LOST JEEPS :: View topic - For those considering Powertrax

DO NOT DO IT
so here it is
I broke the spider gears in my dana 44 on the TJ
easy fix Powertrax
installed the first one and it worked fine until I go to the very first trail ride I could
it would spin both wheels on grass and all that I could lift a wheel on the rear in 2wd and keep going easy
it was great until I needed it on a good hill climb then it gave up the ghost and all I got was the driver wheel
so I limped home
shipped it back to Richmond they said
Yes it is broken ,here it is back with some new parts
I put it back in
wheeled shortly after that on a more "Extreme" trail with very little issue I should have had no issue but I had some "1 wheel peel" ,driver side, but I could get it to pull on the passenger side most of the time
I went ridding this weekend on what I would call a very easy trail and the 1 wheel peel is back most of the time
some times I can play with it and get both to turn but most time it is 1 ,the driver side
it is so bad that I can smoke that wheel on the street just driving around town
that tire is a 31X11.5 LTB so it gets GOOD traction on dry pavement but it is now worn way more than the other 3

IMO these things are waste of money and I should have gone Detroit from day 1
the $150 I saved just was not worth it
I am now going to be fighting to get a full cash refund and buy a Detroit

Save your self some heart ache and do it right the first time

is the DTT ok to use with a manual?? and is the full detroit that everyone's talking about a LSD or is it always locked?

http://www.4wheelparts.com/PDT263600.aspx is that the Detroit everyones talking about..

or is this the detroit everyones talking about?? i'm just a bit confused! http://www.4wheelparts.com/PDT263647.aspx

Hmm...seems like a pretty strong indictment of a locker that a lot of people have had a lot of success with.

I've had mine for a few years now. Easy install, works perfectly, no problems. I've absolutely loved it on all of the trails I've done with it, in Moab, Big Bear, and local trails.

I know a guy in Moab who's had one in his Sammy for over 10 years without any problems.

If mine ever does break, I'll probably go ahead and regear to 4.10's and install ARBs front and rear, just because...I can.

But in the meantime, I'll keep enjoying my Powertrax.

I just blew my PowerTrax tonight on the drive home from work. I hit some rough road and heard a load snap. After that, I could drive any more. I was able to drive a few miles in 4 wheel drive, but then the rear kept making to much noise. I had to stop and get towed home.

I am going to open it up tomorrow morning to see what really happened.

LostRenegade wrote:

Why state that you blew your Power Trax, when you don't know for sure what's wrong yet?

Author:	jason thompson [ Tue Dec 11, 2007 10:20 pm ]
Post subject:	For those considering Powertrax
DO NOT DO IT so here it is I broke the spider gears in my dana 44 on the TJ easy fix Powertrax installed the first one and it worked fine until I go to the very first trail ride I could it would spin both wheels on grass and all that I could lift a wheel on the rear in 2wd and keep going easy it was great until I needed it on a good hill climb then it gave up the ghost and all I got was the driver wheel so I limped home shipped it back to Richmond they said Yes it is broken ,here it is back with some new parts I put it back in wheeled shortly after that on a more "Extreme" trail with very little issue I should have had no issue but I had some "1 wheel peel" ,driver side, but I could get it to pull on the passenger side most of the time I went ridding this weekend on what I would call a very easy trail and the 1 wheel peel is back most of the time some times I can play with it and get both to turn but most time it is 1 ,the driver side it is so bad that I can smoke that wheel on the street just driving around town that tire is a 31X11.5 LTB so it gets GOOD traction on dry pavement but it is now worn way more than the other 3 IMO these things are waste of money and I should have gone Detroit from day 1 the $150 I saved just was not worth it I am now going to be fighting to get a full cash refund and buy a Detroit Save your self some heart ache and do it right the first time

Author:	tjkj2002 [ Tue Dec 11, 2007 10:59 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: For those considering Powertrax
jason thompson wrote: DO NOT DO IT so here it is I broke the spider gears in my dana 44 on the TJ easy fix Powertrax installed the first one and it worked fine until I go to the very first trail ride I could it would spin both wheels on grass and all that I could lift a wheel on the rear in 2wd and keep going easy it was great until I needed it on a good hill climb then it gave up the ghost and all I got was the driver wheel so I limped home shipped it back to Richmond they said Yes it is broken ,here it is back with some new parts I put it back in wheeled shortly after that on a more "Extreme" trail with very little issue I should have had no issue but I had some "1 wheel peel" ,driver side, but I could get it to pull on the passenger side most of the time I went ridding this weekend on what I would call a very easy trail and the 1 wheel peel is back most of the time some times I can play with it and get both to turn but most time it is 1 ,the driver side it is so bad that I can smoke that wheel on the street just driving around town that tire is a 31X11.5 LTB so it gets GOOD traction on dry pavement but it is now worn way more than the other 3 IMO these things are waste of money and I should have gone Detroit from day 1 the $150 I saved just was not worth it I am now going to be fighting to get a full cash refund and buy a Detroit Save your self some heart ache and do it right the first time AMEN!!!!!! Detroits are some tough lockers,they have been using them in 2500HP drag cars for years so they are pretty darn tough.

Author:	DarbyWalters [ Tue Dec 11, 2007 11:13 pm ]
Post subject:
I had mine for a few years and it worked just fine. I finally did spin a bearing and the Powertrax went tumbling inside the rear diff. I don't know why yours didn't seem to "lock up" properly? Backlash off a bit or...who knows. I still think that the DTT works almost as good and has a stonger carrier. If you have to go locker, stay away from "lunchbox" lockers and go Full Detroit

Author:	Jeepjeepster [ Wed Dec 12, 2007 12:01 am ]
Post subject:
Mine does the same thing. Its does that since day one. Meh-kick has seen it do it before. He was behind me at livingston when it did it a few times. It will always lock up when a wheel is lifted but sometimes it wont lock up when its under alot of torque.. Idk what it is but its never really bothered me. It will do it on road sometimes too. With the old crappy goodyears, I could do a one will burn-out when I would gun it(car coming) and one wheel would spin. It was even worse in the rain. Sometimes one wheel would spin and I wouldnt go anywhere. Ive been thinking about taking it out before something breaks. I may sell it and save up for a TT...

Author:	2006 KJ [ Wed Dec 12, 2007 12:08 am ]
Post subject:
is the DTT ok to use with a manual?? and is the full detroit that everyone's talking about a LSD or is it always locked? http://www.4wheelparts.com/PDT263600.aspx is that the Detroit everyones talking about.. or is this the detroit everyones talking about?? i'm just a bit confused! http://www.4wheelparts.com/PDT263647.aspx

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Author:	C co Crusader 2/127 [ Wed Dec 12, 2007 3:37 am ]
Post subject:
since when does eaton offer the detroit for the 8.25!!!!!! OMFG how did i miss that!!!

Author:	jason thompson [ Wed Dec 12, 2007 7:47 am ]
Post subject:
2006 KJ wrote: is the DTT ok to use with a manual?? and is the full detroit that everyone's talking about a LSD or is it always locked? http://www.4wheelparts.com/PDT263600.aspx is that the Detroit everyones talking about.. or is this the detroit everyones talking about?? i'm just a bit confused! http://www.4wheelparts.com/PDT263647.aspx the true track will play good with your manual but will not be as good as a full locker the Detroit Soft Locker will NOT play nice with your manual but WILL lock up 100% of the time It will be give and take if you want the best off road and best on road then you need to spend money on an ARB if you want to save money then what do you want more on road go with a True Track off road go Detroit Soft Locker

Author:	Straight6Jeff [ Wed Dec 12, 2007 8:15 am ]
Post subject:
One thing with a true detroit locker and a manual trans...it will force you gto become a smooth driver/shifter. You will quickly learn to roll out of the throttle and roll back into it, rather than snapping in and out of the throttle. The stacked backlash of the trans, transfer case, ring/pinion, and locker mechanism can result in a bit of whip, but it is easy to avert by smooth shifting. Go with the real deal Detroit, you will not be disappointed.

Author:	Neatus [ Wed Dec 12, 2007 10:30 am ]
Post subject:
Mine seems to be working great. It always spins both wheels on road and out in the desert. I hope it doesn't break now I already have broken to much other stuff.

Author:	Jeepjeepster [ Wed Dec 12, 2007 11:55 am ]
Post subject:
So the TT adds alot of slack also? Wonder if it adds more or less then the Powertrax? Ive gotten use to rolling off the throttle and rolling on so its not that bad, but I dont like for other people to drive my jeep at all with the locker. Most people have no clue how a locker acts nor what it means to roll off the throttle. They give it gas then let off really fast which makes me want to die really. Good thing about the power-trax is I can take it out in about an hour.

Author:	BeepBeepJeepJeep [ Wed Dec 12, 2007 6:34 pm ]
Post subject:
I'm assuming we're talking about the no-slip here? I get the impression the non-no slip version is stronger...

Author:	Troysterr [ Wed Dec 12, 2007 6:45 pm ]
Post subject:
Hmm...seems like a pretty strong indictment of a locker that a lot of people have had a lot of success with. I've had mine for a few years now. Easy install, works perfectly, no problems. I've absolutely loved it on all of the trails I've done with it, in Moab, Big Bear, and local trails. I know a guy in Moab who's had one in his Sammy for over 10 years without any problems. If mine ever does break, I'll probably go ahead and regear to 4.10's and install ARBs front and rear, just because...I can. But in the meantime, I'll keep enjoying my Powertrax.

Author:	RAYMAN975 [ Wed Dec 12, 2007 6:46 pm ]
Post subject:
i would like to get the full out detroit locker in the back of mine. but im on the road a lot and will all the tire scrubbing be bad on the gears and axle shafts and put a lot of strain on the rear end for tight parking lot turns and stuff? or should i just go with a tru-trac?

Author:	jason thompson [ Wed Dec 12, 2007 8:10 pm ]
Post subject:
Troysterr wrote: Hmm...seems like a pretty strong indictment of a locker that a lot of people have had a lot of success with. I've had mine for a few years now. Easy install, works perfectly, no problems. I've absolutely loved it on all of the trails I've done with it, in Moab, Big Bear, and local trails. I know a guy in Moab who's had one in his Sammy for over 10 years without any problems. If mine ever does break, I'll probably go ahead and regear to 4.10's and install ARBs front and rear, just because...I can. But in the meantime, I'll keep enjoying my Powertrax. well it may be only the dana 44 I found another local guy with the same problem he is on his THIRD powertrax and it is doing the same as mine he has a TJ unlimited so also a dana 44 now that is 5 of 5 failed I think that there is a problem here to me all the easy install and others saying it wrks great is not going to change my mind that they are no good I have seen 5 of 5 fail that is really bad for any thing let alone a "Good Locker"

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Author:	myjeepwalks [ Fri Dec 14, 2007 1:52 am ]
Post subject:
I had them in my old toyota pickups with no problems. One a 6cyl and one a 4cyl both held up good with moderate abuse both on and offroad. I never broke one. Used to torch off 1st then 2nd gear burnouts with the 6cyl, nothing like a 100ft of twin stipes down he street. ah the good old days. Not mine but my buddy broke a detroit soft locker with a 4cyl toyota under what i would consider severe abuse/wheeling. Cant remember what size tires he had at the time.

Author:	bighause [ Fri Dec 14, 2007 10:14 am ]
Post subject:
I also had really good luck with the Powertrax. Ran it for 2 years in my 4.0 5spd cherokee and I loved it on and offroad. It made doughnuts much easier also but it did add some slack to the drivetrain.

Author:	Eddo [ Fri Dec 14, 2007 8:41 pm ]
Post subject:
I love my powertrax no-slip also. I know some speculate about strength, but I have yet to hear of anyone breaking one in a 8.25" KJ. However I've heard plenty of stories about broken front differentials, a few transfer cases, but hardly any powertrax no-slips. I've actually seen the rear axle shaft shear before the locker gave way. I'm sure a detriot is stronger, but the powertax no-slip is quite easy to install, costs less, and plenty strong for most KJ owners with a v6 and 31" tires. I know there are quite a few people on the board that are happy with their locker. Most complains seem to be about road manners, which is subjective. Seems to me that if you can handle the road manners of off-road tires and 2.5-3" lift than the no-slip won't bother you.

Author:	LostRenegade [ Fri Dec 14, 2007 11:42 pm ]
Post subject:
I just blew my PowerTrax tonight on the drive home from work. I hit some rough road and heard a load snap. After that, I could drive any more. I was able to drive a few miles in 4 wheel drive, but then the rear kept making to much noise. I had to stop and get towed home. I am going to open it up tomorrow morning to see what really happened.

Author:	KJ04 [ Sat Dec 15, 2007 8:32 am ]
Post subject:
LostRenegade wrote: I just blew my PowerTrax tonight on the drive home from work. I hit some rough road and heard a load snap. After that, I could drive any more. I was able to drive a few miles in 4 wheel drive, but then the rear kept making to much noise. I had to stop and get towed home. I am going to open it up tomorrow morning to see what really happened. Why state that you blew your Power Trax, when you don't know for sure what's wrong yet?

Author:	LostRenegade [ Sat Dec 15, 2007 5:18 pm ]
Post subject:
KJ04 wrote: LostRenegade wrote: I just blew my PowerTrax tonight on the drive home from work. I hit some rough road and heard a load snap. After that, I could drive any more. I was able to drive a few miles in 4 wheel drive, but then the rear kept making to much noise. I had to stop and get towed home. I am going to open it up tomorrow morning to see what really happened. Why state that you blew your Power Trax, when you don't know for sure what's wrong yet? I could no longer drive with the rear axel. I had to use 4HI in order to move it. A lot of clanking and crunching coming from the axel. I opened up the differential cover and what a mess. One of the out rings of the PowerTrax was broken in half. One of the halfs were broken into many small pieces. I wm working on getting pictures posted. Basically, I am looking for a salvaged axel assembly to replace mine.