hey have a 38 ford i'm finishing up 8 inch open rear never ran a locker before lots of posi rears and spools when i used to race anyhow anybody got advice if lockers are anygood are they noisy witch ones are better detroit eaton etc yeah i know get a 9 inch its only a 350 350 horse i think the 8 inch ought to hold up
I ran a yukon grizzly locker in my prostreet truck with a very stout big block and it was great? it seemed very street friendly to me and never broke in the three years I abused it. Just my .02 cents worth
The locker will limit front steering and turning radius, rip up your tires faster, and are all around a little tricky on loose gravel and wet roads. That understood, I know that my car is going to be an aim it straight, hold on for life, head to the donut shop, and stick it back in the garage, deal. So, if you are okay with having to man handle and drive your ride like a semi, lockers are fine; but you could just pop the 400 bucks extra and go with a true trac or a limited slip. My 3 cents Pork
I have never experienced any of the above when driving that truck....? The only tires I tore up were the rears, LOL thus the locker, on purpose. It didn't effect my steering and I drove it on wet pavement with 31/18.5/15 M.T.'s, that was the only thing that made me nervous.
Choices are kind'a limited for the 8". I'm pretty happy my Yukon Grizzly Trac-Loc that I'm runnin' in my 8 inch Ford rear with 3:55 gears.... If I had a 9", I might be runnin' somethin' different....
Call Randy's ring&pinion , the lok-rite limited slip that they sell will fit either an 8 or 9 inch, put one in my T 11 years , 35K miles ago & has performed flawlessly-- it clicks a bit & occasionally snaps when re engaging- I don't mind the noise - follow the installation instructions to the letter & the guy's at RRP are very helpful-- you won't have any problems. dave
I have been driving lockers since gawd knows when. I like them and prefer them to a posi or limited slip. Some are rougher than others as well as noisier than others. The newer ones seem to be quieter and less harsh than the older ones (unless you go after one of those nasty gnarly race and off road only units). I prefer a detroit myself, but I have run eaton units and they served me well. I have never owned one but I have driven the true track that gimpyshotrods speaks of. If I could lay my hands on a new one I would consider it for a street driven rod without a doubt.
I have a Detroit in my avitar and will never have another. It drags a tire oc***ionally, clunks every once in a while like the third member is going to hit the pavement. The transition on a curved to straight is jerky and it feels like its trying to take the steering away from you. My .02.
I have installed several of the true tracks no complaints and you dont have to put in the clutch additive.
I had the real-deal Detroit Locker in my '68 Mustang. I never heard a peep out of it and it drove very nicely. I would get stuck on ice now and then with the light rear end, but when it hooked up, it went straight and true. I would get another one in a flash. Bob
I have a ractchet type locker that Ricmond sells. It's in a CJ with a V-8. It is noisey in parking lots. It bangs occasionally. I did find that higher air pressure in the rear tires helps the inside tire slip on accelerating out of a turn. It's not noticable under 90% of driving. It teaches you a smooth driving style. I have no problem on wet and slippery roads. Frank
OX lockers are a cable driven manual locker that you move a lever in the cab to engage. gives you the locked when you need it, and open when you want it.
There is a new Eaton locker unit for 8" Fords in the HAMB cl***ifieds. I've been pondering the same thing for my current project,which has an 8". Trac-loc is the limited slip that some Ford cars had from the factory, right?
2X with porkn****** I personally have ran detroits and auburns. the clutch stye is smoother, the ratchet is stronger and more predictable, I choose detroit when I can, if money is a concern and you dont drive it much, get a spool or weld it up. Godspeed MrC.
I ran an auburn in a MOPAR that I had onc and liked it real well, but the auburn as a rule is harder to find than a detriot at least for me they always have been. I like to drive a clutch style but I am real prtial to a ratchet or a lug locker. They seem more positive to me. I think that there is a learning curve to driving a locker, I have been driving them since gawd knows when and they feel normal to me but to someone comming into one from say an open or even a limited slip they can feel real dicey.
be a man weld those spiders !!! you can abuse a locker with more peace of mind--i have had good luck with both
thanks for all the input still undecided car is boring to drive with open rear smokin one tire threw 3 rd gear not goin sideways ain't no fun
I put the 9" Detroit Locker from a '64 Ford F100 PU in my '56 F100 with 5.4 cammer engine. Was fun and both wheels pulled like hell...did notice a little chatter on tight turns...I would do it again with no reservations....fun to see both rear tires smokin'
I put the Powertrax Lock right (ratcheting locker) in my t-bucket a couple years ago and really like it. It's a little noisy while coasting into a side street (90 degree turn) but hooks up nice, also will chirp the tires if pulling out fast out of a side street..lol
i switched from a clutch type limited slip to a detroit locker years ago and havent regreted it at all. there are some snapping noises at low speeds turns but it is supposed to do that. never again will i worry about replacing worn clutches in the rear diff and will always leave two even tire tracks when getting silly in the old Falcon.
I drive two TrueTracs, daily. No abnormal or annoying behavior. I can leave FOUR black strips, at-will, on the bottle.
I was going to put in a Detroit Locker I acquired but when I ran the diff numbers of a 69 Bronco I bought to part out it ended. The Bronco 9 inch came equipped with a 4:11 Trac-Loc which now resides in my Chevy. I had installed a 59 Ford 9 inch in it a few years ago....
I put a Powertrax mini locker in my OT car with 8.5" 10 bolt about 13 years ago. It was still in there and working great when I sold it this week. They are reasonably priced, simple to install, and work well.
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