Lockers....Locking for a final answer. **Update 7/21**

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Wed Jul 09, 2008 9:37 am

I bought a new front diff from some dude in CO. I bought it because the price was reasonable and it already had a Detroit True Trac and 4.10 gears inside.

I went out to buy 4.10 gears for the rear and being a guy who likes to save money, figured I'd buy a locker for the rear to save labor costs (the guy will have the rear apart anyway).

By the end of next week, I will have 4.10 gears, a Detroit True trac in front and a Detroit Locker in the rear. No one knows for sure how these components will get along with factory ESP. I am going to take one for the team and report back.

I am hoping for a shovel upgrade as well.

dieselenthusiast · **Posted:** Wed Jul 09, 2008 10:30 am

JL Rockies wrote:

I bought a new front diff from some dude in CO. I bought it because the price was reasonable and it already had a Detroit True Trac and 4.10 gears inside.

I went out to buy 4.10 gears for the rear and being a guy who likes to save money, figured I'd buy a locker for the rear to save labor costs (the guy will have the rear apart anyway).

By the end of next week, I will have 4.10 gears, a Detroit True trac in front and a Detroit Locker in the rear. No one knows for sure how these components will get along with factory ESP. I am going to take one for the team and report back.

I am hoping for a shovel upgrade as well.

I think LOST should issue you a special commemorative shovel just for your willingness to experiment and share knowledge about the locker and it’s interaction with ESP. :wink:

Milner · **Posted:** Wed Jul 09, 2008 10:35 am

JL Rockies wrote:

I ordered a Detroit Locker today. It will get installed next week with my gears and front DTT. If it doesn't work, it's Ben's fault.

Good call, you'll be happy with it.
You asked about trans, all my rigs with Det have been autos. I have driven many manuals with det as well. With a manual they are more noticeable as they lock/unlock when you engage the clutch.
As for backing up, it is not an issue, as long as you ease into it, it will unlock and ratchet. The street/consumer/soft lock version of the Det have fairly light springs and will unlock/rachet even with light throtle in a turn....like in and out of parking spots. If you hit the throttle, it will lock tight though! Even the race/offroad version I have in the EB will unlock when parking....

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Wed Jul 09, 2008 10:35 am

I agree completely Diesel. :idea:

Like I posted: Durangotang is a fault if it doesn't work since he is a bad influence.

durangotang · **Posted:** Wed Jul 09, 2008 12:27 pm

I still say that if it doesn't work it's only because you weren't "man enough" :lol:

dieselenthusiast · **Posted:** Wed Jul 09, 2008 12:33 pm

Rough Estimate of Price Comparison.

ARB locker Front: $800
ARB locker Rear: $800
ARB compressor Kit: $210
ARB stainless air lines: $90

Total Cost: $1,900

Detroit True Trac Front: $350
Detroit Locker Rear: $650
No compressor needed: $0
No air lines needed: $0

Total Cost: $1000

I’m sure my estimates are a little off due to price fluctuations from one vender to the next. Also, I’m not sure if I matched the right locker identification number with the correct axle. I’m sure someone will correct me if I’m way off.

From my research:

ARB possible problems?
1. Kinking in the lines (problem might be solved with stainless lines)
2. Leaky o-rings, a broken air line, a leaky solenoid, or wiring problems
3. As SETH said, ARB lockers MUST be installed correctly or major problems will arise.

Detroit possible problems?
1. Possible binding (no solution: the nature of the beast)
2. Locked when you don‘t want them locked: Snow and lockers don’t always mix
3. (Very torque sensitive) From my understanding, if you are turning and let off the gas, the Detroit will try to turn sharper which causes the truck to swerve a bit and act more squirrelly. Likewise, when you step on the gas, the vehicle will push more into the turn and try to straighten out more.

ARB Pros:
1. Excellent on-road manners
2. The ability to engage and disengage at the press of a button
3. When you’re locked, you’re locked. That’s 100% traction 100% of the time.

Detroit Pros:
1. Less prone to failure because of the reduced number of supporting parts. (No compressor to worry about, no leaky air lines, o-rings, etc.)
2. (Low maintenance) You don't have to replace the o-rings in a Detroit

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Wed Jul 09, 2008 2:39 pm

I paid $550 at the local 4 Wheel Parts. It's listed on their site at $680.

The ARB Air Locker would be invisible on the road which is what is so attractive to me. How ESP works would be a non-issue. Lots of peeps I respect out west use them and swear by them. None of the Jeepers I talked to in my club here in FL had kinds words about this locker. I am thinking that it has something to do with tons of mud getting into everything.

Since my buddies down here all seem to like it and no one here had anything bad to say, I figured I hedge my bet with the Detroit. If it works well and I save a few bucks, great.
Honestly, I probably still would have gone with the ARB but I just spent money on the front diff, DTT, 4.10 gears, RL roof rack & sliders, a trip to MOAB with some bum from Durango and a labor bill for installation. I sill have to buy a set of more agressive mud tires for these parts and East Coast Safari is just around the corner.

dieselenthusiast · **Posted:** Fri Jul 11, 2008 4:05 pm

When does the installation happen? I’m pretty excited about this install in relation to ESP. :twisted:

[img]http://www.cumminsforum.com/forum/images/smilies/93C_peelout[1].gif[/img]
The joy of upgrading..............................

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Fri Jul 11, 2008 4:31 pm

My locker will be in Monday, I picked up the rear gears today. The installation of the whole deal will take place next week Wed or Thurs most-likely. I will have plenty of on-road feed back for everyone, the first off-raod test will be 8/1 - 8/3 in the wetlands of Big Cypress.
The cool thing about this run is there will be losts of mud and a single obstacle that I had to be winched over back in June.

Since the perfect storm happend: this project has merged with Marty's completion of my rails and rack. I am not going to be able to swing new tires.

The vehicle will be the same in every other way (except bad-ass sliders and roof rack), any improvement will be due to the DTT and the DL. I think it's a good controlled experiment.

I'll start a new thread when the time comes to share my findings with my brothers. It will either be a thread filled with good news of one filled with reasons I hate Durangotang.....Stay tuned.....

dieselenthusiast · **Posted:** Fri Jul 11, 2008 5:08 pm

JL Rockies wrote:

It will either be a thread filled with good news of one filled with reasons I hate Durangotang.....Stay tuned.....

Are you saying that Durangotang can not always be trusted? LOL As I was telling him, the wife and I were in his neighborhood a few weeks ago. We traveled to Mesa Verde for a few days and I thought it would be cool to do a meet and greet and see if I could talk him into giving us a backcountry trip into the San Juan Mountains with his CRD.

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Fri Jul 11, 2008 5:20 pm

Just be careful that those fenders of his don't catch a gust of wind and blow you off the mountain.

LIV42DY · **Posted:** Fri Jul 11, 2008 11:46 pm

I will agree with Seth, I have Detroit s' on mine for about a year now and still learning the tricks when on road. Im in the process to cash up and switch to ARB all the way.

dieselenthusiast · **Posted:** Sat Jul 12, 2008 12:26 am

LIV42DY wrote:

I will agree with Seth, I have Detroit s' on mine for about a year now and still learning the tricks when on road. Im in the process to cash up and switch to ARB all the way.

Yep, I think I'm jumpin' on your bandwagon. ARB is going to be my choice as well.

durangotang · **Posted:** Sun Jul 13, 2008 11:09 pm

Update?

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Sun Jul 13, 2008 11:17 pm

I going to give you some time to read through the posts on Pg 2

durangotang · **Posted:** Sun Jul 13, 2008 11:27 pm

OK I'll check again tomorrow :wink:

tommudd · **Posted:** Sun Jul 13, 2008 11:29 pm

LIV42DY wrote:

I will agree with Seth, I have Detroit s' on mine for about a year now and still learning the tricks when on road. Im in the process to cash up and switch to ARB all the way.

I have to agree ( most of the time with the ARBs) I have ran Detroits on 6 different 4WDs from Jeeps, Dodges and Fords, all gave me some little butt puckering moments over the years, each had its own little twitch as to when it would kick or not kick in, rolled my 69 Bronco ( partly to me showing off ) but also due to it kicking in and I wasn't ready for it

So an ARB would in my book be perfect so you could have it ON or OFF, lines do give me some concerns but......

Also though depends on where you live, what you jump into and how far you drive to use it the way its suppose to be used :wink:

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Mon Jul 14, 2008 9:42 am

Well, cool then. It will save me time posting updates. :wink:

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Wed Jul 16, 2008 9:29 am

I brought all my stuff down to the tranmission shop today so I can talk about what I need done and get a price. The shop owner; Dino is a member of the local Jeep club as well as being South Florida's answer to Troy (cause he's smart not as good looking

).

He seemed unhappy about the brand of gear I purchased (Genuine) but I told him that's the only brand you can find right now. He said "I know". I figured since they cost 3x what the Yukon gears do, they're 3x's good......apparently....not so much

.

He seemed impressed with me that I bought the install kit as well (Troy's advice) and he told me, "I am going to do my best to get a pattern and if I can't, I'll let you know". Which I guess is tranny speak for "these gears are fubar". "I know I can get a pattern, but I also know it's going to take several tries and I can't guaranty how quiet it will be".

I have to drop the Jeep off tomorrow and pick it up Friday. He's also going to extend my tranny breather while he's under there.

Estimate: $700 which I thought was reasonable to install a front diff and rear gears/locker.

bugnout · **Posted:** Wed Jul 16, 2008 10:06 am

JL Rockies wrote:

Estimate: $700 which I thought was reasonable to install a front diff and rear gears/locker.

Very reasonable. Sounds like he knows what he's doing.

Lockers....Locking for a final answer. Update 7/21

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