Detroit Locker -
Automatic Lockers
Lockers, Limited Slips, Differentials
and the sport
of Offroading.
An Overview of Standard Carriers, Positraction & Limited
Slips,
Locking Differentials, Spools and Mini-Spools |
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Detroit Locker - Automatic Lockers
 In
the world of locking differentials, the Detroit Locker has gained
legendary notoriety. The Detroit Locker was originally introduced
as a No-Spin back in 1941 and later offered to the public as the
aftermarket Detroit Locker in 1969. Since then it has been the
benchmark of lockers with many of its principles being used in other
lockers. Though it is not bulletproof, it is world
renowned for its strength, durability and
dependability thanks to its simplicity of
design, and is the best known, most widely used automatic locking
differentials on the market today with one of the largest number axle
applications available including applications for C-Clip style axles.
Over the years the Detroit Locker has seen various improvements on
its design. Notoriously harsh and noisy characteristics of the
earlier designs made it more suited to offroad use while later design
improvements such as those found in the Detroit Soft Locker (Softlocker)
removed much of the harsh banging and clunking characteristics during
engagement and disengagement, making them somewhat acceptable on paved
roads to the experienced offroader.
The Detroit Locker is an automatic locking differential
designed to lock both wheels of the axle together automatically with power input, when
forward or reverse torque is
applied, so that both wheels are providing 100% power to the ground.
This action creates essentially a "spool" that solidly connects the axle shafts
together. When torque is not
being applied, the Detroit Locker is
allowed to unlock, permitting a differentiation variance in wheel speed while negotiating
turns. The later Soft-Locker design has a stronger case
as well as a dampening mechanism to reduce banging and clunking
characteristic to the earlier Detroit Locker.
As an automatic locking
differential, the primary drawback is their characteristics when they
engage such as accelerating out of a turn or going from torque to no to
torque to torque again such as when a manual transmission vehicle is
shifting gears. In these situations, the driver must be aware of
the characteristics that will affect the handling of the vehicle.
For example during a turn the inside axle will spin slower than the
outside axle, which is the basic purpose of the differential. If
torque is applied to an automatic locker during the turn it will engage
due to the torque engaging the locker gears. When the
locker engages, it will cause the vehicle to push towards straight ahead
or possibly to the inside of the turn. The net effect is somewhat
un-predicable handling characteristics when compared to open
differentials. These effects are much more
noticeable in shorter wheelbase vehicles and smaller lighter vehicles.
The odd handling characteristics will also be more apparent if road
traction is compromised such as in rain or when the road surface is ice
or snow covered. Further noticeable characteristics of automatic
lockers can be a banging or clunking noise during engagement of
disengagement, delayed engagement, and added significant backlash, also
known as slop, in the driveline. Disengagement can be abrupt and
sometimes a ratcheting noise can be heard when cornering. Most people who use the Detroit Locker become
accustom to these handling characteristics and adjust their driving
style accordingly to accommodate it or just simply just get used to it.
 Detroit
Locker® Highlights
- Fully Automatic
Locking Action
- Eliminates
individual wheel spin-out for better traction
- Extreme durability
and reliability
- No special
lubricants required
- Proven in
thousands of installations
- Easy to install,
no special tools or case modifications
- Choice of professional racers
and off-road enthusiasts Around the World
Service Parts List ▪
Owners
Manual
Eaton Detroit Locker - Detroit Lockers were originally
manufactured by Tractech. TracTech was bought out by the Eaton
Corporation, who continues to produce the line of Detroit Lockers
including the Eaton Detroit Truetrac Differentials, the Eaton Detroit
E-Z Lockers and the Eaton Detroit Lockers. Eaton is the world's
largest independent producer of torque controlling differentials for
vehicle manufacturers and the automotive aftermarket.
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Below is a popular cutaway model of a
Detroit Locker. This tabletop model can be found at
4x4 shows, shops and vendors across the country. It is
an actual Detroit Locker that is hand operated to demonstrate the
operation of a Detroit Locker.
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