Diff lockers - Auto lockers v limited slip??

[landyman Ash]

Ive got an ARB in the rear but I quite fancy a limited slip or auto locker in the front.

What have you got and why?

Detroit tru-trac limited is current fav but Im open to suggestions and ideas  :D  :D

[muddyweb]

That's my setup..  ARB in the rear, tru-trac in the front.

Suits my driving style and the auto box, gives a bit more of a progressive effect on the front rather than the full-on locker.

[Henry Webster]

Truetrac has been faultless in the back of mine, but have no experience of one in the front I am afraid.

For what I am doing the setup is spot on with a Truetrac in the back and an open front.

[landyman Ash]

That's my setup..  ARB in the rear, tru-trac in the front.

Suits my driving style and the auto box, gives a bit more of a progressive effect on the front rather than the full-on locker.

Thats what Im thinking.  Think it will have to wait till jan though  :?

[landyman Ash]

Truetrac has been faultless in the back of mine, but have no experience of one in the front I am afraid.

For what I am doing the setup is spot on with a Truetrac in the back and an open front.

Im looking at more challenge and winch events so I think the ARB rear and the limited slip should be ideal.

I hate changing front diffs and CV's so with the auto box and limited slip I wont break the fronts as much  

A truetrac i think it is then!

[muddyweb]

Thing with the TruTrac is it is the sort of thing where you never actually know when it is working.  Because it is all transparent, you just fit and forget... for the front axle, that is why I like it.

[landyman Ash]

How do they work?  Is it like a clutch thing?  If so, can that wear?

Just curious really  :?

[muddyweb]

No clutches in these.  They use a set of helical gears, and bias the torque across the axle.

If you get a wheel off the ground completely or a wheel loses traction, it will act like an open diff..  a little bit of gentle left-foot braking can get the bias back and return drive to the grounded wheel.

A bit more info :  http://www.devon4x4.com/products/7/Locking%20Differentials/598/Detroit+Tru+Trac+Diff

[Henry Webster]

Similar in prinicple to the Quaife ATB.  I believe that the design is base on one created by Torsen.

http://www.quaife.co.uk/products/atbdifferentials.htm

H

[rollazuki]

I ran a Lock-rite auto locker in the back of the zook a while ago, it was pants. I have to admit on a heavier car it may have been better, and off road it was excellent, but its road manners were atrocious. It locked in and out, banging and clattering all the time.
Ive got ARB's front and rear, Excellent, love 'em, Id advise anyone to get a pair.
I only green lane and play tho, non of that high speed stuff, so cant comment for that kind of use

[landyman Ash]

Similar in prinicple to the Quaife ATB.  I believe that the design is base on one created by Torsen.

http://www.quaife.co.uk/products/atbdifferentials.htm

H

Cheers Tim

Henry, does look the same i agree.  Bit more pricey though, think I'll stick with the proven Detroit.

[muddyweb]

The TruTrac isn't the auto locker... that's the Detroit.   And I'd agree about them for road use ;-)

The Trutrac is good on the road in my experience.

[landyman Ash]

I ran a Lock-rite auto locker in the back of the zook a while ago, it was pants. I have to admit on a heavier car it may have been better, and off road it was excellent, but its road manners were atrocious. It locked in and out, banging and clattering all the time.
Ive got ARB's front and rear, Excellent, love 'em, Id advise anyone to get a pair.
I only green lane and play tho, non of that high speed stuff, so cant comment for that kind of use

I am tempted by two ARB's, I already have one on the rear BUT is the solid lock on the front that bothers me.  Away from poor steering etc its the breakages CV joints and front diffs.  Although I think the ARB wil give more traction, its the slight give of limite slip that tempts me.

After all a busted drive train means you go no-where

[landyman Ash]

The TruTrac isn't the auto locker... that's the Detroit.  

Im confused, isnt it the Detroit Trutrac???  :?

[muddyweb]

There is the Tratech Trutrac - The Torque Biasing Diff (LSD Action)
There is the Tratech Detroit Auto-Locker - The Auto-Locking diff.  (or more accurately the auto-unlocking diff)

[landyman Ash]

Cancel that, I see.

Dertroit make the true trac and the detroitlocker.

Talk about confusing!!!!

Its the limited slip Truetrac that I'll be getting.

[landyman Ash]

There is the Tratech Trutrac - The Torque Biasing Diff (LSD Action)
There is the Tratech Detroit Auto-Locker - The Auto-Locking diff.  (or more accurately the auto-unlocking diff)

Got it, cheers Tim  :D

[isle of man]

i have run tru-trac in one of my wranglers it's a great bit of kit for those twisty bits.....but put it in mud and rocks and there is the down side.....have you thought about electrac? lsd & locker in one? i know it was pulled from the shelves for some technical problems a wile back it must be sorted by now........just another option.



as for me i have arb's now.


peter henry

[muddyweb]

Not sure the electrac is available in a LR fitment yet.

[unknownmanxman]

I run a detroit locker in the rear and a truetrac up front.. i find this combination is excellent.

The truetrac seem to cancel out and handling issues that the rear locker might create on the road..
Its brill offroad...

[Henry Webster]

Away from poor steering etc its the breakages CV joints and front diffs.  Although I think the ARB wil give more traction, its the slight give of limite slip that tempts me.

That and as Tim says - its fit and forget - an ARB or any locker is only as good as the driver pushing the button!  Making sure that the front diff is in or out at the right time is naother thing to think about and it WILL make a difference to your directional control.

H

[Bulli]

what kind of use are you going to be putting it through. The fact that an ARB isnt on except when required is what atrracted me to it. The lsd is a nice idea but sure that would wear at a greater rate and put more stress through cv's etc. Yes the arb would stress is more but for only a short time, then its a normal diff. Are you going to be doing high speed? in which case why would you need to lock the diff? Maybe im completely wrong but i use mine to anticipate trouble and once through i switch them off . It is very rare that i have had to negotiate much in the way of corners where traction was that limited....and where it was the steering is fine as the ground allows it to slide a little.
 just my two penneth.

[LOFTY]

KAM make a limited slip/ locker in one unit, nicly made bit of kit, have one in back of the green beast, with Tru-track in front, this makes a very good combination.
My jeep had ARB front and rear, i noticed that with front locker engaged, steering was a big problem.

Tru-trac, fit and forget, as Tim says.

[landyman Ash]

KAM make a limited slip/ locker in one unit, nicly made bit of kit, have one in back of the green beast, with Tru-track in front, this makes a very good combination.
My jeep had ARB front and rear, i noticed that with front locker engaged, steering was a big problem.

Tru-trac, fit and forget, as Tim says.

Its exactly thr steering that bothers me.  Truetrac seems the idealfront option, with ARB rear, for winch and challange stuff  

[dave_2A_2.25Turbo]

How easy is it to fit the Trutrac?  DIY or not?

[muddyweb]

If you are happy building / adjusting diffs, then it is a DIY job.  Slightly less work than doing an ARB, but essentially the same operations in the diff end.

[LOFTY]

With trutrac, you need a shim for the crown wheel, to allow correct meshing of pinion after rebuild, it is possible without, but you have to adjust bearing almost out of thread. The supplier i used didnt mention this.
Fitting, well if you are ok with putting together diffs, "preloading, pinion alignment etc" then its easyer than ARB, no pipes etc. :P

[rollazuki]

From personal experience, Id never buy an auto locker again.
They have veeeeeery poor road manners, and arent all that strong.
I had a lockrite, broke it, they sent me a new un from the states, sold it on eblag, and fitted ARB's.
ARB's on the other hand are awesome. Unless they get muck in the valves and wont unlock
Anyone have a cure to put a filter or something on the air valve exhaust port??
Id buy ARB's, you get a compressor(very handy) and they actually work.
Cant comment on LSD's and the like, better for high speed stuff I would imagine.

[landyman Ash]

I am still tempted by another ARB, not sold on the LSD yet but nearly.

If your running twin ARB's, had much breakages?  Its for challenge events, not speed.  Whats your thoughts?

[Bulli]

Buy the ARB , you can switch it off...no breakages touch wood! 12 months of hard use