Detroit vs Eaton E-Locker vs Ox Manual

[JMT]

I've been researching for next years upgraded rear axle to a super 35 and a rear locker. I don't like that the Revolution kit with the Detroit locker is an automatic locker. But it seems that the Detroit is very reliable, just bothersome...Do they have a Detroit that is selectable that can be paired with the super 35?

I really like the simplicity of the Eaton E-Locker, but I'm reading that it does wear out and require maintenance. Is this correct?

I also like the simplicity of the Ox Manual. Anyone else running it with the cable? What's your experience? I really didn't want to get into air on board and all of that. If I did I'd go ARB, but that's not chump change...

 

[Jerry Bransford]

What leads you to believe the Detroit Locker is 'bothersome'? Does it get icy and full of snow in your part of Texas? Will anyone besides you be a regular driver of your Jeep once you install a locker? Is your TJ a daily driver or a weekend toy?

 

[JMT]

Bothersome because it is a daily driver and I read that it can be a little unpredictable on wet roads, going in and out. No, no ice and snow here, at least not very often. My wife will sometimes drive the Jeep. The Jeep is a weekend warrior, which is why I am looking at lockers...

 

[Rob5589]

The DL will take getting used to, especially with a manual and taking off on a curve. It isn't going to throw you off the road or anything like that. If you have an auto trans you can expect some clicking and popping but nothing crazy. Keep your air pressure equal in the rear tires and you will be fine. Remember, a DL will unlock in turns where an air/electric will lock up solidly, both wheels spinning the same speed. I'd take the DL over any of the others for that one reason.

 

[ac_]

The thing I have noticed about auto-lockers such as the Detroit locker mostly is if you pull into a parking spot strait then back out at a 45 degree angle or more, then pull straight ahead sometimes it binds a little and unloads. Nothing is wrong, but sometimes it is loud, and that takes a little getting used to.

BTW Rob5589. I just noticed your signature, spit out a little beverage. Awesome!

 

[Rob5589]

 

[RD3]

I have the OX but with air. You can set up a simple air system for the ox with a co2 cartridge for one of those air soft guns. Cheap set up without the hassle of cable which is what I have heard the most complaints about on OX

 

[JP98]

I've been researching for next years upgraded rear axle to a super 35 and a rear locker. I don't like that the Revolution kit with the Detroit locker is an automatic locker. But it seems that the Detroit is very reliable, just bothersome...Do they have a Detroit that is selectable that can be paired with the super 35?

I really like the simplicity of the Eaton E-Locker, but I'm reading that it does wear out and require maintenance. Is this correct?

I also like the simplicity of the Ox Manual. Anyone else running it with the cable? What's your experience? I really didn't want to get into air on board and all of that. If I did I'd go ARB, but that's not chump change...

You can also get the ARB with the Super 35. Is that an option for you?

I run the E-locker myself in my rear axle and highly like it.

 

[JMT]

You can also get the ARB with the Super 35. Is that an option for you?

I run the E-locker myself in my rear axle and highly like it.

Don't want all the expense of the ARB, or I would!

What kind of maintenance do you have to do on an e locker? Do they wear out?

 

[JP98]

Don't want all the expense of the ARB, or I would!

What kind of maintenance do you have to do on an e locker? Do they wear out?

I change the diff fluid and run full synthetic in it but that's it. The old 2 pinion design had issues but the newer 4 pinion is a vast improvement.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Bothersome because it is a daily driver and I read that it can be a little unpredictable on wet roads, going in and out. No, no ice and snow here, at least not very often. My wife will sometimes drive the Jeep. The Jeep is a weekend warrior, which is why I am looking at lockers...

I have to say that some non-Detroit Locker owners have an outdated opinion of the Detroit Locker. Old descriptions of its notoriously poor behavior back then are just that, old and no longer true. It was redesigned maybe 25 years ago when they came out with the new "Soft Locker" version. Since then, it has been the most well-behaved automatic locker of them all.

I ran one for 6-7 years in my previous TJ which was a daily driver. I was in outside sales so I drove it on average 50-100 miles a day and it was a complete non-issue for me. The Detroit Locker will quickly "train" you on how it likes to be driven to make it well behaved 99.9% of the time. Even throttle around corners and turns means it unlocks easily to make turns a non-event. Give it hard throttle or downshift and decelerate dramatically for a turn and it will be harder to unlock for the turn which can make it chirp a tire. But in normal driving, for me, it never did any of that since I learned within a day or two to keep the throttle neutral through turns. VERY occasionally it would "unload" which would cause a minor rear-end lurch which was a complete non-issue and only made me smile.

The Detroit Locker's benefits far outweigh those minor traits and I would rather have it back than my current selectable Rubicon lockers. Yes, that is true... mostly anyway. The Detroit Locker is damned near bulletproof, strong, and trouble-free. It needs no cable, electrical wiring, switches, or air compressors. It works transparently in that it just does its thing without you having to decide on when to engage it. Fully automatic point-and-shoot wheeling, good on-road traits. Again, it is by far the best behaved automatic locker of them all since its redesign 25 or so years ago.

There's not a thing wrong with going with a selectable locker, heck I recommend ARB air lockers all the time, but don't sell the Detroit Locker short. If I replaced my rear axle with a Dana 60 or similar, I'd probably go with another Detroit Locker for my non-trailer queen Jeep.

 

[Rob5589]

35 spline Dana 60 Detroit locker is mucho goodness

 

[JMT]

Okay @Jerry, I'll push for a little bit more info. What about the Detroit performance on sand? And there hasn't been much discussion in this thread on the Eaton E-Locker. What are your thoughts on it? It looks like a good option.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Okay @Jerry, I'll push for a little bit more info. What about the Detroit performance on sand? And there hasn't been much discussion in this thread on the Eaton E-Locker. What are your thoughts on it? It looks like a good option.

The Detroit works as well as any locker does on sand. The key to not getting stuck in sand though is driver technique. Mexican drivers pedaling their wares to tourists on the beaches drive old cars without lockers and many have bald tires. They just know how to drive on sand without getting stuck... usually. Airing down sufficiently and not using your brakes to stop on the sand are two key things to keep in mind. Using your brakes can cause a berm to form in front of your tires which makes it tougher to get rolling again and increases the odds of digging yourself in.

Eaton's E-Locker would be a good choice if you want a selectable instead of an automatic locker.

 

[JP98]

X2 what Jerry said. All driving comes down to technique whether it is on dry clear roads, JV rocks or sand. Someone like Jerry would use his lockers crawling way less then say me. He just has been there and done that more. So get out and practice as much as you can.

As for the Eaton E-locker. I love the one I have in my rear axle. It has worked great every time I have engaged it and done everything that I have asked of it. If the Rubi locker goes out on my front axle it will be replaced by an E-locker just like I did the rear.

@Jerry Bransford If my front Rubi locker goes out, you get my two compressors if they are still running and you still have your original lockers.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

X2 what Jerry said. All driving comes down to technique whether it is on dry clear roads, JV rocks or sand. Someone like Jerry would use his lockers crawling way less then say me. He just has been there and done that more. So get out and practice as much as you can.

As for the Eaton E-locker. I love the one I have in my rear axle. It has worked great every time I have engaged it and done everything that I have asked of it. If the Rubi locker goes out on my front axle it will be replaced by an E-locker just like I did the rear.

@Jerry Bransford If my front Rubi locker goes out, you get my two compressors if they are still running and you still have your original lockers.

Yes!!!! :zpong:

And so far as me using my lockers crawling less, ha nope they're always on when the Jeep's on the rocks. If I ever turn them off between obstacles I won't remember to turn them back on again. :risas3:. Actually I shouldn't laugh... I forgot to turn them on before I got onto a really tough trail last year and couldn't figure out why I was having so much trouble. Maybe that's the real reason I miss my old Detroit Locker and No-Slip lockers... nothing for an old guy to forget.