Notice: We request that you don't just set up a new account at this time if you are a previous user.
If you used to be one of our moderators, please feel free to reach out to Chris via the facebook Outerlimits4x4 group and he will get you set back up with access should he need you.
Recovery:If you cannot access your old email address and don't remember your password, please click here to log a change of email address so you can do a password reset.

Detroit Soflockers

General Tech Talk

Moderators: toaddog, TWISTY, V8Patrol, Moderators

Post Reply
Posts: 279
Joined: Tue Aug 23, 2005 1:36 pm
Location: sydney

Detroit Soflockers

Post by patrol42 »

I know what your all going to say, get an ARB Air or TJM Pro Locker.

So now thats out of the way, does anyone have any info or knowledge about the Detroit SofLocker (SL Locker)?

I am considering putting on in the front of my GQ.

They replace the entire center of the diff..no air lines etc to get snagged, no worries about air leaks etc etc.

They only work when the hubs are locked, and even then they allow one wheel to spin faster than the other (or faster then the axle i should say)
Go Portal!
[url=http://www.tractivforce.com]TractivForce[/url]
Posts: 3038
Joined: Thu Aug 05, 2004 10:06 pm
Location: VIC

Post by dogbreath_48 »

I've got softlockers in the front and rear of my troopy (they came with the car). The front locker does mess up the steering pretty badly sometimes (at times it's impossible to dry-steer, steering is heavy and often returns well off centre, car sometimes plows rather than turns), and the rear can make the car a bit of a chore to drive on the street (could be a troopy thing - but it always seems to be locked. makes for lots of sketching/bouncing around corners if i corner under power).

I have had the rear checked out by a pro who confirmed it was working as it should.

If i were you i'd save for an airlocker for the front at least (i know that's not what you wanted to hear).

Having said thaty they are supposed to be one of the best auto-lockers available, and i've never heard of one failing. If i had the money i'd only replace the front with an ARB at this stage.
Tetanus rolling on 37's
Posts: 96
Joined: Fri Apr 09, 2004 9:24 pm

detroit

Post by dubs »

I had them in the front and rear of a suzuki I had.I liked them only felt the rear lock up on the road if I turned full lock into a car park etc.All it did was click nothing bad.As stated the front made steering hard if it was locked and your trying to turn on rocks etc.
Posts: 279
Joined: Tue Aug 23, 2005 1:36 pm
Location: sydney

Re: detroit

Post by patrol42 »

dubs wrote:As stated the front made steering hard if it was locked and your trying to turn on rocks etc.
Would this apply to any locker that is locked?
Go Portal!
[url=http://www.tractivforce.com]TractivForce[/url]
Posts: 1253
Joined: Thu Dec 12, 2002 1:34 am
Location: QLD

Post by Jeeps »

Yes :D If you've got an ARB air locker and you've got it locked it'll be just as hard to steer on the rocks/offroad until you unlock it ;)
Posts: 1836
Joined: Wed Aug 11, 2004 10:41 am
Location: Brisbane

Post by badger »

that is the point tho jeeps
you can unlock them

i kno a guy that had them in a 75 series and be broke eleventyseventyteen cv's. he finally got jack of it and bought a front arb and kept the rear detroit.

never to break a cv again .................... i love happy endings
1hd-fte 5 speed tiptronic 105 series
78 series troopy for work
gu ute play truck For sale
FTE 80 series sahara Sold

i think i have a problem
Posts: 667
Joined: Mon Oct 27, 2003 6:26 pm
Location: Redcliffe

Post by Red Rover »

badger wrote:that is the point tho jeeps
you can unlock them

i kno a guy that had them in a 75 series and be broke eleventyseventyteen cv's. he finally got jack of it and bought a front arb and kept the rear detroit.

never to break a cv again .................... i love happy endings
i've had both, my MK had arb rear and detroit series 3 front broke 3 cv's in about 7 years. Maverick had arb front and rear, no cv's broken but heaps of issues with leaking seals and broken air lines and shit solenoids and crap compressors, 1 aftermarket and 1 arb :bad-words: I used the front very little cause I was worried.

Now I have a soft locker (modified) in the front of the 80 and rear electric and I like the soft locker as it has more give IMO. I have blown no diffs or cv's yet in over 1 1/2 years.......yet. I'm sure it will happen at some point
Posts: 3099
Joined: Wed Dec 11, 2002 10:55 am
Location: Central Queensland

Post by BundyRumandCoke »

I've run front and rear Detriot Lockers for the last 6 or so years. And Im not talking softlockers here. No dramas whatsoever with CV's or driveline. I did fit power steering however. I can run in 2wd with hubs locked on bitumen without a drama. Its only when you are applying torque to the front drive train that steering gets heavy.
Having said that, there is a certain degree of driving relearning that you have to do when driving a vehicle fitted with Detriots, particularly in the rear.
Mud makes excellent toothpaste.
Posts: 853
Joined: Fri Feb 10, 2006 6:38 pm
Location: Newcastle

Post by Mick. »

I've got the series IV soflocker in the front of my GQ patrol and I think it's great. It is a bit harder to steer though but apart from that you don't really notice it. I'm running 37s and haven't broken a CV yet. (GU diffs) I was breaking lot's of AVM hubs though. I've since put genuine manual hubs in and haven't broken one yet.


Cheers Mick.
Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest