Another caveat to the clutch LSD is the oil; all clutch LSDs require LSD gear oil. Replacing the clutches is not a big deal, but the break-in is. Open Differential: This is the common OEM configuration, which offers the best drivability, street performance, and value for non-performance street driving conditions. Of course high strength axle shafts must also be considered with these types of modifications.”. Hot Traction Tips For Street/Strip Suspensions. So instead of firing up the ol’ MIG and welding those spiders, try swapping out that peg-leg for a real performance differential. Clutch-type LSDs are popular. Lockers can handle tons of horsepower into the 1,000-plus range, but most LSDs are maxed out by the time you hit 600 hp. Saxton tells us “The Eaton Truetrac (a helical gear type) provides smooth power delivery in poor traction situations making it an excellent choice for hauling heavy payloads and trailering. Over the years, they have improved on their design, reducing the noise and chatter. Don’t Get Locked Out By Your Locking Differential. These units replace the entire differential carrier, which means that you get beefy parts that are made to take the abuse of a race car. Originally developed for the H1 Hummer, this one is geared for the off-road but it may be just at home on the track. Designed for a greater amount of traction for heavy trucks and the street strip racer who wants max traction, it's still smooth enough for a daily driven street vehicle. Sep 1, 1997. We asked Saxton about choosing a drop-in over a full replacement carrier and he told us, “This always comes down to strength considerations. They offer positive locking in the straight lines, but allow the inside wheel to spin when needed around a corner. For a beefed up, maintenance free rear end, perfect for your street and strip car, consider Moser Engineering’s Ultimate 9″ 31 Spline Axle and Differential Package. Notice the symmetrical angles on the spider gears, this is a 2-way differential. If the differential increases the coupling regardless of forward or reverse torque upon throttle release, it is a 2-way diff. Rob Kinnan photographer Jeff Smith writer. The Detroit Locker is the original automatic locking differential. This can cause oversteer or understeer, depending on the suspension, speed, and the road itself. Spools are not the worst thing on the street, but they are pretty close. Over the years, more racers have used and abused the Detroit Locker than any other locking differential, and that is saying something. On-command lockers are very popular with the 4×4 crowd, but they provide the best in terms of traction and drivability for a street-driven drag car. This means that you don’t have to mess with setting pinion depth or backlash on the gears, which can be intimidating for a novice. Within these two styles there are quite a few different options. US Gear creates gearsets for varying high-performance uses: from your basic street/strip car all the way to full-on race cars with big-time horsepower. Installing a drop-in locker can as little as an hour or so. By Wayne Scraba of Lone Wolf Hot Rods This is the second part of the story on Mark Williams' "Ultimate Street-Strip 12 Bolt Rear End Assembly. If the LSD releases the coupling as soon as the throttle lifts, then it is a 1-way. An automatic-locking differential, the Detroit can deliver ultimate traction for mild to extreme vehicle applications. These differentials are not preferred for off-road or performance applications, because they lack the strength and traction needed for off-road and performance conditions. When power output increases beyond the ability of an LSD, a full lock is needed. While not as strong as a full carrier, units such as this Lock-Right from Powertrax (Richmond Gear) work very well. Please use the following coupon code to receive 10% off on your order. Locker and spool systems are ideally suited for racing and special applications, and in most cases, they can be unnecessary or dangerous for the street. A couple tenths at the most. Street/Strip: 3.42-3.90 Gear Ratio; Race: 4.10-Up Gear Ratio; Your sales rep will be able to help you find the gear ratios and components you need, but you can also narrow down your choice using this Gear Ratio Calculator found at SummitRacing.com. Outside of heavy competition, an Eaton Posi commonly lasts as long as the owner wishes to keep it.”. If it has a 12-bolt Chevy,it was swapped in there. If the vehicle modifications include increased engine output, higher than factory ratios, large wheels and tires or other added mass (body armor), a full locker will in almost every situation offer a more durable set-up than a drop in. Strange Engineering offers their own version of the full-locker for racers using a Ford 9-inch rear. However, there are likewise a trio of options in this category. Style. It’s basically bulletproof. As the car becomes more powerful and modifications increase, the drop-in will become less reliable than a full-replacement locker. The locker’s sketchy handling can make them annoying on the street, but perfect for the strip. Last but certainly not least, you need to consider whether your vehicle will benefit more … You can build a TH350 to level two that would be superior to any stock TH400 in every way for about the same cost. The LSD differential operates on three input torque states: Under no load conditions, the LSD operates in static couple, similar to an open carrier. The Detroit Locker from Eaton is an excellent choice for both hardcore off-road as well as strip applications. An open carrier is the most street friendly design, there is no noise, chatter or clunking involved, but the classic “peg-leg” carrier is not good for drag racing. According to Saxton, “Clutch compression is achieved by the outward (axial) force of the side gears which then compress the clutches.” As the torque increases, the more compression is put on the clutches, coupling the axles, reducing slip. Lockers are known for being noisy and harsh on the street, which is why the LSD design is so popular for street rodders—they are quiet and easy. The best aspect of a locker is that you get true, fully-locked axles for maximum torque application just like a spool in the straight lines and free-spin action for the corners. I want no part of a spool. If you would like a response to your feedback, please enter your email address below. The most rugged is the fabled “Detroit Locker.” It features a positive engagement mechanism and can transfer 100% of the torque equally between two wheels. The one with a cover is the smaller rear, I think it's a 6.75 ring gear, the "smooth" differential is an 8 inch. Recommended for street/strip applications. The vehicle itself also makes a difference; short-wheelbase and lightweight vehicles are more susceptible. re: 12 bolt s-10 street strip rear differentials Post by ketel22 » Fri Aug 13, 2010 4:35 am thanks for the reply, i will have to contact you when i have more free time during normal hours of operation. (Optional). Whether you are transforming your daily driver to a street/strip machine or want to improve your off-roader, Eaton has aftermarket differentials that are right for your application. On-Command lockers offer the best of both a spool and an open carrier. All rights reserved. Spools Strange Spools, in steel, forged aluminum and lightweight aluminum, are stronger and lighter than a differential. After you submit your email address, you'll receive an email a link that will let you change your password. The car makes 520/500 at the wheels and is mostly street driven with trips to the strip about 2 times a month. In Chapter 4, I discussed how to rebuild typical clutch-plate-style limited-slip differentials. While that sounds like a spool, and it is very similar, the locker also has the ability to unlock. Cynthia Norris from US Gear explains what it recommends for its own products. Clutch-type differentials are what you commonly find in OEM applications. This gives you an open carrier for street driven and at the push of a button or pull of a lever; you get a fully locked carrier just like a spool. If you want good street performance gear it so you keep the rpm's in the optimum power range of your motor at your typical cruise mph. So instead of firing up the ol’ MIG and welding those spiders, try swapping out that peg-leg for a real performance differential. It is almost terrifying the breadth of Jefferson's technical abilities. Gear Style There are two basic styles of aftermarket gears: performance and pro. I only used first and second gear of the C6 rather than all 3 with the 3.89's. Where this is important is in the driving characteristics. “The Detroit Locker is the original differential of its type, dating all the way back to the 1940s. For ultra-quiet and smooth operation, a gear-driven LSD is the best choice. Geared LSDs actually work by multiplying torque, much like a torque convertor, rather than actually allow slippage. There are lots of options, I'm just trying to determine the best one for me. For extreme budgets or for the builder who doesn’t want to mess with (or have the experience) the critical gear settings, the drop-in locker is a viable option. Best transmission choice, hands down. There are two ways of achieving this- automatic and selectable. They are inexpensive and smooth on the street. Eaton has a new electronic locker, the ELocker. Since they require clutches, as time progresses, the clutch material wears away, requiring a rebuild. Once a tire has completely lost traction, the LSD operates as if it is an open differential; the slipping tire receives no torque. This style uses a simple electromagnetic field to lock the axles together when activated, but operates just like an open carrier when it’s is off, truly the best of both worlds. To do this, the LSD uses either gears or friction clutches to allow the axles to spin at different rates. With the different configurations (1, 1.5 and 2-way), there are enough options to allow you to get the right style for your application. If both sides have sloped ramps but are asymmetrical, it is a 1.5-way differential. Eaton also supplies nearly every automotive, vehicle and engine manufacturer in the world with its high-quality parts and services. Where other on-command lockers require compressors and levers and such, the ELocker uses 12v power to activate the electro-magnetic field that forces the collars to move, locking the axles together. If it is a 12-bolt Chevy,you can get a Detroit Locker for it.That's the next best thing to a spool.The Tru-Tracs are intended more for the street/road course applications,and not recommended for drag strip use.The next choice,and the most common,is the Eaton posi. This biggest drawback of running an automatic locker on the street is the noise and poor handling characteristics. We will safeguard your e-mail and only send content you request. This makes them less reliable, but only because the stock carrier may fail, not because of the locker. The open differential is not really “geared” for performance, so it’s out as is (see drop-ins below for open carrier upgrades). The most famous of the lockers is the Detroit Locker from Eaton. Many street/strip cars get by on a stock posi-style diff, or God forbid, welded spider gears. The last piece of this puzzle is the idea of differential preload. The locker will free-wheel like an open diff until you hit the gas, applying torque, and the locker couples. Clutch style differentials which are ideal for performance street applications and can be rebuilt. If left alone, the clutches with eventually wear away and there will be no coupling of the axles, although Saxton refutes, “This is not 100% the case and is entirely dependent on usage. A properly designed clutch system doesn’t have to make noise. This style of differential is designed to transfer power from “the wheel that slips to the wheel that grips,” or so the commercials used to say. We build a street/strip 8.8 rearend for Project Rehab, our Fox body Mustang with help from Motive Gear. We will never use your email address for any other purpose. Many muscle cars had them installed from the factory, so this makes them a great choice for a stock-style rearend build. 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