4WD question: What is a "locker?"

[MichaelD]

As in "Detroit Locker?" I've been buying the 4WD rags lately (the bug bit me, hard ) and it seems that all the really decked-out 4x4's have a "locker."

Is "locker" slang for locking rear differential? Is that different than a LSD? (limited slip differential)

I know a LSD, which is what I have on my truck engages both rear wheels (assuming the trans is in 2wd and not 4wd) if it detects the driving wheel slipping. Got that. Does a "locker" keep both rear wheels locked (driving) all the time?

Thanks for the patience with the newbie.

 

[Rent]

Yes (at least I believe)

I'm not much into 4x4, but its just a closed, or locked differential.

 

[microAmp]

If I remember right a locker, say on your 2 rear wheels will make both spin at all times.

 

[b1er]

There are 4 types of differentials.

Open: normal cars and trucks have these, one wheel wonders, peglegs.

Limited slip: Uses clutches or springs to try to force the axle shafts to rotate togther. GM Posi track, Ford trac-loc, Dodge Twin-Grip(?)

Locking: Uses gears or other devices to lock both axles togther when under power. Still alows wheels to turn at different speeds while coasting. (Detroit Locker), Power Tracs Lock-right, GM Gov-Loc.

Spool: locks both axles together, both wheels turn the same speed period.

Then there are the selectable differentials: ARB uses air to go from fully locked(spool) to open, Ox locker cable operated, Toyotas electric locker using electromagnents coupled to gears.

 

[TopGun]

Ok, you know how an open diff works? Allows the two wheels on the same axle to spin at different speeds and applies power the the wheel that has the least traction. This is great for on the road, but it's very bad for offroading. A locker basicly "locks" both axles to spin at the same speed, even if one has no traction the other will still spin and pull you out.


Oh, and if you really want to get into offroading you should look into a real truck, like a Jeep

 

[Monel Funkawitz]

Locker has already been touched on, so I won't go into details.

You want a locker front and rear if you do heavy, muddy, real "MANLY" off roading. Bad thing about lockers is when they break, they BREAK. They take alot, but they are $$$ to repair.

 

[Zebo]

<< As in "Detroit Locker?" I've been buying the 4WD rags lately (the bug bit me, hard ) and it seems that all the really decked-out 4x4's have a "locker."

Is "locker" slang for locking rear differential? Is that different than a LSD? (limited slip differential)

I know a LSD, which is what I have on my truck engages both rear wheels (assuming the trans is in 2wd and not 4wd) if it detects the driving wheel slipping. Got that. Does a "locker" keep both rear wheels locked (driving) all the time?

Thanks for the patience with the newbie. >>



You in Luck becasue this months issue of "Fourwheeler" has a huge article of lockers and all their derivations. IMO a detroit (fully locked under torque) is the only option for the rear. In the front you want a limited slip becasue steering is impossibl;e with a detriot fully locked.

I read you other thread about your isusu and some Texas beach duneing. Welcome to the expensive sport of offroading My rear locker in a F-350 with a Dana 80 rear was over $1000 installled and the front is a positrax LSD which was ~$700.

Another thing is a locker WILL make the most signifgant difference of any other mod you can make. Most guys in the southwest run a two wheel drive over the beachs and though the desert (prerunners) and they use a detroit in the rear. It actually "four wheels" better than any stck 4x4 becasue of lack of wieght and even ditibution of power.

 

[Zebo]

<<
Oh, and if you really want to get into offroading you should look into a real truck, like a Jeep >>



No doubt. From everything I've seen a Jeep, wih about 8K in mods (lockers front and rear, 33's, 4-6" warn lift, etc) will outwheel and $80,000 Hummer.
It's really a sweet bargin. Well not as good as buying a KX 500 dirt bike but then you can take your family too.

 

[b1er]

I'm a member of that forum also. The mainly stay in the XJ section as that is what I have now. There are really some really hardcore jeepers in there. Do a search for trail pics or member rigs.

 

[Zebo]

I'm a member of that forum also. The mainly stay in the XJ section as that is what I have now. There are really some really hardcore jeepers in there. Do a search for trail pics or member rigs.

Hey dude whats the diff between
xj
cj
sj
yj
and tj.

I want a jeep just for major thrashing but don't know which to get and what years they were out?

Thanks

 

[Soybomb]

hey b1er, share abit more about your xj, i've got a 87 that i wheel at attica indiana

 

[Zebo]

F350 not made like they used to be

Adding a roll cage to the inside

 

[TopGun]

CJ, TJ, YJ are all the classic style jeep.

MJ, XJ are the cherokee style, MJ being the truck bed version.

WJ, ZJ are they grand cherokee versions.

I think I have that all right...


I just completed the lift on my '92 XJ, now running 32x11.5 BFG MT, next on the endless list is lockers, bumpers, and armor

 

[Zebo]

CJ, TJ, YJ are all the classic style jeep.

Hey thanks TopGun. You would'nt happen to know the years each model covers and what engine and differentail they ran?

 

[TopGun]

This has some good info...

 

[b1er]

soybomb,
I have a 98 XJ Classic. stone white, 4.0, auto, trac-loc rear. Beginner mods, relocated iat sensor, rusty's air tube. It's the wifes till she gets tired of it or it's paid off. She won't let me lift it yet. It is just begging for a 3" lift and some 31's.

 

[b1er]

There are a few more -J designations but all the ones that count have been said.

Carbon,
willys started the whole thing in about 40 or 41 with the MB. There were others. Bantam, Kaiser, and Ford even built GPW's that were from the same blueprints. There was a war on ya know. Not too sure on what came first but, the MB, M38, CJ 2a, were all early starters. They had all types of engines, Flat head 4 cyl and a version of a Buick aluminum v-6, I think it was called "Dauntless". Then in the 60's the CJ-5's showed up. Do some research on the web and you'll find everything you want to know about "The Worlds First Search Engine, Jeep". JU is a good place to start.

 

[Pacfanweb]

There are really only 2 kinds of differentials.

Locking, and non-locking. Non-locking also referred to as an open differential. Some people even call it single traction.

Non-locking is pretty simple, just has an open carrier and spider gears, and will put power to the wheel with the least traction. RWD cars with open diffs. will typically spin the right rear tire if you spin the tires on a straight take off.

Locking differentials include clutch, cone, ratcheting, and spool-types. All

Factory locking differentials are usually clutch types, with catchy names like Traction Lock, Posi Traction, Limited Slip, Safe T Trac, Sure Grip, etc.
The Detroit Locker is a ratchet-type. It is either locked, or unlocked. It is very noisey around corners. When it is locked, however, both wheels either spin or something breaks. No in-between.

A Spool has no moving parts. It is simply a solid piece or billet or aluminum that the ring gear mounts to, and the carrier bearings go on, and the axles slide in to.
It also turns the axles, period, or something breaks. For racing use only.

There are a few other types of lockers, cone-type, air locker, worm gear locker(Gleason Torsen), to name a few. All of the above have the same purpose: to get an equal amount of power as possible to both wheels. They just go about it in different ways.

 

[MichaelD]

Wow, great information guys. Thanks very much b1er and CarbonylXP and Pacfanweb for the detailed info.

And yes, I've noticed that this is a very expensive hobby :Q. Just the prices for a complete suspension lift w/shocks was enough to send me into shock!

I've noticed a serious dearth of hi-po 4WD parts for the Isuzu Trooper, but that's OK as I do not plan on turning my dailer driver into a swamp rig at this point. I do want to have some more wheelin' fun soon, though. I had an absolute blast NOT getting stuck down on the beach. It was a beautiful thing. This summer, I hope to make some $$$ pulling stuck cars out of the sand for $20 a pop. Based on what I saw the last time I got stuck, I could make $100 an hour, easy. Already got my tow strap and everything.

I would very much someday like to get into "cross country 4WD racing" similar to Rally Racing (what the Subaru WRXs do...) not swamp, not sand, not woods, not pavement, but a viscious combination of all four. Driving thru mud and sand is fun..for about an hour, then it gets tedious. I like the bump and crash of going thru a road course...I can tell I'll be breaking lots of stuff.

Thanks and I'll be checking out those websites!