Am I crazy?

[Mike Hippert]

OK Yeah I know Yes I am crazy!

But, I was thinking about putting a Detroit in the front diff, the front diff isn't looking so good, it's leaking quite a bit and I REALLY love the Detroit I have in the rear diff right now. What I am wondering is just how suicidal will I have to be to drive it down the road with 2 lockers? I am thinking with 2 lockers it will maybe improve breaking as it will go in a straight line rather then swerve a bit. I know I know, I am going to eat through CVs, but I figure for most stuff i can drive with the center diff open to help preserve my CVs, you know they have lasted this long with the 35s and my lead foot, so what's the locker going to do but stress them even more? :grin, all input is well come, on topic or not :P

[Roadsiderob]

I think it is a bad idea. It will probably be very hard to steer and contol in anything but a straight line, especially in slippery conditions. I would opt for a Tru Track in the front if you have a Detroit in the rear.

[Mike Hippert]

I think it is a bad idea. It will probably be very hard to steer and contol in anything but a straight line, especially in slippery conditions. I would opt for a Tru Track in the front if you have a Detroit in the rear.

Kinda what I was thinking, although it is hard to steer when the roads are slick now with the detroit in the back as it tends to plow forward unless i lock the center diff, then it helps a little. I bet it will also wear the tires weird too.

Has anyone driven with 2 lockers before?

Follow-up Post:

OK, since I am a bit odd anyway, the real question is, am I going to kill myself trying to keep it on the road? Or will I just be suffering with more poor handling? Which really doesn't bother me anyway lol

[KevinNY]

I think it would be impossible to pull into a parking space. Probably kill your power steering too. Bill at GBR says don't do it. You know the TT will work fine.

[chrisvonc]

TT up front.

[Mike Hippert]

Yeah but a TT isn't much more then an open diff, specialy when you are lifting tires. I think i need to lurk over to pirate to see if anyone is driving around any locked SWB AWD vehicles on the street, although highly unlikely.

[KevinNY]

Why not get a front ARB? Your going to spend the money anyway fixing all the other parts your going to break plus the body damage from the sidehill crabbing.

[Mike Hippert]

Why not get a front ARB? Your going to spend the money anyway fixing all the other parts your going to break plus the body damage from the sidehill crabbing.

Good point, lol well I don't fix much of the body damage other then pounding out some of the bigger dents, and I am not the biggest fan of ARb lockers, I just don't like having to rely on electrical stuff in a Rover call me crazy. But a Detriot is a good bit cheaper then an ARB.

My thought was pick up a cheapish used third with a detriot installed, swap out the front diff, if I like it I keep it, if I don't like it I can always swap back to the open diff.

[Scott 9835]

I run ARBS front and rear. In the mud the front sucks to have locked up if you are on a side hill or making a trun. I run the rear locked most of the time and only use the front when i really have to. The detroit might be the cheap way, but you proble will like the open diff much better.

[revor]

What gears are you running Mike..

First I wouldn't do a detroit in the front as it the halfshafts and your CV's will disintgrate before you can try to pull into any parking spot... Even the 2522 will break and such the Detroit will break when the axle/cv does..

Now for the real solution... Well you guys probably know where I stand, but think about it when was the last time you saw a Rover driving down the street make a turn at an intersection with the front locker and diff loc engaged and not break anything?

Toyota parts...

[Mike Hippert]

What gears are you running Mike..

First I wouldn't do a detroit in the front as it the halfshafts and your CV's will disintgrate before you can try to pull into any parking spot... Even the 2522 will break and such the Detroit will break when the axle/cv does..

Now for the real solution... Well you guys probably know where I stand, but think about it when was the last time you saw a Rover driving down the street make a turn at an intersection with the front locker and diff loc engaged and not break anything?

Toyota parts...

lol, well then i guess the front locker will have to wait for a better front axle.

[Hans]

Actually, Mike, you just MIGHT kill yourself with a detroit in the front. When people say your steering will suffer, they mean it. Especially on things like loose sand, snow, wet leaves..... you know, typical New England roads between August and May.

-Hans

[Bowtracer]

ARB is your answer. Youdon't need to run the elec. Use air comp & air switches! I am doing that in the D1 as we speak. Air comp is the only elec.

[Monkeyboy]

There's a Detroit in the back and a TT in the front of my Disco .... there's a reason that the 109 is getting an ARB in the front to go with its Detroit ..... too much excitement in the winter!

btw, the TT has always worked great off road, I don't get the comments regards its functionality w/ a wheel lifted?

KAA

[KevinNY]

Mike,


I know Matt Browne has set up trucks with the ARB run off a small (2LB)CO2 tank, it lasts forever since you need so little to acutate them. You could also get an engine driven compressor.

[woldd90]

My suggestion would be to go with the ARB in the front... Being selectable, in my opinion, gives you the best of both worlds. You can try an obstical with the performance of the truck and driving ability, and if that doesn't work, then lock it up. I think it takes some of the fun out of off roading if you are locked all the time.


I have ARB's front and rear, so I am sure I am a bit biased.

BTW, I think someone is selling a set of lockers in the FS section, I think a Detroit and a TT, with 3.54 gears.

[Mike Hippert]

Well everyone may like their ARBs, but I am still not too keen on them. I guess i just like things plain simple and mechanical! The TT may be the way to go but I think I'll hold off until the front end is a bit more beefed up.

I'll just save up for a better front end all together.

[Hans]

There ya go mike, you can always save up for a Dynatrac pro-Rock 60 and one of the other lockable diff's out there such as the Ox or the Detroit E-locker.

-Hans

[Shane@EVS]

Come on Mike just do it!
Just remember anytime you want to turn, let off the gas!

If you really want a detroit up front you can convert your tcase to part time.

[pendy]

Why not get a front ARB? Your going to spend the money anyway fixing all the other parts your going to break plus the body damage from the sidehill crabbing.

I think TT is to much for the front CV's. I think many premature CV failures can be atributed to the TT.

ARB is the ticket.

JP

[TwisteD90]

Once we had nothing better to do and tried to drive the 90 around with both lockers on, it was PITA to steer and everytime we take a turn the whole truck just feels funny. I'd say go for it and let's us know how things go :)

[Monkeyboy]

I think many premature CV failures can be atributed to the TT.
JP

Pffttt!! Now he tells me :)

The o.e. (and original) front axle bits have held up well so far - lessee, 4 years? - with the TT in the front. Watch, it'll fail on the way home tonight!

[scoloco]

I am not the biggest fan of ARb lockers, I just don't like having to rely on electrical stuff in a Rover call me crazy.

Most folks I know who have ARB compressor problems also use those same light duty compressors to air up their tires. There are indeed one or two exeptions though but only a couple.
If you dont like ARBs, consider Macs :)

[JimC]

Go with the ARB, but dont install the compressor, just run the tubing up to the driver's seat and blow into it whenever you want to lock the diff.

Either that or a powertank, whichever is easier.

[Davis]

I am fond of the TT in front--I have run mine now for about 2 or 3 years. ARB's selectivity is cool, however (as is Mac's), and that is a powerful sway point to go over to them. BUT, I have never had an issue with the TT (Front) or the Detroit (rear) and I appreciate that kind of simplicity. If you want to go more extreme, I would go ARB. For simplicity, I like the TT.