OK, I have a 3.54 geared dana 70 with powertrax lock rights in it. The truck its in is a parts truck, so I really haven't driven it a lot. I've driven vehicles with lockers and autos before, but never a stick. Is the little bit of freeplay in a ratcheting locker going to be unbearable, and detrimental to the axle's life? Also, Is this a bad idea in rain/snow? I was going to swap the diff in a truck I'm going to daily drive, the current diff in that needs to be rebuilt. Thanks-Nick

 

well I have driven my gas chevy 383 strokerf ro three years now with a locker. I n MN winters jsut hold one and stear right. I used it for towing and everthing daily and it works same locker. now for a stick I dodnt knwo i dont have one, but I will say one ofr the first things I am doing to the new truck i have is put ina locker I love them Just have to watch the right foot in snow and rain

 

You don't have anything to to worry about there. I have Powertrax lockers in two of my Duster's 1/4 mile gearsets (3.73 and 3.91) and it is a 4sp car. Just be aware of what you're running back there and take it easy turning in the 1st three gears, in rain etc. It can get exciting real quick if you overdo it on dry pavement in a turn.

 

And if you habitually apply a lot of power while turning, expect to need an axleshaft at some point.

 

Nice thing about the Lock-Rite is they are quite streetable if you don't mind the clicking sound in low speed parking lot-type maneuvers. They work with a spring-loaded gear-enagagement mechanism that is quite similar to the lockout front hubs we see on our trucks. This allow them to "differentiate" like an open or posi diff below a certain low speed/high-angle deflection threshold.

But when they grab, they're locked.

 

Are we talking about the unit that replaces the spider gears in an open differential? If so, I think it would grenade before an axleshaft...in any event, I've been thinking about one since I let my Detroit go and just wasn't sure they were up to the torque of the mighty Cummins. I'd be interested to hear your results

 

Yep, that's it. Really easy to install for the typical "gear"head.

They say it actually increases the strength of the diff itself, over spiders. Just looking at the parts as I built the two I have I would agree. I doubt there could ever be any "grenading" or axle damage with these under any normal conditions. It seems the worst that could happen might be stripping the gears, but due to the spring locking design I cannot imagine how you might accomplish that.

They're cheaper than even a Sure-grip for that matter as well.

 

Like i said earlyer I have one in my gas 4 wheerer truck (383 stroker) no I have never broke the locker itself but with the power of the truck and 4.56 gears and 35in tires I have sheared two axle shafts in half right after the locker and the splines, but then again that was ona chevy 10 bolt c-clip junk. I think it would hold up to a dana 60 or 70 good and if something breaks it would proubly be the shaft and then jsut take it out and keep driving. I ma putting one in when I get out of here soon, (Iraq)

 

I think with that engine/tire/gear/axle combo you could have busted axles just pulling out of the driveway if you weren't careful!

 

The old owner of the truck snapped an axleshaft, he said to be careful driving in partial traction conditions... I was never really planning on using the diffs, but one of mine is howling and I'm just going to swap this one in instead of spending money right now. With winter coming up I just figured I'd ask about the driveability in rain/snow.