Detroit locker

Hi all,i am new to the forum,but been reading it every day,i am planning on fitting a Detroit locker on my swb(salisbury),does any one have advice or experience with this setup?any help apreciated!

kgopa said:

Hi all,i am new to the forum,but been reading it every day,i am planning on fitting a Detroit locker on my swb(salisbury),does any one have advice or experience with this setup?any help apreciated!

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know this is a very old post and you've been missing for a while, but wondered if you went ahead with this setup in the end and if so, what it was like.
Got a Salisbury on the back of my 90 and considering a detroit locker (NOT a Truetrac), but have heard mixed reviews about using them with a swb vehicle. Lots in the USA seem to do it on swb jeeps. Most responses I've seen to the question being asked on LR forums seem to be opinions not based on experience.
Anyone else run A detroit Locker on a swb?

ChrisBduck said:

know this is a very old post and you've been missing for a while, but wondered if you went ahead with this setup in the end and if so, what it was like.
Got a Salisbury on the back of my 90 and considering a detroit locker (NOT a Truetrac), but have heard mixed reviews about using them with a swb vehicle. Lots in the USA seem to do it on swb jeeps. Most responses I've seen to the question being asked on LR forums seem to be opinions not based on experience.
Anyone else run A detroit Locker on a swb?

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What sort of terrain and use is the vehicle for?

The Detroit locker can be useful, although its name is the wrong way round really. They should really be called an 'unlocker' IMO As they are locked and only unlock under certain conditions. But they will have potential downsides such as on road behaviour and poorer turning circle. Really the only way to know is to try, everything else is just opinions.

Not sure what other options you have on the Salisbury (Dana 60 centre). Personally I'd say the Detroit is a good option for more extreme types of off roading, either deep mud, rock crawling, dunes or places where you are lifting wheels off the ground. For general green laning in the UK or driving on the road, I'd say it's probably the wrong diff to go for. And something like an ATB would be a better bet.

ChrisBduck said:

know this is a very old post and you've been missing for a while, but wondered if you went ahead with this setup in the end and if so, what it was like.
Got a Salisbury on the back of my 90 and considering a detroit locker (NOT a Truetrac), but have heard mixed reviews about using them with a swb vehicle. Lots in the USA seem to do it on swb jeeps. Most responses I've seen to the question being asked on LR forums seem to be opinions not based on experience.
Anyone else run A detroit Locker on a swb?

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Yes.

I had no issues at all, excellent in very greasy conditions.
If you are going to use it on tarmac a lot, you want a Tru-Trac in the front axle as well, otherwise the steering may be a bit strange.

ChrisBduck said:

know this is a very old post and you've been missing for a while, but wondered if you went ahead with this setup in the end and if so, what it was like.
Got a Salisbury on the back of my 90 and considering a detroit locker (NOT a Truetrac), but have heard mixed reviews about using them with a swb vehicle. Lots in the USA seem to do it on swb jeeps. Most responses I've seen to the question being asked on LR forums seem to be opinions not based on experience.
Anyone else run A detroit Locker on a swb?

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Giving this some consideration, a couple of other things.

Make sure you get one of the later ones, known as Soft Lockers, or Soft Detroits. They are a bit gentler in use than the older ones.
If you are buying new, I think they are now all the soft type.

Also, I think one of the reasons I never had any problems on the road was that I never use wide wheels and tyres. The greater the tyre footprint, the more likely you are to have problems on the road.
7.50R 16s, I doubt you will get any trouble, but be careful if you don't have the Tru Trac in the front axle.

I had one of the older versions in a 3/4 ton GMC 4x4. A lot of clacking, banging and jerking going around corners. Hard to drive on pavement in slippy conditions. Would not recommend for street use. There is a very good YouTube video by a company that sells every type of locker. He describes all of them and recommends the TrueTrac if you are going to be driving on the street.