Detroit locker

[Jotto82]

I want to switch to posi. Anyone have advice for installing a Detroit locker in a 14 bolt corporate rear end?? I’ll

[Matt Man]

Originally Posted by Jotto82

I want to switch to posi. Anyone have advice for installing a Detroit locker in a 14 bolt corporate rear end?? I’ll

A detroit locker is not the same as a posi like a trutrac. Are you going to be running the same ring and pinion?

[Myers horsepower]

Detroit Locker is defently different than a "posi" Detroit lockers are probably the easiest to install into a full floater 14 bolt corporate. It takes about a hour and half to install. Mine came with complete instructions.

[Jotto82]

Originally Posted by Myers horsepower

Detroit Locker is defently different than a "posi" Detroit lockers are probably the easiest to install into a full floater 14 bolt corporate. It takes about a hour and half to install. Mine came with complete instructions.

I just want both tires to turn when doing a burnout lol

[Jotto82]

Originally Posted by Matt Man

A detroit locker is not the same as a posi like a trutrac. Are you going to be running the same ring and pinion?

I want it as simple as possible!

[cadillac_al]

The Detroit is the best and cheapest for a 14 bolt. I personally don't like lockers or posi in my snow buggies.

[Gdub310]

A locker is great for off-road, and for dry pavement if you are willing to put up with some of the side-effects like the ratcheting noise and sometimes unpredictable behavior in turns. But for daily driving in a variety of conditions - rain, snow, ice - it definitely is not a good time. A limited slip unit would be a much better choice.

[Jotto82]

Lol can I still do good burnouts? I know that sounds stupid but my kids likes burnouts. Will the limited slip be good for that?

[mongocanfly]

I'm looking at tru trac for my 14bolt....not cheap though..

[Matt Man]

Originally Posted by Jotto82

Lol can I still do good burnouts? I know that sounds stupid but my kids likes burnouts. Will the limited slip be good for that?

Yes a detroit locker and trutrac will make both tires spin. However, for your application I would buy a trutrac as you wont notice its there until its needed. As stated the detroit locker can be noisy at times and do the detroit "bang" which makes you think you blew up the rear end or driveshaft etc. On my 81, I notice tire wear is much faster with the detroit locker in the back of my truck.

Buy the trutrac, you wont be disappointed.

[GMC Guy]

what about the Eaton Posi? I'm between that and the Truetrac

[Jotto82]

Originally Posted by Matt Man

Yes a detroit locker and trutrac will make both tires spin. However, for your application I would buy a trutrac as you wont notice its there until its needed. As stated the detroit locker can be noisy at times and do the detroit "bang" which makes you think you blew up the rear end or driveshaft etc. On my 81, I notice tire wear is much faster with the detroit locker in the back of my truck.

Buy the trutrac, you wont be disappointed.

Great. Exactly the information I was looking for!

[Myers horsepower]

what about the Eaton Posi? I'm between that and the Truetrac

I'm running the Eaton Posi in my crewcab and love it!


If you just want to do burn outs, save your $$ for tires and put a spool in it.

[Jotto82]

If I’m going that far should I put new gears in too? Just do the whole deal at once?

[kwmech]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

I'm looking at tru trac for my 14bolt....not cheap though..

I just put a tru-trac in the 14 bolt I'm going to install in my suburban, yeah, I choked on the price for a couple of weeks until I ordered it

[kwmech]

Originally Posted by GMC Guy

what about the Eaton Posi? I'm between that and the Truetrac

If your choice is between the 2 get the tru-trac, it will perform the same...always, where-as the eaton will eventually have clutch issues down the road

[mongocanfly]

jotto ...I'm of the opinion that if I tear into something I'm gonna replace everything....but....if there's nothing wrong with the gears I'd re-use them.....unless your wanting to change ratios..

[Jeepwm69]

Originally Posted by Myers horsepower

Detroit Locker is defently different than a "posi" Detroit lockers are probably the easiest to install into a full floater 14 bolt corporate. It takes about a hour and half to install. Mine came with complete instructions.

Installation should be the same. Both the Detroit and the trutrac replace the carrier.

The Detroit is not going to be friendly on the street.

Truetracs are great diffs, but not cheap. They don't wear out like Auburn or Eaton units with clutches.

If you want cheap and easy locker, you'd want a lunchbox like a Spartan, Aussie, or Lock-Right. They replace the spider gears and thus do not require setting up the gears like you have to do with a carrier replacing diff like a Detroit or a Truetrac.

The lunchbox lockers behave just like a Detroit on the pavement thought. Ratcheting noises and banging going around corners and your tires will wear faster.

[sweetk30]

best of both worlds here and try choking on this price .

[Jotto82]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

jotto ...I'm of the opinion that if I tear into something I'm gonna replace everything....but....if there's nothing wrong with the gears I'd re-use them.....unless your wanting to change ratios..

I’m not sure what ratio I have in there now. Seems like it’s pretty low though. I am on the same page with you about having it apart and just doing it all. None of this has to be done now. I’m just asking questions. I don’t even care to do burnouts to be honest. It was just how I explained what I wanted to achieve. I’ll stay away from the Detroit because that sounds like it’s more of an off road application as opposed to street wear n tear. Can someone tell me how I determine my gear ratios?

[mongocanfly]

pull cover and count teeth is the most accurate...if your wanting burnouts, its a lot easier to spin one than two....

[Jotto82]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

pull cover and count teeth is the most accurate...if your wanting burnouts, its a lot easier to spin one than two....

I really don’t care about burnouts lol. I just want a posi rear end.

[dieseldawg142]

i daily drive my K30 crew with a detroit....it's not nearly as bad as everyone is making it out to be. if your a granny on the throttle, you'll never even know it's back there.
one downside is it is hard to do rightous donuts in the snow or mud, truck has a tendency to want to "push" in circles. but so what, awesome traction all the time, on road and off. only time it chirps going around corners is if i'm heavy on the throttle and have the wheel cranked hard over....
and with my bb and 4:56's, i love the way the ass end stands up if i hammer the throttle, 3 feet of rubber, 4:56's and a detroit, it launches hard for a 4 ton honey....

[bilfman]

Same here I have run a Detroit locker in both a Dana 70 and 14 bolt daily driver. No issues, you have to know it’s in there to know it’s in there. If you know what I mean. I would put one in a 100 times over, they are tough and pretty much flawless.

[Matt Man]

Originally Posted by dieseldawg142

i daily drive my K30 crew with a detroit....it's not nearly as bad as everyone is making it out to be. if your a granny on the throttle, you'll never even know it's back there.
one downside is it is hard to do rightous donuts in the snow or mud, truck has a tendency to want to "push" in circles. but so what, awesome traction all the time, on road and off. only time it chirps going around corners is if i'm heavy on the throttle and have the wheel cranked hard over....
and with my bb and 4:56's, i love the way the ass end stands up if i hammer the throttle, 3 feet of rubber, 4:56's and a detroit, it launches hard for a 4 ton honey....

Originally Posted by bilfman

Same here I have run a Detroit locker in both a Dana 70 and 14 bolt daily driver. No issues, you have to know it’s in there to know it’s in there. If you know what I mean. I would put one in a 100 times over, they are tough and pretty much flawless.

Yep mine is fine as well for daily driving, I agree with both of these posts.