So I am seriously toying with the idea of getting some Detroit hardware installed. I want to definitely get a Truetrac installed up front and either a soft-locker or another Truetrac installed in back. I thought about arbs or electric lockers, but I don't do enough serious off-roading to warrant the expense. I just want all four tires to be able to spin... dag-gummit!

My question to softlocker owners:

For the softlockers, I've read that after a few hundred turns, the binding softens out and becomes unnoticeable. Is this true or do you just become accustomed to the noise. I also have some reservations on drive characteristics... Does the softlocker tend to make steering on gradual, ie. highway curves more difficult?

For these reasons I kinda leaning towards Dual Truetracs..

If anyone running a front truetrac & rear softlocker I'd love to hear from you. Or if you are running dual truetracs please chime in too!

Also whats a reasonable install fee for this type of set up?
Thanks in advance.

 

You'll probably get more visibility from the hardcore guys in this section.

 

I'm interested as well in the Soft locker. I haven't heard much from guys who have installed it and would like to know the pro's and con's besides the fact that it isn't a selectable locker. I want something that is decently quiet and predictable on road. Also, how easy is it to install and what all goes into the installation. Thanks in advance.

 

Both units require ring and pinion set-up, they replace the carrier.

I used to run a True-Trac rear. It was better than being open, but it was not a locker.

Guys with older trucks used this combo a lot before the RD90 came out. Especially those who wanted or needed to use 4wd on the road.

Do you drive on snow and/or ice frequently? If so, the auto lockers are really exciting in the rear, more so in the front.

Dual True-Tracs would be a pretty decent inclement weather set-up that would wheel better than stock with negligible on-road degradation.

 

I have some
True Trac and Soft Locker info on my page. Soft Locker is not very noisy in normal operation, it will bang loudly every once in a while, but other than that is quiet. I eventually replaced mine because I did not like its on-road manners (under and oversteer as you get on and off the throttle in turns) and now have an ARB. I did like the TrueTrac and once you master the brake biasing technique it works fine on- and off-road, good enough to run the Rubicon with.

 

My only problem with getting a locker around here is finding someone to put it in. I'm not really knowledgeable about differential setups and what all goes into putting one of these lockers in. What kind of shop should I look for in getting this installed. If anyone knows of a place around South Carolina, GA, or NC let me know. Any information would help. What I'm looking at right now is the Detroit Soft-Locker, one because i can't afford an ARB or Toyota E-locker, and two, even if i could get a good price on either of those 2 options, i have no idea where i would get it put in seeing that I know I could not do it myself and there is nowhere around here to get it done that i know of. Thanks in advance for any help.

 

If you do mostly street riding and some minor off-roading, I'd go Truetracs front and rear. I wouldn't go with a automatic locker in the front or the rear in your case, because they will make some noise and create oversteer and understeer and chirp the tires occasionally.

Chris

 

I have had my Soft Locker in for almost a year now. I love it. Yes it does thunk and bang at times, but it is predictable. Offroad and under acceleration it is the best mod I have done. And it was half the cost of an ARB.

I drive 90% on road, mostly freeway. Limited slips are ok, but having true posi under load is the best.

 

Originally posted by: Marc P
How loud does it thunk and bang when it does it? I mean is it like a shotgun blast or is it just semi-loud. Also how hard would it be to go back to the stock setup if i ever want to get rid of it? Is it just a matter of changin the carrier back to the stock one? Thanks!

 

I live in El Paso, TX so ice and snow are not of concern. When I do put it into 4 wheel drive its on a desert trail or on the beach of nearby lake Elephant Butte or Caballo. But lately water levels have been dropping so quickly that wheeling by the shoreline will get you bogged down in some serious mud. So my traction needs are two-fold: Better gearing and better tires. I will be replacing the tires probably by next summer. I just do not want to make a mistake in getting a softlocker if my needs will be met by dual truetracs. I don't do any rock crawlin', at least not yet.

 

You'd probably have no complaints with truetracs front and rear, and probably a few annoyances with the soft lockers. Is the soft lock better for off-road traction, yes! Can the truetrac get close to the same traction, yes, with proper braking methods.

Chris

If most of your driving off-road is in sand, I'd defintely go with the true tracs, because both tires won't have enough resistance to prevent one wheel from turning, and you woulnd't even need a locker. Lockers are more beneficial when the terrain is hard and soft such as rocks and mud, where one tire could easily lose traction due to it being too slick, and the other being stuck on a rock, not moving at all. If most of your terrain is in soft sand and mud, then I'd definitely go with the truetracs.

 

If you don't see ice or snow, get a Softlocker and be done with it for the rear. I now have dual ARB's because I wanted more traction that I could get with a True-Trac, but not the auto locker for snow and such.

Has anyone running a Softlocker other than Marc offered an opinion?

I somewhat regret using the True-Trac, but it was good at the time. If you wheel it, you will want a real locker.

 

I've been considering a LockRight. The fact that I won't have to have the ring and pinion setup again is a big plus and they tout their 2 hr install. I do realize that it will radically change the handling in corners but it will be adequate as I save up for my 4.88 gears and ARB. The people that make the LockRight have a new locker that is supposed to engage a lot smoother but in the end its still a locker - less noise but same handling issues.

 

Hey Victor, I would like some more info on the Lockrite you are talking about. Is it quiet for a lunchbox locker or all auto lockers in general? How much does it cost. If anyone else wants to chime in and tell me that would be great. Would I be more satisfied with the Detroit or the Lockrite? Thanks for any help.

 

LockRight is about $200 and you simply remove the carrier inside your stock diff and putt the LockRight in. It is NOT as strong as a detroit but all full time lockers make noise in turns and wear tires prematurely. The LockRight is a compromise for me as I want a selectable locker int he future when I regear. Only pay once for the labor that way. Another plus is that I'll wear out my 265's faster so then I'll have an excuse to get 285's.