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| Anyone install the PowerTrax Locking rear differential? http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=23418 |
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| Author: | Growlerslibby [ Mon Aug 13, 2007 6:39 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Anyone install the PowerTrax Locking rear differential? |
I'm thinking about adding one. At $380, the price is right, and I've had a Jeep mechanic tell me that the web-site is right, it shouldn't take more than a day to install. Just wondering if anyone has done it? Anything special/out-of-the-ordinary needed for this job? How will it affect my on-road highway driving? |
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| Author: | JJsTJ [ Mon Aug 13, 2007 7:18 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Anyone install the PowerTrax Locking rear differential? |
Growlerslibby wrote: I'm thinking about adding one.
At $380, the price is right, and I've had a Jeep mechanic tell me that the web-site is right, it shouldn't take more than a day to install. Just wondering if anyone has done it? Anything special/out-of-the-ordinary needed for this job? How will it affect my on-road highway driving? I just removed one the other day. piece of cake to remove it and reassembly looks to be about as simple. Mine will be for sale soon. Nothing wrong w/ it, wife was just not a fan of it's on road manners and we will probably move to an Auburn. (funny that my SFA KJ will have a full Detroit in the rear. Ugh, speaking of road manners) |
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| Author: | the1jferg [ Mon Aug 13, 2007 7:43 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
Oh Yeah, I had one of those things and really enjoyed it. It had awesome traction. My 2nd favorite thing about it was the smooth "John Deere" like road manners. Well, not AS smooth as my Tractor, but close. It popped and banged a little more. My favorite thing is when it shattered on me 700 miles from home. Power-Crax piece-a-Sit 
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| Author: | Jeepjeepster [ Mon Aug 13, 2007 8:18 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
Isnt the Dana 35 powertrax different and smaller than the 8.25 locker? Many users use them and love them. Its 'OK' on the road but you will notice it is there. You will need to change your driving habits. Cant get on it unless the Jeep is straight unless you want it to lock up, one tire will spin in the rain making it impossible to pull out(can fix this with good tires), tires will bark...I can even do a one wheel burning out since it puts 100% of the torque to one wheel when it decides not to lock up, but dont worry, it will lock-up violently once one wheel starts spinning. Makes the whole Jeep jump and will probably break an axle some time soon. 
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| Author: | Joe Jeeper [ Mon Aug 13, 2007 9:13 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Powertrax |
I have one and of course hind sight is 20/20 it should of been the first mod on my list! Joe 
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| Author: | JJsTJ [ Mon Aug 13, 2007 9:27 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
Don't get me wrong, off road it is killer. On road it is quirky and not consistently so. Sometimes it would chirp the tires in a turn and other times it wouldn't. Sometimes it would bang and sometimes not. It also has that bit of slack that makes you feel like you Have to get on it to accelerate instead of just taking it easy. The slack issue was probably my wifes biggest complaint. Comparing it to my 03 KJ, where once you hit the gas it goes w/out having to take up the slack, that drove her nuts and gave her an uneasy feeling about driving it. Now that it is back to an open diff she loves it. While the quirks annoyed me at times I knew what it was doing and I just drove it. Comparing it to my Auburn in my XJ is the main reason I didn't like it. My Auburn works Sweet and acts like a locker in that it always feels like it is working regardless of the surface. It is much smoother though and has no quirks at all. Would I run a Powertrax again, Yes but only if I couldn't wait and save up for something better or I was on a tight budget and needed something easy and cheap to install that works. |
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| Author: | the1jferg [ Mon Aug 13, 2007 9:52 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
Jeepster, You might have to ask Mr. Owl if the dana is smaller 
Growler, While many have good luck and comments with that device, others curse it. "$380" could be just the start of something my friend that could eventually cost you a life. Go with the more expensive stuff or put the money toward a winch. Don't take it to the same jeep mech-ni-ac that told you that unless he gives you an up front quote, cause its less than 1 hour labor. (unless you are drinking beer and studying it.) For smooth close to all wheel drive automatic performance a dual tru-trac will get you there. |
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| Author: | XJMA [ Mon Aug 13, 2007 10:01 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
If you wheel, it's worth it. I've got jeeps with lockers, they're fine on the road. You just have to realize that the rear end will lock when you hit the gas. It's really not that big of a deal. Installing one is a little more involved that a regular aussie or lock-rite. They've got these active spacer thingies that make it a little quiter on the road, and kinda supposed to make it less squirrely....but I think that it just makes them less predictable. If an aussie was available for the 29spline 8.25, I would recommend that over the no-slip.....they keep saying that they're coming....but don't hold your breathe!! You'll fine plenty of write-ups on how to install them on-line. It'll be the same as any no-slip in a C-clipped rear end. It shouldn't take all day. I've installed them in the rain, half to 3/4 in the bag!! Only special thing to have on hand is a set of really small sockets. IIRC the cross pin nut is like 5/16...or something small, don't quote me on that. I rounded mine off using the wrong wrench....it was in there tight. So make 100% sure it's tight first. I then used a vice grips to get it out....just kinda made it a pita. Other than that, pretty straight forward. Use some assembly grease to keep the things together, and don't fight it, or you'll break the active spacer. I know it sounds intimidating, but it really isn't as hard as it sounds...just time consuming. If you wheel at all, you'll be mad you hadn't locked the rear end sooner!! |
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| Author: | the1jferg [ Mon Aug 13, 2007 10:05 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
The rear end is locked unless you turn Gas or no gas |
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| Author: | XJMA [ Mon Aug 13, 2007 10:09 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
the1jferg wrote: The rear end is locked unless you turn Gas or no gas
If you have a spool, then that would be correct. But an automatic locking diff unlocks when you let off the gas...hence the name automatic locking diff. If you're turning, and you're not on the gas, the rear end unlocks. with a lunchbox locker, you'll hear racheting. But if you hit the gas while turning, it will lock the rear end up, and the racheting will stop, and you'll hear tires chirping! |
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| Author: | quivvy [ Mon Aug 13, 2007 10:57 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
off road - absolutely awesome. on road - hindsight, never would own one again. i hit a patch of black ice on the highway and barely tapped the gas and the rear end (being locked) popped the back end out aggressively and it was darn impossible to recover it on ice. spun me into a wall at 45mph. lucky no one was hurt but i broke an axle, bent a wheel, and and the locker needed to be cut out because the bent axle wouldnt allow the c-clip to drop out. i'm 100% convinced that having a full time locked rear end caused the rear end to pop out and also resulted in less ability to recover it. this being said, other than this incident i loved it - even in the snow - just not ice!! i'd personally ONLY put one in a vehicle that wouldnt see snow/ice or if it was primarily a wheeling rig. |
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| Author: | the1jferg [ Mon Aug 13, 2007 11:15 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
It is possible for it to lock during a turn (i've done it). Most folks would disagree. It is ALWAYS locked (engaged) going foward like a spool even with the engine off...read the book... there is a wheel test Heck, don't just read the book...Look in there and see how it works |
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| Author: | XJMA [ Mon Aug 13, 2007 11:40 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
the1jferg wrote: It is possible for it to lock during a turn (i've done it). Most folks would disagree.
It is ALWAYS locked (engaged) going foward like a spool even with the engine off...read the book... there is a wheel test Heck, don't just read the book...Look in there and see how it works I see what you're getting at. Statically, the whole thing is locked up. True, they can lock and unlock when you don't really expect them to...probably due to un-even road surfaces, tires, etc.... But when you go around a turn, one wheel can spin faster than the other. My 96 XJ has an aussie (lunchbox locker) in the rear D44. When I coast around turns, I can hear the clicking, depending on the radius of the turn, and my speed, it clicks more or less. Just means that it's working. I don't think that the aussie has ever locked up when I didn't expect it to though....it's pretty predictable, for the most part. The only sketchiness comes from the fact that I have no swaybars, and so at 75 mph on the highway around a turn, on the gas, both wheels are turning the same speed, so my steering is compensating for the rear end wanting to go straight. When I let off for a second, then I'm oversteering(I think)=(steering into the turn too much), and so I have to turn the wheel a bit, and the whole body shifts a bit, and then I get back on, and the opposite happens. I'm pretty well used to it by now though. On my 99XJ, it's got detroits (full case lockers) front and rear. There is no noise, and the engagement is so smooth that I barely ever notice it on the road...except when I have to hit the gas while pulling out onto a road quickly....I hear the tires. Once or twice it has unexpectedly made a loud "pop" and engaged when it shouldn't have and jerked the jeep around. With Q78s, 6.25" of lift and no swaybars, it is a little sketchy, but it's very rare for that to happen. Anyways, if you're not sure if you want one or not (a locker that is), get one!! You'll love it! |
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| Author: | Jeepjeepster [ Mon Aug 13, 2007 11:44 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
I can do a one wheel burn out with mine so I know it can unlock and stay unlocked when a wheel is spinning. Its bad when I pull out, see a car coming, and one little wheel is spinning; it also locks up sometimes once one wheel starts spinning which is bad. |
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| Author: | XJMA [ Tue Aug 14, 2007 12:04 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
Jeepjeepster wrote: I can do a one wheel burn out with mine so I know it can unlock and stay unlocked when a wheel is spinning. Its bad when I pull out, see a car coming, and one little wheel is spinning; it also locks up sometimes once one wheel starts spinning which is bad.
Around a corner, if you hit the gas, only one wheel will burn out. And it doesn't really "burn out" in the normal sense, it just chirps a little bit. With a locker, the tires are not going to sit there and roast, like if you had an open diff and nailed it around a corner. Since both wheels are spinning at the same speed, but one is traveling a further distance than the other, one is going to have to lose traction. The only time I can get both of the wheels to spin is around a corner when it's really wet out...and that's only if I try to do it. It doesn't just try to lock up and spin out on it's own....I make it do it, cause it's fun!! |
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| Author: | CaKJFreedom [ Tue Aug 14, 2007 12:50 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
Quote: On road it is quirky and not consistently so. Sometimes it would chirp the tires in a turn and other times it wouldn't. Sometimes it would bang and sometimes not.
Ditto. I've never experienced the slack though. I honestly forget about on road unless it does a random bang or if I go to make a turn quick after a stop. I don't feel it with normal driving and only chirp it if I'm in a hurry. I've had it in a couple of year and love it. I'd love an ARB more but.... Off road it's be sweet! The first year in Moab I was a little nervous watching TokoyoJoe going up obstacles and having issues (he had stock tires too) and I just crept right up. |
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| Author: | JJsTJ [ Tue Aug 14, 2007 7:38 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
CaKJFreedom wrote: Quote: On road it is quirky and not consistently so. Sometimes it would chirp the tires in a turn and other times it wouldn't. Sometimes it would bang and sometimes not. Ditto. I've never experienced the slack though. I honestly forget about on road unless it does a random bang or if I go to make a turn quick after a stop. I don't feel it with normal driving and only chirp it if I'm in a hurry. I've had it in a couple of year and love it. I'd love an ARB more but.... Off road it's be sweet! The first year in Moab I was a little nervous watching TokoyoJoe going up obstacles and having issues (he had stock tires too) and I just crept right up. All Driver for sure! 
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| Author: | wildrussian [ Tue Aug 14, 2007 8:36 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
A question for a locker inexperienced owner: I am a little confused with all the different lockers and especially when you guys starting to talk about turning and driving on ice it just doesn't make sense. Can some of you give me a little information on how the lockers work? I would really appreicate it. |
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| Author: | BeepBeepJeepJeep [ Tue Aug 14, 2007 8:51 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
wildrussian wrote: A question for a locker inexperienced owner:
I am a little confused with all the different lockers and especially when you guys starting to talk about turning and driving on ice it just doesn't make sense. Can some of you give me a little information on how the lockers work? I would really appreicate it. Well, if you're turning/driving on ice and one tire is spinning and one is not, the one that is not spinning theoretically has more traction than the one that is spinning and will keep you somewhat stable. If you spin both rear tires, you're gonna have a heck of a time keeping stable on ice. |
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| Author: | JJsTJ [ Tue Aug 14, 2007 9:16 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/differential.htm http://auto.howstuffworks.com/differential6.htm |
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