Mopar Muscle Association UK

While racing at SCR the other weekend my suregrip decided that enough was enough and packed up.I pulled the diff out this weekend and its the cone type that cant be rebuilt. So I have to get another as the car spends equal amounts of time at the strip as the street(well almost) my question is this which would be better another suregrip or a detroit locker.They are both about the same price in the states $406 against $444. I know the lockers are a little bit noisy on the street but are there any other downfalls?

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Guy,

Cone types CAN be rebuilt if you know what you are doing.

I have not had any experience of a Locker but given how noisy your car is anyway does this really matter ???

The detroit locker is the one, it will take the most HP, here's part of a query i had back from Don at FBO as i need one i asked whats the best. Quote

"The Detroit locker is the best and will handle the most HP for street use.

The Posi units that are available are cone style and do not allow you to sit in the water box and do big burnouts, you get the tires spinning and let the car roll out of the water box. Holding the car in a burnout will overheat the cone and burn them up, it will load one side and let one tire stop as it builds pressure on the cone. This is fine for most street strip applications or anyone running a street tire, but if they are trying to use it for big HP Drag Racing applications they need either a Locker or a Spool. "

I'm going to stock lockers which i can do for around ?400, if you can get a cheaper deal from the states make sure you get the detroit one.

Also looking to stock spools, u/j's, yokes, driveshafts, new gear sets from US gear and Richmond and fitting kits etc etc

Actually both the cone AND clutch types are available new now. Don's right that it used to be only the cone type available, but the clutch types have been available new for about a year. Better than the cone in most peoples opinion.

Also, like Pete said, you CAN rebuild the cone type. It involves machining the cones (if damaged) and spacing them out with purpose made 'washers'. Depends on exactly what let go on yours.

One other option is to use a Powertrax conversion - effectively converts your existing (or cheap open diff) to a locker - with accompanying pluses and minuses. Haven't checked pricing on these recently, but I'm just thinking of any option that might reduce your expense.

If you do get a detroit locker you might want to consider the air locker. that way YOU decide when it locks up, and whether it stays locked. Like a spool at the touch of a button!!

I had a automatic locker fitted in the rear axle on my old landrover, great off road but on the road, going round a roundabout or reverse parking it would come in with hell of a bang and either break a half shaft with the shock load or put unawarely into powerslide which was a strange sight in a old seires 3!!

I hate Detroit Lockers, got sick of swapping out the sprngs when they overheated, and they are noisy as well.

Anyone got info on airlockers? Sounds like a possible good solution...

I'll have a look but do a websearch to start with.

I believe they also do a 'soft locker' now, which does what it says on the tin.

(had a quick look in my bookmarks)
http://www.drivetrainspecialists.com/ca ... 742-1.html
http://www.ring-pinion.com/content/prod ... id=0&pid=3

Here's a 8 3/4 air locker......

Thanks chaps for the feedback there are + and - for both types.I have made my mind up and will be going for the Detroit locker I know that they are noisier on the street but as Pete said

given how noisy your car is anyway does this really matter

will keep you all posted on how it all goes and drives afterwards the only downside is I shall be off the road for a few weeks but I will be back

Guy you may have to change the way you drive with a detriot locker compared to a sure grip.

I don't know enough about them and have certainly never driven one but I have read all sorts of stories about them, maybe Alex or some other clever person could tell us a bit more?

If anyone is interested i'm getting detroits,posi's,spools,1350 uj's with u bolts, 8 3/4 fitting kits, etc etc.

can also get new gear sets from either US gear or Richmond and axle shafts

$0.02 Nissan patrols have air lockers as standard. Well, vacuum operated, presumably same thing?

Did you fit the Detroit Locker Guy? If so what do you think of it?

Hi mick yes fitted the locker no problems at all, you can hear it chattering ever now and then when you go round a corner (quite normal) but a prod on the throttle and it goes away. Its actually very user friendly on the street but you do have to adjust your driving style and you soon learn which corners you can drive around and those you coast around and definitely a no slip diff when power is applied