New semilocking differential

[folkenheath]

They don't make them for Dana60s yet, but it maybe in the near future. Has anyone tried any of the new Wavetracs that Moser is marketing?

It appears to be a torsen style limited slip with friction plates that are forced together by a cam that reacts when one tire loses traction (such as in the air). Supposedly the friction plates can be changed to act like a limited slip that will lock when one tire is in the air. But it's still a plate, that could slip with enough torque. But it has potential. Looks like solid quality too..

http://www.moserengineering.com/new...ble-35-spline-9”-gear-differential-available/

http://www.moserengineering.com/dif...35-spline-wavetracr-mfg-part-57-309-144k.html

 

[imiceman44]

They don't make them for Dana60s yet, but it maybe in the near future. Has anyone tried any of the new Wavetracs that Moser is marketing?

It appears to be a torsion style limited slip(maybe not, I didn't look at the detailed helical gear setup) with friction plates that are forced together by a cam that reacts when one tire loses traction (such as in the air). Supposedly the friction plates can be changed to act like a limited slip that will lock when one tire is in the air. But it's still a plate, that could slip with enough torque. But it has potential. Looks like solid quality too..

http://www.moserengineering.com/news/new-product-releases/moser-engineering-delivers-the-most-reliable-35-spline-9%e2%80%9d-gear-differential-available/

http://www.moserengineering.com/dif...35-spline-wavetracr-mfg-part-57-309-144k.html

Well that is a limited slip that functions like the detroit locker functions but with plates instead of gears.
So it's not a locker but a limited slip.
Not really what we could use but great news for street driven cars, by the way if you were thinking 12bolt, this is a car 12bolt, MOSER only works with car 12bolts which only share the name with a truck 12b.

 

[folkenheath]

Well that is a limited slip that functions like the detroit locker functions but with plates instead of gears.

No, actually it functions exactly the opposite of a detroit locker. A detroit locker is locked by default, and only unlocks when one wheel needs to overrun the torque direction. This wavetrac will act like a limited slip which is not locked, but if one wheel is in the air, the torque will pinch the plates via the cam, and "semilock" (whatever you want to call it) the diff together. Allowing much better operation than a limited slip when one wheel is in the air.

Also, this has helical diff gears, a detroit doesn't have any diff gears, just mechanically interlocking "clutch" plates(not friction clutches) Eaton(formerly Tractech) calls them.

Not really what we could use but great news for street driven cars, by the way if you were thinking 12bolt, this is a car 12bolt, MOSER only works with car 12bolts which only share the name with a truck 12b.

Not what we can use, why not? This could possible work very well in the front axle for many people (which is what reminded me of it with the recent locker threads). It would probably allow straight driving when in 4WD in the front, and could still give some advantage even when one tire is in the air. The big question is, what is the torque limit with the highest friction coefficient plates. Because the more torque you apply, the tighter it will squeeze the plates to lock together, but at what point will the plates slip one when tire is in the air, is it high enough they effectively lock together? I wrote Moser to ask them about this.

Also, I am aware this is a 12 bolt car in one of the links, and a 9" in the other, wasn't thinking that at all, that is why I said they don't make it for Dana 60s yet. I think it may work very well for a front axle. So I was wondering if anyone tried one yet in any vehicle, which could help us get a feel for what the torque limit is when one tire is in the air.

The main problem is they cost almost a grand.

 

[folkenheath]

So far this is what I got back from Moser, trying to get more information but they are referrring to Autotech on this so it is taking some time. I didn't really get the answer I am looking for, so I'll let you know when I get more, I still think this diff has potential for an all purpose wheeling/street rig, especially for a front axle. Unless I find out the bias ratio sucks and it's no better than a normal clutch type imited slip, which I don't think it will be. Normal limited slips are worthless with one tire in the air, this one shouldn't be.

The Wavetrac cam system is a mechanism that creates axle load within the diff when axle load externally is gone, for example when a wheel is nearly or completely lifted off the ground.

During zero axle load, the cams rotate rel. to each other and "climb" to push the side gears outward into the Wavetrac's casing, creating a load that allows the normal torque biasing function to resume.

The wheel in the air will still spin = its just that the wheel on the ground will now be delivered torque at a multiple of the available torque (Torque bias ratio=TBR) within the diff (created by the cams - increasing all the time).

There really is no lower limit for this to occur at - The speed at which it happens is determined by the driveline masses and even vehicle mass as well.

The cool thing is that the Wavetrac doesn't need a lot of drive torque to make the cams work - it just needs lack of axle load for it to come into play.

Hope this helps.

 

[6.2Blazer]

Really sounds like the same principle as the Gov-lock. When one tire spins and the other is stationary the relative speed difference activates the governor and pushes cams out to lock the clutches.

 

[scottsdale86]

I hope they pack some lube with that thing for $995. gees.

 

[folkenheath]

Really sounds like the same principle as the Gov-lock. When one tire spins and the other is stationary the relative speed difference activates the governor and pushes cams out to lock the clutches.

The govlock works from centripetal force acting on weights from wheel spin, which takes one wheel spin speed to lock, and then causes shock loads. This one uses cams to increase the bias ratio of the limited slip enough to supply torque to a wheel in the air, and would not have any shock associated with it like the gov-bomb because of the quick response of it.

Its not like anything currently available. And yes, it's pretty darn expensive, but so is an ARB. I already have Detroits front and rear, I just think this may be the ticket in the future for people in front axles instead of a selectable. Because the thing that sucks about selectables, is that when they are locked for offroad use, turning is too darn stiff. Yeah you could unlock it, but then you don't have the traction just so you can turn. A detroit lets you turn and gives you traction, but is not good in the front for winter roads. Maybe this is......?

 

[scottsdale86]

ARB is proven this moser is not and for a grand i wouldnt want to be the guinea pig to try it out

 

[folkenheath]

Moser has been around since 1982 based in Indiana, they are great in the drag racing/street car industry. They are not much different age than ARB (1975) out of Australia. From my POV they have a better reputation than ARB does as far as reliability.

If Moser is selling something, they will stand behind it. They already make custom axles for front Dana 60s and 44s. I have a spool and 35 spline axles from them in my street car, they have good quality stuff, and this new wavetrac seems like no exception (althoug is being built by Autotech).

I am trying to learn about it, not shoot it down before we even know anything. I'll keep you guys posted. It looks like a solid unit, very good materials and machining and all ARP fasteners.

I'll admit it is d@mn expensive, it's not for everyone. Part of the cost I am sure is the "Transferable Limited Lifetime Warranty that covers use in a motorsports environment."

And maybe it won't work well off road anyway, that's what I am trying to find out.