gimme the dummies guide to the detroit locker

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Mar 7, 2009 | 07:14 PM
  #1  
Ive llookied on the web and they give overviews, but tell me the facts, and or opinions.

who has one and how do you drive it. Is it streetable? Ive heard(opinion) that if you get caught in a rut on the highway that it can get hairy.

How does it act at the track?
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Mar 7, 2009 | 09:09 PM
  #2  
Re: gimme the dummies guide to the detroit locker
I have a Detroit Locker in my '69 Camaro and I have a Lock Right locker in my 4X4 truck. I drive the truck every day and I have put over 100,000 miles on it. It does drive a little different, but not bad. It jerks and pops sometimes, but I can live with that. The Camaro is a 427 4 speed car with a 9 inch Ford rear end. It makes enough noise and shakes enough that I don't notice the locker most of the time. The truck is a 3.4 5 speed and I notice the locker more in it. There is NO slipping and both wheels ALWAYS pull when you need them. I broke an axle in the Camaro once and the locker kept the car moving.
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Mar 8, 2009 | 04:08 PM
  #3  
Re: gimme the dummies guide to the detroit locker
I had Detroit Lockers in the about worst combination possible. A short wheelbase(85 inches) CJ5 Jeep with a soft SOA suspension, Manual Transmission, and a 400+ HP AMC 401. It did have some jerks and pops but for the most part I could and did drive it every day during the Summer. The only time it became hairy was on icy roads. Once I extended the wheelbase to 105 inches it did better on icy roads but was still pretty scary. I believe much of that was because of the mud tires I was useing because after I got them siped it did pretty good on icy roads.
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Mar 10, 2009 | 06:13 PM
  #4  
Re: gimme the dummies guide to the detroit locker
if you had to do it all over again would you have went with a posi?

where is the hp/torque limit? posi vs locker
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Mar 11, 2009 | 01:47 PM
  #5  
Re: gimme the dummies guide to the detroit locker
If you have a street/strip car then just use a good clutch posi or preloaded torsen style unit. They are not much more then a drop in locker.

My Jeep is much different then your car but I was very happy with the Detroit lockers in my Jeep and felt that it's operation was pretty much unnoticable. It had the occaisional pop and jerk but that was very seldom. When turning, it unlocked as designed and it took some pretty serious throttle input to make it lock. Even though Icy roads where a white knuckle experience, friends that ran lockers didn't have the same problem. IMHO, I just don't see any advantage of running a locker in anything other then a serious use 4X4.
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Aug 5, 2009 | 06:29 PM
  #6  
Re: gimme the dummies guide to the detroit locker
I had finally made up my mind to get a 9' with a locker, from spohn. A one stop shop kinda thing.

www.spohn.net/shop/1982-1992-GM-F-Body/Drivetrain/Moser-Ford-9-Rear/Moser-Engineering-Ford-9-Rear-Complete.html

BUT now i see a center section called a wave trac. I did a little searching but only really found manufacturing sites, no real opinions of people who used it.

anyone out there have any info on it.
im guessing since it only comes with 35 spline that it is strong.

anyone.ideas or info?
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Aug 5, 2009 | 11:05 PM
  #7  
Re: gimme the dummies guide to the detroit locker
To me it looks like a combination of a trutrac and a locker. Should work as smooth as a trutrac under normal driveing and then the center section ,That looks to be a modified locker(wavy instead of dog engagement), should really make it lock solid when needed. A bit expensive but looks to be a pretty good idea.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/15824846/WaveTrac-LSD
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Aug 6, 2009 | 04:06 PM
  #8  
Re: gimme the dummies guide to the detroit locker
35 spline is a lot of overkill for running in the 10's. But i guess there is always room to grow. Maybe a twin turbo 572.lol

it reads to me like you could go from the street to the strip to a autocross track.
It sounds like the best of all worlds.

Im hoping to hear from someone that has one.
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Oct 3, 2009 | 10:09 PM
  #9  
Re: gimme the dummies guide to the detroit locker
I Love My Locker.

for the track
make sure you drive strait forward 8' to 10' to get the rear to lock
as most of the time your turn into the Burn out Box. this way it's locked and no goofy things go on..

on the street it just feels ...well ..diff ..you turn and you feel it push forward on one side.. for just a sec..then push on both side forward.
drifting is made easy..i will tell you that..Lol

at the track.. and on the street ..there is nothing like it..
iv had all the 9 bolt stuff you could get.. all the posi units New.
all the Gears new..Broke it all.. it's a locker for me..I love it.. and i will never Go Back.

i did the call and order it for mine.(carri entrprise). dropped right in with my disk brakes.. did it in the drive way in like 2 hrs maby 3.. even bolted up to my drive line and U Joints..if i remember $2200.. sold off a semi auto 1919 beltfed.. for the Car parts..
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Oct 4, 2009 | 05:27 PM
  #10  
Re: gimme the dummies guide to the detroit locker
Locker works great. i have one in my S60. I can't hear any noise with my car as loud as it is. The wave trac is fairly new and don't know if many people have tried it yet. Locker is a tried and true rear for along time.
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