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Questions for street driving with Detroit Lockers

westn11

westn11

1/2 ton status
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I'm getting ready to start driving my rig after doing a 14Bolt(Detroit) and D60 swap. It will see a mix of street (mostly) and trails/beach driving. I have driven hot-rods with a spool and various trucks but never one with a locker.

I understand that a detroit makes noise and stuff, and that doesnt bother me, its a toy and not my DD. My question is: Besides the clunking and banging, what should I be ready for? Do you guys change the way you drive in the rain or snow? Any advice on what to expect or changes you have made to your driving technique would be appreciated.

thanks!
-Nigel
 
That first pop you hear from that Deroit will make you stop the vehicle and make sure you didn't lose anything from under the truck.
 
Yeah the "BANG" will scare you. Just take it easy in the rain, i like to ease up on the throttle around corners. Other than that you'll be ok.
 
I'm guessing it's better to accelerate toward a corner then coast through it? Should I leave it in the driveway when it snows :-)
 
watch your tire pressures. if they're off left to right, it will steer the truck as the locker locks and unlocks. Took me forever to figure that out, I was looking all over the place for what was loose and letting one of the axles walk around.
 
let off the gas around turns, then give it gas only when the vehicle is going straight ahead. Rotate tires. If your driving on the snow, just go slow, it should drive like crap in the snow with lockers.
 
I have yet to try the detroit in snow, but I always let up on the gas in snowy conditions. My guess is that the slick road will not let the locker release and therefore amplify the steering effect.
 
Mine works great in all weather once you know the quirks. I have really never had anything that made me afraid to drive in except on ice some time is doesn't turn when going slow but not sure if it would open.
 
I too have had the experience of accellerating after rounding a conrer, then the locker kicks in and you almost feel the truck shift sideways a little. I just try and take corners easy and slow and not get on it, as stated above, until going straight again. Though Ive pulled out and turned many times under power so the locker engages and I end up sounding like I'm peeling out when I'm not really trying to.
 
Thanks for the replies! 2 out of my other 3 vehicles are 4WD and stock, so I may use those on days when it gets a little nasty.
 
turning under power is the big thing, i have trouble somtimes making a sharp turn onto a steep hills. But in tight school parking lots its great i can turn, i am very glad that i went with a detriot rather than welding it. I am a little worries about how it will be when snow starts to fall, i see about 270 inches in a winter where im at
 
I think they're magnified when they're under smaller trucks - start getting the full sized stuff and they don't act as funky. I've got a couple in a suburban, get a good bang out of the rear every so often. Hehe. Once actually saw a car next to me swerve away rofl. IAC, yeah, easy on the power around corners, other than that tire pressure and rotate. Not that big a deal.
 
You get a bit of locker steer if you have a manual tranny. Ease up to shift and the truck goes right slightly, get back on the gas and it pulls slightly left.

I never found too much trouble in the snow, the added traction of having both tires getting power meant it took more throttle to break them loose to begin with. If it's exceptionally slick then it can be a little interesting...

Rene
 
I get the same reactions that tRrustyK5 talks about. The only issues in snow and ice for me have been when one tire starts to spin and the other locks in. The ass end will get a little squirly on you when this happens, but if you are driving the way you should, it will not be a major issue, just gets your attention until your used to it.
 
not meaning to hijack but is the clunking and banging not bad or hard on parts? sorry but Im inexperienced with the detroit and have one for my truck. Its a dd swb truck with a 14bff and 35s that sees 99% street use.

I was under the impression that the NoSpin didnt really make that much noise. Increased tire wear and funny driving I can handle but I dont really want a bunch of clunking and banging. Ive heard a lockright clunking and banging in a friends truck and cannot deal with that much noise.
 
now im scared to get a locker. sorry for the hijack here but couldnt i put a spool up in the front axle rather than buying a locker? it would only engage when the transfer case is in 4h-4l right?
 
a spool locks both wheels all the time, a locker only locks them in a straight line and it unlocks around the corner so you can turn. the noise is normal in a detroit. my K10 has detroits in the D60 and the 14BFF and it clunks everytime i make a sharp turn. when it breaks, i'll fix it.
 
I too am post crowding here. My lincoln locked 14blt did me great last winter in the snow and ice, except one muddy hill I could not get up with out being pushed to the ledge, now I have locker in the front should be no problemo. However After Chewing threw several sets of Tires I too am going to a Detroit in the rear. Aside from the rotating tires how is the Tire Chew. I know Tom Cherry has one on his and not so much tire eating but even he does not drive as often as I do. Though the UA08 did not seed to toll on his tires or The Watsons tires and that was a lot of HWY miles. I will be getting the KM2's in the 35" sometime after the first of the year. So I do not want to kill them as bad as I am now. If it is the same as it is now then there is no point of me getting the Detroit. Thanx and good day
 
big dan said:
not meaning to hijack but is the clunking and banging not bad or hard on parts? sorry but Im inexperienced with the detroit and have one for my truck. Its a dd swb truck with a 14bff and 35s that sees 99% street use.

I was under the impression that the NoSpin didnt really make that much noise. Increased tire wear and funny driving I can handle but I dont really want a bunch of clunking and banging. Ive heard a lockright clunking and banging in a friends truck and cannot deal with that much noise.
Click to expand...

In 5 years of street driving with my Detroit I had it go 'bang' on me maybe 6 times total. Never broke anything, and aside from those rare occasions it was civil, and quiet.

Rene
 
TDAWG1 said:
I too am post crowding here. My lincoln locked 14blt did me great last winter in the snow and ice, except one muddy hill I could not get up with out being pushed to the ledge, now I have locker in the front should be no problemo. However After Chewing threw several sets of Tires I too am going to a Detroit in the rear. Aside from the rotating tires how is the Tire Chew. I know Tom Cherry has one on his and not so much tire eating but even he does not drive as often as I do. Though the UA08 did not seed to toll on his tires or The Watsons tires and that was a lot of HWY miles. I will be getting the KM2's in the 35" sometime after the first of the year. So I do not want to kill them as bad as I am now. If it is the same as it is now then there is no point of me getting the Detroit. Thanx and good day
Click to expand...

I ran a welded 14 bolt for 2 1/2 years before going with the Detroit. 10X nicer to drive with the Detroit...

Tire wear was way better with the Detroit. I never did rotate my tires...and when my K5 left here the tires had ~15,000 miles on them (39.5" TSL's) and the wear was similar front and rear. Maybe more of an issue if most of your driving involves driving in figure 8's.

Rene
 
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