How 'bout a Detroit locker???

Okay, since my hopes were smashed when I found out I could not get an OX locker I'm back in research mode. I found a place in Cedar Rapids that sell Detroit lockers for 44's at the really good price of 525.00. I've heard all the horror stories about how they mess with the road manners but I've never driven or rode in a Jeep that runs one. Are they as bad as I've heard? I'm also looking at a Auburn Gear electric locker. They are built about an hour north of me and I wouldn't mind supporting a local business. Man the OX deal really bummed me out!

 

I have never had a problem with the Detroit in my cj. It will pop ocasionally going around corners but it behaves itself. I have never driven it on ice but it did good on snow. I have never had it try to switch ends on me. Aslong as you drive within the capabilities of the vehicle you will be fine.

 

I don't drive on ice either. Probably because as soon as the weather turns crappy I alway tear the thing apart and replace a bunch of good parts with hopefully better parts. It's good to hear you like your Detroit. For the price I might give one a try.

 

I didn't have a Detroit in mine, I had a Lock Right, but the effect is the same. My Jeep actually handled better with the auto locker than my fullsize Bronco did. The Bronco would get thrown all over the road when I got on and off the gas, the Jeep never acted that way. Once in a while when the locker popped the Jeep would jump a bit, but it was never unmanageable and I was able to anticipate it after a while.

 

If you don't drive on the road in the winter. It is no big deal. My jeep is a trail jeep, but it still sees street use just for fun in the summer. I have no problems with my detroit. If you get caught in the rain, your rear end can want to slide out under acceleration. On dry days when you are out cruising, you will hardly notice it is there except for the occassional tire chirping. The detroit lockers do not bang around anywhere nearlly as much as a lockrite style.

If you were closer to southern Ohio, you could drive mine.

 

I had heard horror stories about Detroits and their road manners, but the guy at the differential shop kinda talked me into one and I don't regret it one bit. Like others have said, once in a while it will pop or bang, but for the most part, it's quiet. I haven't driven it in snow or ice though. If I were to do it again, I'd definitely go with the Detroit.

 

The only thing I ever notice about the locker in my CJ is what Norco mentioned about his Bronco. When deceleration...I could tell a difference from when it was open. But I would not call it bad at all. The banging they make is something you get used to.
As far as ice goes...I agree with everyone (not the best setup).

 

Its not like open but you soon get used to any manners they have and off road there is no substitute for traction and durability they provide.

 

I have a Detroit in my 71' and wouldn't change it for the world. If I haven't driven it in a while, the first time it lets go on a corner (during a shift for example) will certainly wake you up, but that said you get used to it!

 

I have had a Detroit in my newer CJ since the 80's first with a manual transmission and yes it makes some noises when shifting in corners and in parting lots. I lived in Minnesota for a couple years and in ice the Detroit was not fun at all. After the tranny died I put a auto tranny in it and clunking noises are almost gone. Just remember to keep the tires the same size and air pressure equal.

Other then that just enjoy the traction you get!!

 

I've driven both Detriots and ARBs.
The Detroit reminds you you are in a Jeep! It will chirp and wheel hop when you make a sharp turn on dry pavement but then it's always there.
With the ARBs I'd use it if I anticipated a traction problem but often that was not till I "really needed it!!!"
For the money, I'd say go w/ the Detroit!

 

Older Detroits were not dampened like the new "Soft Locker" and they really had terrible road manners. The worse thing was all the backlash. The newer ones are a noticeable improvement.

 

Just to go with that.
All new detroits are soft lockers meaning they are not as harsh.

But if buying at discount or off the net ,
I would want to make sure it was the new one and not a leftover

 

There are a lot of rebuilt NASCAR Detroits showing up on Ebay from time to time. They are much harsher than a standard Detroit (even pre-soft locker). You probably want to stay away from those, they are incredibly noisy, but they do work great.

EDIT: Never mind, those are 9" units, not Dana 44

 

I finally got to test my 74 CJ5 with front and rear detroits/4.56 gears. First impressions were great! I did a section of road that was snow covered and slippery in four wheel drive. no issues to 40MPH. It didn't throw me around the road or anything like that. Mine are both the newer "soft locker". Pointed it into a field with 2' to 3' drifts, although it took 4 or 5 tries to bust through all 4 pulled constantly. Very happy!

 

Just be careful on slick roads. It's just a fact that the steering doesn't work the same way with the axle locked as it does with it unlocked. Since your differentiation is gone, one tire will not pull you around the corner, it'll slip just like a rear axle does. If you loose enough traction to start pushing the front axle, the rear will try to keep pushing you in a straight line until the front tires grab again. This is probably the hardest thing to get used to with lockers in both ends.

 

Love my Detroit Locker. Mine is really quiet. Occasionally it will snap, or squeel the tires around corners. That's if you give it gas at the same time. (Don't do it if you see a cop.) The other thing. If it's wet on the roads. DO NOT down shift in a corner. The first time I did. I went through the intersection side ways.

 

I've used the ARB lockers in my Jeep for about 10 years worth of winters in the northwest with absolutely no problems. No clanks, clunks or any other noise other than the compressor running.

 

LOVE my detroit. i had front and rear lock-rite's, but the rear crapped out on me, so i upgraded to detroit.

i knew the characteristics would be harsh-no worse that the lock-rite. (i don't have the fancy new detroit that is quieter/calmer/softer-whatever the hell they say it is these days). they both worked the same i felt, the main difference in the two is the detroit is a more solid/less high pitch sound when it snaps. i expect the harsher ride, but it is not uncontrollable by any means. having a heavy right foot, i tend pull a tire off the ground up front coming out of turns.

would i trade it for anything different???
maybe a spool. but i have NO complaints and am a 100% advocate of these things going in any jeep.

be prepared, first time you drive with one, it WILL BE DIFFERENT, but you will be used to it before you know.

oh, and yes, if i floor it and let off the gas, it often does pull one way then the other-could be an alignment issue, but then again, it's a trail rig; what's an alignment?!