Spicer Trac-Loc ?'s

[hmatiak]

SO i went ahead and order a locker for an open carrier last week going off my finding a few months back that i had an open 60 front. Well turn out yesterday while cleaning and inspecting everything that its Trac-Loc. The locker has already shipped.

Question is can you not just remove spider gears and clutch packs and have an open carrier? Or do the Spicer factory open carriers have different dimensions?

I can return the locker no problem, but would rather run a locker than a limted slip.

Thoughts?

 

[nvrenuf]

The carrier bodies are very different between an open and Track Loc. Afaik, no one offers a locker kit for the Dana L/S carriers.

 

[hmatiak]

The carrier bodies are very different between an open and Track Loc. Afaik, no one offers a locker kit for the Dana L/S carriers.

Well in that case ill send the locker back. If im not happy with the Trac-Loc ill most likely weld the spiders and call it good.

Any experience with the Spicer L/S on the rocks?

 

[nvrenuf]

Not in rocks, I used one in the mud and it was ok but not great.

 

[rcamacho]

I've run an open and traclok in the front D60. The posi is just fine for my usage in mud and regular trails - I'm not traction limited. For more extreme usage a Detroit or ARB might be in order but I'd be leery of running a lunchbox locker in an open D60 carrier after seeing the difference in case thickness between the open and posi versions.

 

[hmatiak]

I've run an open and traclok in the front D60. The posi is just fine for my usage in mud and regular trails - I'm not traction limited. For more extreme usage a Detroit or ARB might be in order but I'd be leery of running a lunchbox locker in an open D60 carrier after seeing the difference in case thickness between the open and posi versions.

Well at this point the lunchbox locker is out. But do explain the case thickness differences a little more........Were is one lacking material vs the other?

 

[6.2Blazer]

As already mentioned the Lock-right will not fit into a Trac-lock case.

In generaly the Trac-lock is one of the weakest, as in being able to transfer power to both wheels, limited slips they make. The clutchs also seem to wear pretty quick so they just get worse as time goes by. A lot of vehicles used these as OEM, and I've both had experience with them on work and personal vehicles, and have seen lots of Jeeps on the trail with them (this was the OEM limited slip on Jeeps). A Dodge Ram I owned had one and while it worked okay brand new on the street and in wet grass and light mud, after about 30,000 miles it was hard to tell it apart from an open diff. On the trail it's really hard tell with Jeeps have the Trac-lock and which were are just open.

While it's better than an open diff off-road, it's not much better. On a scale of 1 to 10 with 1 being an open diff and 10 being a true locker, I would rate a new Trac-lock as a 3 and a used one as a 2.

I've personally had a Lock-right installed into my front D60 for years now. Ran 13/38-16 TSL's for years and now 39.5x15 TSL's with no issues and it gets used hard on the trail. I've broken a necked-down inner and 3 30-spline stubs in the past with no Lock-right issues. I will admit that a friend broke a Lock-right in his D60 after a couple years of hard use but it was also under a 7,000 lb. big-block powered truck with 42's. Didn't really completely fail, just would not consistently lock going forward.

 

[hmatiak]

Well like i said, im going to give the Trac Loc a try. If all else fails i will just weld the spiders until it gets swapped for a full carrier replacement.

 

[wayne]

The Trac Loc is not worth running IMHO. I had one in my first K5 and hated it. I would keep the locker and buy an open carrier.

 

[6.2Blazer]

Well like i said, im going to give the Trac Loc a try. If all else fails i will just weld the spiders until it gets swapped for a full carrier replacement.

It might actually be worth something on E-Bay but I don't know for sure, but can tell you it would be worth less if you welded it up in regards to selling it.

Like said above I think you are wasting your time using it if you really off-road the truck and/or have used a true front locker before. Open carriers are cheap and usually easy to find, then slap the Lock-right in it.

 

[JOES89K5]

trac lock

I have a traclock in another truck f-350 superduty with 456s and 35 inch tires. I wore out the rear trac lock long time ago and needs plates replaced. i am thinking of putting in a tru-trac replacement.I read alot of posts in fourwheeler magazines and alot are using them with taller tires then i am using with very good results. the disadvantage they have is they have one time use if it breaks you probably need to by another. excellent for street use just watch your offroad use. In the front i installed a powerlock . can't kill it. units are much more improved then before.