offroad (E-mail)
Subject: Detroit Lockers in front Axles
I just finished catching up with the list and noticed another post stating
that a Lockright unlocks easier than a Detroit and is therefore better for a
front axle application. Here's some info that I discovered using a Detroit
in my front Dana 60.
- Tractech has completely stopped making the "old style" locker for
Dana 60's (and most other's). They now only produce the "Soft-locker" for
almost all axles.
- The Soft-locker has a set of internal "clutches" that act between
the diff case and the side gears (a bit like a standard LSD). These
clutches increase the torque required to release one wheel and continue to
drag when released. This makes the units quieter and smoother, but the
additional torque bias is undesirable for the front.
- Being a Mechanical Engineer and wanting the best setup I called up
Tractech and spoke with their engineering department about this issue. They
said since the majority of their sales are either strictly off-road or rear
axle applications they hadn't fully investigated this issue for front
applications.
- They had a number of internal meetings and discussions and came to
the conclusion that for the best performance in a front axle the thrust
blocks and center bellville washers should be removed prior to installing
the unit. They told me that they were generating a tech note on the issue
to recommend this, but weren't planning any testing. They also assured me
there would be no loss of warranty and that the unit should actually last
longer with the mod.
- I made the mod and it works perfectly. The most significant
improvement is when running hubs locked in 2wd. At highway speeds (worst
case) I can hardly detect the locker. With the stock soft-locker there is a
stronger pull to center and sloppier steering (although it's not that bad
either with a heavy full size truck).
Now if I jack up the front of the truck and spin 1 wheel with the hubs
locked, transfer case in 2wd the locker unlocks and only 1 wheel spins.
I suspect that with the soft-locker clutches removed it unlocks just as
easily as a Lockright (no one in our club is running one in a Dana 60 so I
can't check this).
If anyone wants to check into this or consider doing it, I'd suggest you
call Jim in the engineering department at Tractech (810) 759-3850 (there are
two Jim's in engineering & I forget which one I spoke to - both should know
about the tweak). I
don't know if they've produced the tech note or done any testing since I
installed my Detroit (summer 1998).
So far I've put about 10,000 severe kms (including serious off-roading,
10,000 lb trailer towing, driving through 3' deep snow with 4 tire chains
and plowing snow all winter) on the truck since the axle mods, probably
about 2500 kms with the hubs locked and everything is working perfectly.
Steve Shaw
