I’m just gonna say it, Detroit lockers suck

Trying to follow along with this because I'm in the middle of deciding what carrier to put in the HP30 I'm going to build for my rig.

And I get the problem of trying to steer a locked axle.

But don't the Rubicons have a "locked" front axle? I haven't heard of all the Rubi owners complain about their locker, or is there something different about the Rubi locker over aftermarket.
 
Trying to follow along with this because I'm in the middle of deciding what carrier to put in the HP30 I'm going to build for my rig.

And I get the problem of trying to steer a locked axle.

But don't the Rubicons have a "locked" front axle? I haven't heard of all the Rubi owners complain about their locker, or is there something different about the Rubi locker over aftermarket.
The auto lockers will ratchet as you turn due to the inner axles turning at a slightly different speed when the wheels are turned. There is a pin and ramp in the locker that pushes it apart allowing the ratchet. This is part of the design and allows a slightly easier turning. A selectable doesn't ratchet and therefor, turning while locked can be an exercise in bind analysis... Some people will complain that the auto ratchets even when not in 4wd while turning in a parking lot. Mine does occasionally in my JK, doesn't bother me at all.
 
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Trying to follow along with this because I'm in the middle of deciding what carrier to put in the HP30 I'm going to build for my rig.

And I get the problem of trying to steer a locked axle.

But don't the Rubicons have a "locked" front axle? I haven't heard of all the Rubi owners complain about their locker, or is there something different about the Rubi locker over aftermarket.
The HP doesn’t have the issues of an LP with a full case locker. Go with whatever your favorite flavor is.
 
:rolleyes:

go read how a differential works. Then come back and tell us how a NON-steering axle is going to turn with a locked diff or a spool.
Put the orange-flavored pre-workout down man, it's backing you up and the shit is getting deep. While you're at it, you can step away from the "gO rEaD hOw It WoRkS" nonsense...

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At this point I'm not sure if you're being obtuse or if you're just a tad retarded (profile says WV, so I'm going to guess a little of both). Brian asked why a Detroit was better in front vs a selectable, to which you eloquently replied "Because you can steer" (leave the one liners to Blaine, you're bad at it). Then you start ranting about the non-steer axles, then suddenly a selectable turns into a locked diff or spool??... 🤦‍♂️

I know the point you're trying to make - and the sad thing is that I agree with you (I've been a fan of the "Currie Setup" for some time). I was simply trying to add to the discussion or at the least, have you clarify your poor explanation. Myself, I personally hate Detroits in the rear on a street rig - especially in snowy/icy conditions - and will almost always disagree with the notion of "just get used to how it drives".
 
Put the orange-flavored pre-workout down man, it's backing you up and the shit is getting deep. While you're at it, you can step away from the "gO rEaD hOw It WoRkS" nonsense...

View attachment 234884

At this point I'm not sure if you're being obtuse or if you're just a tad retarded (profile says WV, so I'm going to guess a little of both). Brian asked why a Detroit was better in front vs a selectable, to which you eloquently replied "Because you can steer" (leave the one liners to Blaine, you're bad at it). Then you start ranting about the non-steer axles, then suddenly a selectable turns into a locked diff or spool??... 🤦‍♂️

I know the point you're trying to make - and the sad thing is that I agree with you (I've been a fan of the "Currie Setup" for some time). I was simply trying to add to the discussion or at the least, have you clarify your poor explanation. Myself, I personally hate Detroits in the rear on a street rig - especially in snowy/icy conditions - and will almost always disagree with the notion of "just get used to how it drives".
Well arn’t you just a judgmental prick.

Lock the shafts together anyway you like. It’s the dam same. L and R turn at the same speed. The advantage to the front IS the steering.
All of the full case units I know of except the ARB are capable of coming apart in a LP 30. Due to the problems of LP design and housing flex.
 
Well arn’t you just a judgmental prick.
This isn't news, particularly when some hee-haw comes in with guns a blazin'.

Lock the shafts together anyway you like. It’s the dam same. L and R turn at the same speed. The advantage to the front IS the steering.
All of the full case units I know of except the ARB are capable of coming apart in a LP 30. Due to the problems of LP design and housing flex.
I get that reading and writing can be challenging on a forum - it's easy for our brains to get ahead of our fingers and eyes. We've all done it, so I'll try this just one more time...

Brian originally asked "why a Detroit was better than a selectable in the front".

Not a non-steer axle and not a spool (in case you were itching to bring them up again).

With a selectable, you can flip the switch and go open in the front, which is exactly what an autolocker is doing when it ratchets. How I see it, having an autolocker in the front requires you to overcome the internal locking forces, causing unnecessary stress and potentially some other unwanted issues (such as camber push).

So - with that said - in your opinion or based on your experience - why would someone who is undecided on what traction device to go with choose a Detroit/AutoLocker in the front over a selectable (aside from perhaps cost) noting that one could just as easily turn off a front selectable?
 
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There ya go.....
It’s the worst locker you could pick for a REAR AXLE application.
Sure it’s cheap, strong and easy. But the negatives outweigh the positives by a large margin.

On the street, even the “new” soft locker has quirks that need to be adapted to so it’s not like driving your truck like it was before the install. Learning to drive around the “features” does not make it invisible.
We’ve all seen the warnings about driving in snow and ice with auto lockers. It’s true, a locked rear axle will not turn, and will cause the front axle to have less steering authority, increasing understeer.
This same tendency to push the front of the truck around hampers off road performance by increasing turning radius.

A selectable should be the only choice for a rear axle.
This allows the NON-steering axle to steer by allowing the wheels to turn at different speed and different radi.

Discuss
My wife drives my jeep with a Detroit. Never had a problem with it. She doesn't even know its in there.

She is a michigan farm girl though.

Doesn't snow In south Florida. So no problems there.

Practice using the skinny pedal I guess.

PS. I have a Detroit in the front too. I have a Tera 2Low kit.
 
Either way stating the detroit is the worst locker ever is a bit ridiculous. Of course its gonna suck when your in the mall parking lot. Buy what you want and wheel your rig.
I completely agree. I went with ARB’s specifically to support my extensive mall crawlin’. I’ve not been disappointed. 🙃
 
I love my Detroits front and rear. Not alot of snow days here. I do enjoy the looks I get when I through it in reverse to back into a spot though.
 
Regarding Detroits: Ask a Detroit user how his auto lockers feel descending Blackbear. The Irony is, traction is not the issue. Turning radius, braking and backing are the issues. The light, pebbly, surface descending steep, 20 foot radius turns when it's dry is akin to snow; in rain, well..... Under steer is more thrill than one should seek on that trail. I know. My first descent was in an FJ 50, no synch 3sp, no power brakes, marginal clutch and pouring rain; fortunately, no auto lockers. I was puckered and pounding.
Ugh.jpg

Shit happens here.
 
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Regarding Detroits: Ask a Detroit user how his auto lockers feel descending Blackbear. The Irony is, traction is not the issue. Turning radius, braking and backing are the issues. The light, pebbly, surface descending steep, 20 foot radius turns when it's dry is akin to snow; in rain, well..... Under steer is more thrill than one should seek on that trail. I know. My first descent was in an FJ 50, no synch 3sp, no power brakes, marginal clutch and pouring rain; fortunately, no auto lockers. I was puckered and pounding.View attachment 238070
Shit happens here.
I have a Detroit in the rear and love it - it just works. My experience with it is that as long as it is not under load, it's not locked. In your example of descending I'm not sure why it would affect the ability to steer since you're normally braking or in lo gear, you're not accelerating. I've done a lot of switchbacks and tight turning and I don't notice anything objectionable, maybe I drive it different than you do???
 
The TJ's front Dana 30/Dana 44 axles are not good axles to install a Detroit Locker into. They flex a bit too much for the Detroit Locker. In other stronger front axles a Detroit Locker would be a great choice in the right conditions.
If that was the case, wouldn’t the same be true about any full case locker?
 
I have a Detroit in the rear and love it - it just works. My experience with it is that as long as it is not under load, it's not locked. In your example of descending I'm not sure why it would affect the ability to steer since you're normally braking or in lo gear, you're not accelerating. I've done a lot of switchbacks and tight turning and I don't notice anything objectionable, maybe I drive it different than you do???
Because reverse loading of the axle locks the deteoit