locked daily driver?

[Houndoc]

I know lots of folks here run non-selectable rear lockers.

IF and when I can sell the Montero, may have to make the call to do the same (as much as ARB would be the ideal plan).

Just wondering what the overall effect on handling, road manners is in most vehicles with a rear locker. I do lots of highway with my commute and my wife will drive what ever I end up with at times as well.

 

[SLC97SR5]

Fortunatly the 4Runner has the rear e-locker but it is limited slip up front when 4WD is engaged. The steering feels heavy and it wants to follow concrete gaps but my wife is comfortable driving it.

The Aussie is my first experience with a DD Rear locked Truck. I am thoroughly impressed, even with the snow we had the other day. It was not unmanegable, engage the front and it's very docile.

On the freeway it is transparent except when on throttle around sweeping turns--think Knudsons corner on 6200 S and I-215. You feel the "torque flow being reset" (from the Aussie web-site) You feel a slight shift in the back of the Truck, not a clunk or jolt, just a "hmmmm, never felt that before".

I was nervous about locking a DD rig but I wouldn't hesitate to do it again, especially if you and whoever use it are aware of the different handling. Basically, coast around turns and be a little extra cautious in the Rain.

Ice sucks, I nearly got stuck in the work parking lot-Of course that is mitigated with 4-HI.

I only have experience with the Aussie locker and the Toyota E-locker, no idea how a Detroit feels.

 

[Brett]

My old Detroit and current Lockrite are fine on the roads in my XJ. You can feel them lock and unlock, but nothing scary. I've got no problem with running one.

 

[1995zj]

I ran a Detroit in the rear of my ZJ for about a year with no problems. The was the normal "clunking" sounds when you step hard on the gas at a light or something, but nothing bad. Turning corners is fine as long as you don't gas it around a corner. I would run it again anytime.

 

[SAMI]

i have an e-locker in the rear, and a Detroit up front.. i hate the Detroit front, it's sucks to steer in the snow, and gain traction.. so i'm in 4wd, it's awn... whether i like it or not.

 

[Paul R]

I ran with a welded rear end for a while and it was squirelly in the snow so I changed out to an e-locker that and gears were hands down the best thing I did... I don't have any experience with the part-time lockers. But other than the snow and corners it wasn't a big problem I would run a full time locker again until i had the money to upgrade...

 

[SAMI]

oh, and i ran a mini spool in the rear of my samurai, and i never really had too much of a complaint with that setup.. just had to drive it differently in the snow, and be mindful of it.

-Jason

 

[gertsch]

i ran detroits for about 7 months in my tj and they worked awesome for traction when wheeling on road the manners were different on road with the rear detroit it would lock up and disenage and the jeep would want to lane change because of it. I know the longer wheel bases this isn't as much of a probablem. I now run ox locker front and rear and i think they were my best investment by far. Selectables work best in daily drivers in my opinion. Also if your looking for cheap right now i would run lockright then upgrade to a selectable i wouldn't go with detroits. I broke both of my detroits wheeling it was kinda cool to see a detriot blow up.

 

[Cherokeester]

i ran detroits for about 7 months in my tj and they worked awesome for traction when wheeling on road the manners were different on road with the rear detroit it would lock up and disenage and the jeep would want to lane change because of it. I know the longer wheel bases this isn't as much of a probablem. I now run ox locker front and rear and i think they were my best investment by far. Selectables work best in daily drivers in my opinion. Also if your looking for cheap right now i would run lockright then upgrade to a selectable i wouldn't go with detroits. I broke both of my detroits wheeling it was kinda cool to see a detriot blow up.

What broke on the detroit? The carrier? Just curious.

 

[gertsch]

the carrier on the rear broke which looked kinda cool. The front one all the bolts vibrated out of the carrier and caused it to go bad but it was probably fixable but i wanted ox lockers instead. I'm not trying to say anything bad about detroit i thing they worked great for off road i just don't think there the best for a daily driver.

 

[Jay5.9L]

A full Detroit locker should be much stronger than a lunch box type Lock Right.

I have a Detroit in the rear of the CJ and its really not to bad on the street other than some cunking and poping. Have not had it in on the road with any snow. Do they make a trutrack for the monty? It may be a better option.

 

[gertsch]

i agree the detroit is stronger but if he plans on upgradeing to a selectable it would be mor cost effective to buy a lockrite than a full detoit. i believe truetrac's are quite abit cheaper then the full detroit. the on't probablem i had with the detoits in winters is that the rear would locker walk.

 

[Houndoc]

Do they make a trutrack for the monty? It may be a better option.

The only locker I know of for the Montero Sports is a front ARB. Since I don't have the cash to go that route right now (family priorities don't favor off-roading:sick, I am looking at selling it and getting something older but more easily up graded (Land Cruiser being first choice, ideally with factory lockers, but GC, XJ etc on the list).

If I go one of the other routes, then the locker question comes into play.

 

[gijohn40]

I have a detriot in my cj7 and it does want to change lanes when I get on it... and in the snow it does take to the left or right around corners and all but if your mindful of your driving it works great... just learn the in's and out's of the thing and be aware of it and you will be fine

 

[Cody]

I've had a spool, lock right, and detroit. The spools is the most predictable but also most noticable, the lock right made the most noise, and the detroit locks up more solid and bangs a bit more.

All three are fine on the road in my book. you get used to it pretty quick.

 

[Stephen]

I've got a LocRight in the rear of my Sami, and it takes a bit of getting used to but it doesn't really affect the driveability too much one you get used to it. Now this is in a manual, so I can push the clutch in going around corners and such. Not sure what it would be like in an auto.