I have a 01 Ram 3500 that is used for about 90% street driving but when I have to get in the mud it is always severe conditions where I have to pull out other trucks that are buried. Does anyone have any expierience with the Detroit locker in the rear axle, ARB, or any other selectable lockers in the front and the rear. Also nobody ever mentions how front lockers operate in the winter when you need to engage your 4wd and still drive down the street. I sure don't want to invest that kind of money without some input from other people that use them. Thanks

 

get a detriot locker.......

my old truck that was lifted 12 inches had a detriot locker and man that was great....in the winter it did handle like a camaro tho.....

 

get a selectable locker for the front. you will hate a detroit on something that does not have selectable hubs. go arb or detroit electra trac. many don't like lockers in the snow. i want everthing i can get in my off road rigs, but my street rig just has a factory limited slip in the rear. i stay out of the bad stuff with my dd. i have run welded rears on the street for well over 50k and it did not bother me. but i takes a bunch to bother me though. lockers are jerky on the street, but once you get used to driving them it is not that big of a deal. but i never drive snow so take that for what its worth. mike

 

Any kind of posi.
in the front is a bear in the snow.
I've got 1 and it WILL put you off the road in a curve if you give it even a little fuel
If you have to have 1 in the front check into an air locker so you can disable it.

I'm not sure if you can get 1 for the front but I think you can.


: Eddie : 8)

 

I concur.

Get a Detroit Locker for the rear and an ARB Air Locker for the front.

That seems to be the best combo all around.


phox

 

Thanks for the information everyone, I believe I will look into a Detroit for the rear and maybe the new elocker for the front I hear it acts just like a regular limited slip when its off and fully locks the front when its on. Thanks again

 

The only bad thing I have heard about the rear Detroit is that the behave like a spool when put behind a Cummins. The torque curve of these engines keeps them locked up all the time.

 

To me it makes no sence to put and ARB in the front and Detroit in the rear. The Detroit is tough and I have nothing against them. But the Detroit and ARB locker itself are about the same price other then you have to buy the compressor for the ARB. Well as long as you already got on in the front you have the compressor so you might as well put the ARB in the back also and have the best of everything.

Also the Detroit electric locker being a posi when not engaged, I don't know how good that would be in the front, makes steering harder.

I run 2 trucks with ARB's in the front and back.

 

I agree with Mopar Mudder, if you put ARBs in one axle, why would you not put them in both?

I've had Detroit Lockers in trucks and they were great, but with any kind of posi or even limited slip in a front axle, I always converted the front hubs to manual hubs if they weren't manual already. Otherwise, they will take all control away on slick roads. I've driven plenty of miles in snow and ice and more than one wheel turning per axle usually does more harm than good.

I've run ARB lockers in CJs and they were awesome. I really liked that. You could go anywhere. Lock em and it would climb a wall. Unlocked, it could turn on a dime.

 

Put a Detroit locker in the rear of a '96 CTD. It would lock up everytime I'd goose the engine on a curve. Good way to change directions 180* real quick! Guy's right, too much torque. Don't want to put anything in front that acts like an LS on pavement, either. Go ARB both ways, or die.

 

I was thinking along the lines of if the compressor dies or you blow an air line, you'll still have a functioning locker in the rear to get you back to civilization.


phox

 

The rear will work even if the front line goes. Do yourself a favor and put in braided stainless lines right away and you won't have to ever worry about line problems. The compressor in my one truck is 6 years old and no problem. I did mount it behind the front seat to keep if out of the mud and weather.

I only ever had one problem, that was in the winter when it was about -10 out on of the lines must of had a little moister in it and frooze so it wouldn't enguage. Part way through the day it started working again. Oh the ARB's have cause a few broken axles though

 

We were discussing this on TDR recently. The ARB is the "Cadillac", but is premo $$$. The Detroit is good but is harder when driving on the street, and as others said, will lock in a curve of power is applied; in additona there are possible broken axle issues. I have been thinking about the Powertrax Lock Right is it is a little easier on axles and in curves, supposedly, and is much cheaper than the ARB, plus it can use your existing carrier.

http://www.turbodieselregister.com/f...threadid=80363

Chris

 

[quote author=Stamey link=board=7;threadid=19462;start=0#msg184249 date=1063472424]
We were discussing this on TDR recently. The ARB is the "Cadillac", but is premo $$$. The Detroit is good but is harder when driving on the street, and as others said, will lock in a curve of power is applied; in additona there are possible broken axle issues. I have been thinking about the Powertrax Lock Right is it is a little easier on axles and in curves, supposedly, and is much cheaper than the ARB, plus it can use your existing carrier.

http://www.turbodieselregister.com/f...threadid=80363

Chris
[/quote]


DO NOT!!!! get a lock right, they are called the "lunch box" locker for more then one reason. Easy and cheap yes, but also weak and unreliable at best.

To give you an idea I put one in the back of my Ramcharger at one time (Dana 60) just because I got it real cheap even though I knew it wouldn't last. Well the first off road outing I had it failed just as expected, but I was lucky and it stayed locked all the time. Needles to say it is gone and an ARB is in its place.


Also a Detroit for a Dana 60 is $556.99
ARB for the same is $637.99

For the extra $80 you are getting a much better unit that will see mostly street use. You do have to get the compressor of course, but if you are going to have a front ARB anyway you already have one. Also the compressor can be used to air up tires and to control your air bags even.