I was wondering if anyone out there had installed this system in the 3rd member and could do a short writeup? I am considering this because it means I will not have to tear down my gears (just remove spider gears, etc). My concern is longevity and overall drivability (no circle track car, but I do not want weirdness around corners). Thanks.

 

Do you have a link to the product? It sounds kind of like a Detroit EZ-lock, Lockrite Locker, Aussie Locker, et al. If so, you remove the spider gears and replace it with dog clutches, pins and springs which solidly lock the axles together.

I've used a Detroit EZ-locker in a Dana axle in a Jeep. If the installation is similar with a Ford, it isn't too bad at all, though it is a tight operation. The problem I found with the drop-in lockers was that it was not as transparent as a Detroit Softlocker (replaces the whole diff), which itself wasn't too street friendly either.

My advice is that I wouldn't do it on a predominantly street driven vehicle. While you may get used to it, you'll never forget that it is there. That was my experience at least.

Good luck!

 

Are you thinking perhaps or Richmond's Powertrax locker?

 

Sounds like some version of 'Powertrax', which I once considered (but didn't get).

On dirt, straight stretches and the large-radius turns on highways, at speedways and on most real road courses they'll work fine, or at least OK, since most turns aren't all that tight and tires slip a bit when you're using them hard anyway. But when the turns get tighter, any locker will demand slightly/somewhat different driving. They'll want to lock when you add throttle, so turning into a side road, driveway, or parking spot from a dead stop may at least involve some tire protest. One solution to this that I've read about is to make sure you can coastthrough such situations, letting the locker remain open. Handling will be a "push" under throttle, because both rear wheels are being forced to turn at the same speed, and they're not particularly autocross-friendly if that matters. Somewhere I think I still have somebody else's fairly extensive review of these devices.

Norm
(typing even slower than I'm thinking today)

 

Age has its issues! Yes, I am referring to Richmond's Powertrax. Supposedly, recent versions have minimized the clunk with locker type units...for 300 or so dollars, I might just go for it. Its not my 289 puts out 500 ft-lbs torque at 3200 rpm or anthing!

 

I have the Powertrax and it gets the job done. Not the best for autox like Norm said though, and basically what he said about lockers applies to the Powertrax. In a tight radius low speed turn, like in a parking lot/driveway, it will differentiate if you go nice and easy on the throttle, but give it a bit of gas and it locks up and gives you a fair bit of push. At speed under power and turning, getting on/off the throttle goes from a push to non-push situation and requires a bit of control to steer the vehicle properly, though once you get used to it it's not that big a deal. The biggest thing with it though in a manual, is it can be VERY fickle in low speed tight turns like a parking lot when you get on/off the throttle/clutch. In situations like that it tends to develop quite a bit of driveline slap, so you have to drive a certain way in situations like that. Otherwise, I have it on my DD and can't really complain, no clutches to wear out and replace, and no noise. It gives you monster traction in a straight line from a dig though for sure. And it's basically impossible for me to spin going into 2nd/3rd gear on dry ground, just barks a bit(I have traction bars too though). It still drives around corners well, but it's not the best thing if you're looking for great handling, since under power you'll have no differentiation

 

Now that I'm certain what you're talking about, I'd strongly suggest you reconsider. I had a Detroit Locker in my 9" in my '65 GT coupe. I was driving on an older concrete road in damp conditions on a long, sweeping curve. Lucky me, the locker decided to lock up which sent the rear end over enough that it barely clipped a parked car, in turn spinning me like a top. Fortunately, I missed the trees in the median. Needless to say, the locker came out immediately in place of a limited slip.

To be honest, I don't even like automatic lockers in my Jeep which sees rocks almost exclusively. I use ARB lockers which I can lock and unlock with a switch at my discretion.

Oh yeah, as mentioned, the auto lockers are much more forgiving behind an automatic transmission because they always keep the driveline under load. You may find it a bit squirrely behind a manual when you shift.

Good luck!

 

What I wouldsuggest is a torque-sensing differential.

There are some that have preload (Torsen T2R, as the example I can think of off the top of my head).

Norm

 

I know this is an old post but noticed it during my research of torsen diffs for my new mustang and figured I would give my opinion since I have a Richmond Powertrax in my 98' Dodge Ram truck.

The Powertrax works wonders in my automatic transtruck for pulling the boat, etc. It just doesn't lose traction when accelerating in a straight line and will yank anything I hookup to the truck, however when turning is another story. You can actually hear the tires sliding/grabbing when turning and attempting to acclerate. It doesn't handle it too well sometimes. And it also bucks a bit every once in awhile when turning. Every so often, you get some pops and clicks out of it but otherwise it's much quieter than a locker type. It can be a bittemperamental sometimes.

I surely would notinstall one in my mustang with manual trans unless it was for drag racing purposes only. I'm sure I would be hating life if installed in my daily driver. I'm looking at the Torsen type diff really hard for this application.

 

Detroit Locker (aka Eaton) also has a torque-sensing helical gear diff now, and it's significantly cheaper than the Torsen unit. Enough so that I'm probably going to go with that instead of an Auburn now.