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which is better and more reliable i know the detroit makes noise, but if you had your choice which would you choose?

detroit auto locker

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Had both. Prefer the Detroit; always there when you need it, pretty much invisible when you don't. Much stronger than an e-locker or ARB.

thanks, how well does the detroit perform on the road? i have a 5 spd. does it pull or ingage on the road?

I have a detroit in the rear of my truck and don't notice anything. It will lock up a bit if you get on it around corners, but 95% of the time you don't even notice it.


Sent from your mothers house.

The hype is just that. Just get one!

[quote="abendx"]The hype is just that. Just get one![/quote]

Exactly... and talking about 'noise' ... come on, I bet your 4x4 makes enough noise you wont even hear it... if you do, just put in better speakers and crank the tunes.

I have a detroit in my nova and the only time it gives me issues is if I'm coasting, then gun it... you feel it lock and you get squirly around corners when the skinny pedal is on the floor, but that's part of the fun!

They are awsome out back but I dont like them up front. Kinda makes steering hard in snow and such.

I had a Detroit in the front of my jeep only noticed it when in 4wd. Turning while in 4wd is a real pain in the ass and you cant turn it off.

I now have E-lockers front and rear! So far they are great and they are limited slip when not engaged.

Hmm.... so sad. Poor, misguided info still floating around concerning these.

[quote="RyanSBCA"]talking about 'noise' ... come on, I bet your 4x4 makes enough noise you wont even hear it[/quote]

New "soft lockers" that came out in the mid 90s if memory serves me correctly, are almost 100% quiet. Very rarely will you hear a pop out of them when turning right (as I said, VERY rarely).... I have never had the pop turning left that I can recall?

[quote="chuckanut105"]They are awsome out back but I dont like them up front. Kinda makes steering hard in snow and such.[/quote]

Poor info. The locker will not be noticeable when you have your hubs unlocked. Although 4WD might be nice in the snow, if you run a Detroit, just say no.

Most actually state that the Detroit up front is dangerous. Fallacy for the same reasons above.

I should add, I have no experience using a Detroit with an auto hub and have no experience in that situation. My understanding is that an auto hub unlocks when in 2WD... just as they do when you turn the switch on a manual hub. Please correct me if I am wrong.

[quote="Dirty LJ"]Turning while in 4wd is a real pain in the ass and you cant turn it off.[/quote]

Hmm.... I though the Detroit unlocked when one turns (one, maybe both sides?). This is why they used to and still occasionally make noise. The rear would unlock with a pop as the gears moved away from one another and contacted.

Since they do unlock in a turn, not sure why this is such an issue for you. Electronic lockers do not disengage and would make a turn while locked harder. In fact, before I installed hydro assist, I would often have to unlock my front to get though some tight turns.... tight turns where a front locker would have actually been beneficial. Sure... you can play with the dash switch, but if it is electric, it takes time to engage. Only cable and air operated lockers lock and unlock instantaneously. I have experienced several very long seconds before I get engagement sometimes.... WAY too many for comfort when something bad is occurring and you need to move quickly (plus, if you had an auto locker like the Detroit, one less thing to worry about when you should be worrying about your line.

If yours does not unlock when you turn, you are looking forward to big issues GJ. If they don't unlock and you get bound up, you are asking to break lots of other shit.

[quote="Dirty LJ"]I now have E-lockers front and rear! So far they are great and they are limited slip when not engaged.[/quote]

All that I have seen are fully open while disengaged. Yours seem to be much more usable. Which brand for those looking to upgrade?






So..... I was not trying to be a dick, but it felt that way when I typed. So no hard feeling if it came out that way.... not my intention. BUT... I feel like too much bogus info is out there regarding Detroit's and their usefulness. A recent poll in Crawl showed about 90% of professional buggy racers prefer a Detroit up front (and many selected a disengage-able model for the rear). Most likely, there were multiple reasons for the answer. Detroit's are stronger, less to fuss with, and basically never break (sure, anything can break... but it's tough).


EDIT: [url=http://www.eaton.com/EatonCom/ProductsServices/PerformanceProducts/Products/Differentials/FAQ/index.htm]link[/url] for more info from the manufacture.

I can't comment on the other info but my info is correct. A Detroit will unlock when turning [u]IF[/u] not under power. If you are in 4wd and using the gas the Detroit stays locked! Making turning difficult at best. Like i said I had a Detroit in the front and on the street I couldn't tell it was there, off road it was the same the only time I had trouble was turning under power on a slippery rutted surface (slippery is not just mud and snow. loose dirt, sand also can make it difficult)

[b]"When does a Detroit Locker lock?[/b]
The Detroit Locker is locked up 100% in a straight line [u]or if you are spinning[/u]. The unit unlocks in a turn for the wheel that is turning the fastest.

In my lockers there is no delay in engagement it is instant, but it does take a few seconds to disengage which can be annoying on snowy rutted roads. They are limited slip when disengaged. [url=http://www.auburngear.com/aftermarket/product_listing.aspx?category=8946f7ff-e4b5-4b07-b738-c6f9d7f93179]Ected Locker link[/url]

I agree Detroits are stronger, but for an everyday driver and one that likes snow and the occasional mud the electric locker is a better all around unit. IMHO

detroit or even a lockright up front acts the same.

They pull the steering "straight" when in 4wd under power, if your on the gas its locked.

I run just a front locker with a limited slip in the rear, turning is not that bad with the rear not locked.

I have ran before both ends with detroits, was a pita, would never want to turn.

If the rear is unlocked the front will turn easier, if anything i would run the front fully locked and selectable in the rear.

[quote="Dirty LJ"]I had a Detroit in the front of my jeep only noticed it when in 4wd. Turning while in 4wd is a real pain in the ass and you cant turn it off.

I now have E-lockers front and rear! So far they are great and they are limited slip when not engaged.[/quote]

I am running Detroits in both axles of my JK, and ran them in my XJ. I don't experience the problem you describe and pretty much run the tightest trails a Jeep can run (some too tight for a Jeep to run), and lack of turning has never prevented me from going anywhere. In fact, all of the Currie rock Crawling comp rigs run a Detroit up front, and if you have seen the tight turns and crazy lines you have to take around the cones at a rock crawling event you would never accuse a Detroit of not wanting to turn. My boy also runs a lock-right in the front of his TJ, and had no issues. . We both also blast around the sand dunes and the Detroit is completely invisible there. I never get heavy on the throttle with my wheels turned in good traction, so perhaps this is why I never experience a problem . Now, you do have to learn to be careful in the snow and ice - but if you do, its no problem. The newer Detroits are dead quiet; you will feel it around a hard corner once in a while but it makes no noise, not even the ratcheting sound you get with an Aussie or Lock-rite.

That Auburn ECTED is the worse thing invented IMHO. When those clutch packs wear (and they do fast), your limited slip will be open and your locker will be a limited slip at best; thats if the unit doesn't totally fail first like many do (but you have to actually wheel to experience that ). I have never been a fan of limited slips (except the tru-trac which has gears instead of clutches), and 90% of the folks running limited slips aren't even aware that the clutch pack has long since expired and they are pretty much open. Limited slips are also useless in rock gardens.

The Eaton E-locker is a good, maintenance-free unit. Just be mindful that it is not as strong as a Detroit or ARB. They are a too weak to use with 37+" tires and big axles IMO. Also be mindful that e-lockers do not engage/disengage immediately like an ARB; it takes a little distance/wheel spin to get them working. This is what I did not like about my e-lockers; I wanted instant gratification when I push that button.

[quote="desert dog"][quote="Dirty LJ"]I had a Detroit in the front of my jeep only noticed it when in 4wd. Turning while in 4wd is a real pain in the ass and you cant turn it off.

I now have E-lockers front and rear! So far they are great and they are limited slip when not engaged.[/quote]

I am running Detroits in both axles of my JK, and ran them in my XJ. I don't experience the problem you describe and pretty much run the tightest trails a Jeep can run (some too tight for a Jeep to run), and lack of turning has never prevented me from going anywhere. In fact, all of the Currie rock Crawling comp rigs run a Detroit up front, and if you have seen the tight turns and crazy lines you have to take around the cones at a rock crawling event you would never accuse a Detroit of not wanting to turn. My boy also runs a lock-right in the front of his TJ, and had no issues. . We both also blast around the sand dunes and the Detroit is completely invisible there. I never get heavy on the throttle with my wheels turned in good traction, so perhaps this is why I never experience a problem . Now, you do have to learn to be careful in the snow and ice - but if you do, its no problem. The newer Detroits are dead quiet; you will feel it around a hard corner once in a while but it makes no noise, not even the ratcheting sound you get with an Aussie or Lock-rite.

That Auburn ECTED is the worse thing invented IMHO. When those clutch packs wear (and they do fast), your limited slip will be open and your locker will be a limited slip at best; thats if the unit doesn't totally fail first like many do (but you have to actually wheel to experience that ). I have never been a fan of limited slips (except the tru-trac which has gears instead of clutches), and 90% of the folks running limited slips aren't even aware that the clutch pack has long since expired and they are pretty much open. Limited slips are also useless in rock gardens.

The Eaton E-locker is a good, maintenance-free unit. Just be mindful that it is not as strong as a Detroit or ARB. They are a too weak to use with 37+" tires and big axles IMO. Also be mindful that e-lockers do not engage/disengage immediately like an ARB; it takes a little distance/wheel spin to get them working. This is what I did not like about my e-lockers; I wanted instant gratification when I push that button.[/quote]

As far as the currie comp rig ya they turn on a dime because they have cutting brakes and with those you want to have to rear selectable so you can make crazy turns using a front dig. Most all of the comp rigs run a simular set up.

Its gonna come down to 2 things
1) what can you afford
2) what you want your rig to do

IMHO

just want to say thanks for all the info, and i agree there is a lot of hype about all lockers online its nice to hear real experienced wheelers give their opinion. this has been a huge help to me. thanks again!

No worries that's what were here for.