Locking Differential

[Haggis]

I was watching "HorsePower TV" this afternoon on they showed this locking differential. Has anyone ever heard of this product or used it on one of their vehicles before? It is different than the ECTED by AuburnGear that was the topic of another Thread. This one is completely machnical in operation as opposed to being electronicly controled. Wouldn't that make this differential better for normal everyday driving and occassional track applications. This is something that I would be interested in for my Marauder, please post your opinions good or bad.

Let the debate begin!



http://www.powertrax.com/locker.htm

[BillyGman]

I believe that if it's called a "locking" rear end, then that implies that it's like a "Detriot Locker" which is strictly for the track since it locks the rear end so that both right and left wheels have full power to them equally all the time. And that makes it difficult to make turns since one wheel has to turn a greater number of times while the vehicle is negotiating any turn. In other words w/a locking rear end there are no factory type clutches that enable the full torque to be transferred to the wheel on the outside of a turn.

However, there are different versions of a "locking' rear end on the market now. I don't know about the one you've mentioned, but I've seen on the www.summitracing.com website different set ups that are called "spools" which give your car the best of both worlds. They lock the rear end completely while going straight, so that there is better traction, and the ability to launch straight coming off the starting line at the track, while at the same time, they unlock while going around a turn w/out making a loud ratcheting noise like some "Lockers" do. I hope this helps.

[TAF]

Wasn't this recent thread about something similar?

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forum...773#post104773

[BillyGman]

Wasn't this recent thread about something similar?

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?
p=104773#post104773

I believe he's speaking of a Locker that is fully mechanical, and w/out a switch like the one in that thread. Apparently this Auburn company makes both kinds.

[TAF]

Gotchya, Billy my friend. The details of this is outta my league...just thought I remembered something similar.

[BillyGman]

Gotchya, Billy my friend. The details of this is outta my league...just thought I remembered something similar.

maybe you and I should stick to the GT. ooooops,,,there I go again. I can't help it........it just seems to keep coming out of me "uncontrolaBilly"!!!!!

[Haggis]

Yes, what I posted is a mechnically controled Locking Differential which locks up to provide tourque to both wheels when going straight, but will unlock automaticaly when you go into a turn.

I thought this was interesting and wanted all of your opinions comparing the Powertrax to the Auburn which is electronicaly controled.

[BillyGman]

well if you're comparing it to the Auburn one in that other thread, then perhaps TAF had the right idea by suggesting that you pose this question in that same thread cuz you might get more responses in there.

[FordNut]

Mechanical lockers can be used on the street, as I have used a Detroit Locker in my truck for over 10 years. There is a downside, however. The Detroit Locker is a very strong locker and the ratcheting mechanism requires a lot of force to release. So you always get two-wheel burnouts. But when cornering it is common that the inside tire squalls because it requires less force to break the tire's traction than to release the ratcheting mechanism. And when it does release it is common to feel a loud bang and shifting motion in the rear end. Some of the other mechanical lockers are not as severe in the releasing mechanism so the noise and shifting motion is not as noticeable. The Auburn mechanical unit is supposed to be this way and maybe the Powertrax system is too.

Never use a spool on the street. It will lock the two axles together solidly and will eventually break an axle. It is also very difficult to drive on curves with a spool.

The OEM traction lock and any other system that uses clutches will eventually wear out the clutches. If it still keeps a good posi effect after 50k mi, you're very lucky.

The air operated systems provide a solid spool type lockup when you want it, but operate as an open rear end when switched off. Therefore you have to know when you want posi and it's not good for cornering when activated so it's not very good for road-racing applications.

The electrically operated system has a lot of potential if the releasing mechanism (clutches, cogs, whatever) are strong enough to provide a good locking effect without wearing out like clutches do in the OEM posi. It sounds like it could be automatically activated instead of user-controlled so that is another plus. But it's new so somebody has to try it out. Wasn't long ago that clutches in torque converters were unheard of and electronic circuits were not installed in trannys, so why wouldn't it work?

[FordNut]

This was on the page that the link took me to:

In some vehicles, you will hear a light clicking noise as the gears are overrunning themselves and allowing the wheels to differentiate in a turn. This is normal of most lockers on the market today. We recommend the Lock-Right for vehicles that are primarily driven in severe driving conditions or are used for recreational off-road. For vehicles that are driven daily or require more mainstream application, the Powertrax No-Slip Traction System offers a quieter and smoother performance. Please see the No-Slip Traction System page.

Then the No-Slip page opens with:

The Powertrax No-Slip Traction System is the latest design in traction adding differential technology. It combines the smooth operation of a limited-slip differential, with the traction performance of a locking differential.

So maybe this would be a good option. Who's gonna go first?

[BillyGman]

Hmmmm........... some good info there FordNut. I wish this thread came up BEORE I did that last ring & Pinion gear change on my MM.

[TripleTransAm]

The OEM traction lock and any other system that uses clutches will eventually wear out the clutches. If it still keeps a good posi effect after 50k mi, you're very lucky.

Are you referring specifically to a Ford OEM system or any clutch-based limited slip diff in general? I'm more used to seeing 100k+ mi out of such systems (mostly F-bodies, some large GM cars too)... 50k mi lifetime would greatly p*ss me off, I can tell you that! I think I need to have a talk with my Ford tech about this... if my limited slip gives up the ghost at 50k mi, there'll be one ticked off Marauder owner at their doorstep throwing a pile of diff parts around in a rage, I can promise you that.

Jeez, even my '78 T/As factory original diff still grabs solidly at 110k mi... too solidly, time to change the fluid, it seems ("clunk clunk clunk" around tight corners).

[Haggis]

Thanks FordNut that is the info that I was looking for. I am new to this modding of cars thing and read the other post on the Auburn gear. After seeing the PowerTrax on TV I wanted a professional opinion on the two.

At this time I am not ready to go out and put one on my car, but who knows maybe in the future. For daily driving it would be great if it gives us more straight line torque to both wheels when we want to play and automatically disengages in turns.

So which one would be better the electronic diff. by Auburn or the machnical one by PowerTrax??

Thanks again, any more opinions?

[gonzo50]

I was watching "HorsePower TV" this afternoon on they showed this locking differential. Has anyone ever heard of this product or used it on one of their vehicles before?

I saw the same show and it's a limited slip differential, this is the link to it:
http://www.horsepowertv.com/schedule/

[FordNut]

Are you referring specifically to a Ford OEM system or any clutch-based limited slip diff in general? I'm more used to seeing 100k+ mi out of such systems (mostly F-bodies, some large GM cars too)... 50k mi lifetime would greatly p*ss me off, I can tell you that! I think I need to have a talk with my Ford tech about this... if my limited slip gives up the ghost at 50k mi, there'll be one ticked off Marauder owner at their doorstep throwing a pile of diff parts around in a rage, I can promise you that.

Jeez, even my '78 T/As factory original diff still grabs solidly at 110k mi... too solidly, time to change the fluid, it seems ("clunk clunk clunk" around tight corners).

My experience has been that after about 50k the Ford limited slip starts to slip (as in open diff) more than limit (as in posi). But no funny noises, it just starts to do one-wheel burnouts more frequently. Maybe it's a short lifespan due to my driving style. If anybody else could comment it would be nice info.