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Thread: Can Detroit Lockers wear out?

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    Default Can Detroit Lockers wear out?

    I've had two people tell me my burnouts are almost peg legged, drivers side tire barely moving while the passenger side is smoking like crazy.
    11.27 @ 118.23
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    niebs's Avatar
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    I'ld pull the cover an check the gears out makes sure they are not rounded. Really shouldn't wear our since your drag only.
    Foot brake burnouts?
    Does the rear steer you when leaving the line?

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    I left that part out...both times I've had people call me on it is when I didn't properly set my line lock and I have to foot brake it to to a burn out, but I do plan to see if my rear wheels turn freely when my line lock is on...
    Something has fucked something up...lol
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    It leaves straight as and arrow.
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  5. #5

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    From your description, it's as if the truck is making a right turn as that seems to be locked in place and traveling at the same speed as the differential. Could be a broken inertia spring on the left. These things are bullet proof as you know but they can and do break. Any pre-load changes to the truck making the unit think it's time to disengage? The engagement/disengagment works on inertia changes so unless you are making a right turn into staging, the left side may not be re-engaging. The truck will leave straight with one side disengaged. I'd find it hard to believe that you rounded teeth just yet but anything is possible. What does the patch look like on a regular street? Are they even? Too many traction variables at the track to judge if something has let go or not at this point.

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    niebs's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by arro222 View Post
    \ The truck will leave straight with one side disengaged.
    You think?

    When was the last time you inspected/adjusted the brakes?

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    They can and do wear out Dave.
    Google Roush Racing in Mooresville N.C.,they have a shop that sells slightly used Cup parts.
    Back in the '90s I was buying used Detroit Lockers for $100.00 from Roush.
    They are only run once or twice in a race and then cycled out, they are like brand new.
    I bought probably 5 or 6 of them for friends, that put them in drag cars and street cars and never had any issues.
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    Quote Originally Posted by arro222 View Post
    From your description, it's as if the truck is making a right turn as that seems to be locked in place and traveling at the same speed as the differential. Could be a broken inertia spring on the left. These things are bullet proof as you know but they can and do break. Any pre-load changes to the truck making the unit think it's time to disengage? The engagement/disengagment works on inertia changes so unless you are making a right turn into staging, the left side may not be re-engaging. The truck will leave straight with one side disengaged. I'd find it hard to believe that you rounded teeth just yet but anything is possible. What does the patch look like on a regular street? Are they even? Too many traction variables at the track to judge if something has let go or not at this point.
    Well fuck me....The left lane is my problem, I have to make a hard left, they a hard right to line up, pulling into the right lane is straight as an arrow. Could it be that simple?
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    When was the last time you inspected/adjusted the brakes?

    Uhm...Next week?
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  10. #10

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    Quote Originally Posted by niebs View Post
    You think?
    Absolutely. Have seen this numerous times. Especially if one side has not locked up or re-engaged. That side is free wheeling if not. He is leaving straight because his "grip" side is slipping (burn out side) balancing out the torsion on the chassis. Ever notice cars w/o posi of some sort leave a much straighter patch than cars that have lock up?

  11. #11

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    Quote Originally Posted by Adobedude View Post
    Well fuck me....The left lane is my problem, I have to make a hard left, they a hard right to line up, pulling into the right lane is straight as an arrow. Could it be that simple?
    Yes if you are not going straight long enough or at all to have the clutch assembly slide back into the spider. The left side is ratcheting to help make the right turn and the spring needs relief from the inertia to push the teeth back in. This is supposed to b a gentle process. if you are leaving hard or doing a burn out w/o that side re-engaging, you have a better chance of rounding off teeth.

    Get thee to a parking lot and do a burn out and check out the leave lines.

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    Quote Originally Posted by arro222 View Post
    Yes if you are not going straight long enough or at all to have the clutch assembly slide back into the spider. The left side is ratcheting to help make the right turn and the spring needs relief from the inertia to push the teeth back in. This is supposed to b a gentle process. if you are leaving hard or doing a burn out w/o that side re-engaging, you have a better chance of rounding off teeth.

    Get thee to a parking lot and do a burn out and check out the leave lines.
    It's fine in the right lane...I drive straight in.
    Left lane has always been a problem, I get sideways doing burnouts all the time... NEVER in the right lane.
    Next test and tune I'm lining up for the left lane from the #1 or 2 staging lanes, I never have, lanes 6&7 are for slicks only.
    Last edited by Adobedude; 08-07-2017 at 03:36 AM.
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  13. #13

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    If it engages while doing a burnout, you may get squirelly. If it is not engaging at all , you have a better chance of leaving straight.

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    I've been sideways in the left lane making a pass, not just the burnout more than once and have aborted a number of runs...never have the problem in the right lane.
    Gonna go out Friday for a little test and tune.
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  15. #15

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    Quote Originally Posted by Adobedude View Post
    I've been sideways in the left lane making a pass, not just the burnout more than once and have aborted a number of runs...never have the problem in the right lane.
    Gonna go out Friday for a little test and tune.
    Tracks indeed can play tricks. I recall once when I pre-loaded my Mustang (which was going as quick as you are going) suspension. On one side of the track I'd get perfect leaves. On the left side, only one tire would spin so the pre-load was not working on that lane. Come to find out, the staging area had a crown dropping off to the left on that lane. Played with all kinds of spring loads, shackle height and tire pressures on that one. Even went so far as to put a hundred lb anvil in the trunk.

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    I have a 53 lb chunk of lead bolted in the back, I had been running 70.
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    So there's this guy with a 68 Cuda, he's won the points numerous times, he's currently in 2nd place behind me, I've always wondered why after making the right turn into the left lane he backs up as far as he can, then pulls forward.

    Now I know....He runs a locker too.
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    Good info.
    I'm taking it to the guy who put it in, let him check it out.
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    Quote Originally Posted by Adobedude View Post
    Good info. I'm taking it to the guy who put it in, let him check it out.
    Six pack says it'll check out fine. Those difs are bullet proof. Takes a lot more PAH than what you have to weakin it.
    If you haven't lived for something, you'll die for nothing.

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    I'm going to a 9" with a spool, ladder bars and coil overs this winter. Fuck it.
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  21. #21

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    Quote Originally Posted by Adobedude View Post
    I'm going to a 9" with a spool, ladder bars and coil overs this winter. Fuck it.
    I like ladder bars but I'd keep the Locker. Don't know if you did anything to it just yet. If you rounded any teeth, I'd get another one now that you know how they work. I've seen axles twist before these things let go. Spools are certainly deliberate but not as versatile as the Locker.

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    Spool....Done.
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  23. #23
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    4 link with spool. ftw!

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    Ladder bar or 4 link....That's the question.

    Probably get an entire 9" built to my specs from Mark Williams.
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  25. #25




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    Quote Originally Posted by Adobedude View Post
    Ladder bar or 4 link....That's the question.

    Probably get an entire 9" built to my specs from Mark Williams.
    Can't hide money

    Fab 9 with spool and 4 link FTW!!!!
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