By Brett Gottdener on Saturday, November 03, 2001 - 10:02 am: Edit

What is the difference between the regular Detroit locker, and the Detroit soft-locker? I have heard that the Detroit SL isn't as strong as the Detroit.

Thanks,
Brett Gottdener

By Ho Chung (Ho) on Saturday, November 03, 2001 - 12:48 pm: Edit

hehe.
detroit locker is the old version that clanks in the rear end of old trucks.
most every detroit locker sold today are the softlocker version. if i am not mistaken, the only old detroit locker still made is for some old model axle for toyota or ford... or was it chevy.
but for other model axles, they are all the SL version.
the "soft" comes from it's road matters, not it's strenght or performance off the road..

my question to you though... how and where did you hear that the detroit SL was weaker?

By Brett Gottdener on Saturday, November 03, 2001 - 03:00 pm: Edit

I went back and found the article that gave a review of the locker. Towards the bottom it does say that the locker is not up to hardcore trail use.(then what is?) I guess I mis-read it earlier because it doesn't say that it is weaker than the original Detroit. It does say it's weak though.

http://www.4x4review.com/products/drive_train/gearless.asp

Thanks for the clarification Ho.

By John on Saturday, November 03, 2001 - 03:29 pm: Edit

As many as is around with the new soft lockers, I find not for hard core offroading just another someones opinion at this point. It would be interesting to hear what the manu. claims, Ho?

By Brian Jackson (Nerover) on Saturday, November 03, 2001 - 04:56 pm: Edit

Brett,

That article was about the Gearless (lunchbox) Locker. The gearless, soft and detroit lockers are all different. The gearless is weak, but the lock-rite is the weakest. Get the soft locker, no worries. It's really tough and very reliable. I believe Kyle will back me here whan I say that Detroits (original and now the soft-locker which essentially is the replacement) see 1000+ hp thrown through them in other motorsports.

Call Ho or John at www.expeditionexchange.com and BAM, you're gripping without fear and your truck will go way beyong he limits of the open diffs.

Of course, if you're talking about a front locker, we're way off and we need to start this ball game all over again.

One suggestion: easy on the stock axles with a locker. There's much more force from the diff to the hubs when you're locked and shafts like to break under these torquey(sp?) heavy trucks.

Brian

By Brian Jackson (Nerover) on Saturday, November 03, 2001 - 05:00 pm: Edit

As to the manual, mine stated that the warranty would cover up to a 33" tire on the Rover 24 spline part#. Many 90's run 35"-38" tires and they're working great.

Brian

By E Snyder on Sunday, November 04, 2001 - 09:49 pm: Edit

I have the "soft" locker, and it still makes noise. Clicks on turns, and occasionally goes BANG! But I'm happy to scare a few moms in the Kroger parking lot for what it can do on the trail. I think the Detroit was the single best thing I've done to my truck to add capability. (I also upgraded axles. I was worried about breaking shafts, particularly with very agressive tires or chains.)

By Kyle on Sunday, November 04, 2001 - 10:04 pm: Edit

How many miles now on the locker Enoch ?


Kyle

By Brett Gottdener on Sunday, November 04, 2001 - 10:49 pm: Edit

Thanks for the clarification everybody.

By Ron on Monday, November 05, 2001 - 09:14 am: Edit

"The gearless is weak"

Depends on what it is in. If you have strong stock carrier (ie salisbury) then it fine, in fact sine a salisbury is 4pin stock and they don't even make a regular detroit as it would be no stronger.

The stock Rover dif is so weak that they don't even make a gearless for it. They made a lock rite but stopped selling it in the US.

Ron