[cardude]

I am installing a 9" diff in my 67 and can't decide which type of 3rd member to install. Does anyone have any experience with both the Detroit lockers and the Auburn limited slips? The car will be used for a saturday night toy as well as a daily driver in good weather.

[elcamino72]

If you plan to drive the car on the street as you mentioned, I would highly advise going w/ a Limited Slip. With teh locker diffs the rear axles are "locked" together at all times. This can make for some scarry cornering. With a limited slip diff, the rear axles are locked together until they are broken loose on while cornering or turning. Much safer on the street.


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Bryan Shook
Burgettstown, Pa

[cardude]

Thanks for the reply Bryan,
The Detroit lockers made by Tractech will disengage while cornering, but they (tractech) said the units can be noisy. The people at Auburn Gear mentioned there are other problems but wouldn't elaborate. Have you had any experience with either types?

[elcamino72]

I don't have experiance w/ either company or locker diffs. I do however have a stock limited slip diff in my El Camino, it works fine, its not noisy and I haven't had any probs yet with it. However I don't race the car. I've talked to people w/ the Auburn units, they all like them. I would go w/ the Auburn unit.

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Bryan Shook
Burgettstown, Pa

[Joseph]

Lockers in my opinion are good for off road, traction on dirt surfaces. I have one in my 71 Bronco and it is great off road, ultimate traction. Its street manners are another story. Three negatives for street use. It is noisey and sometimes after a turn under acceleration the locker engages with a bang! The first time I heard and felt this I thought I broke an axle. My 4-wheel pals said not to worry that is how a locker behaves. Also, there is "slop" in the locker where the drive shaft can rotate about 1/16th of a turn freely. It is not so bad with a manual tranny but friends with autos say the slop becomes a problem, especially when put into gear. More banging. And lastly, the locker disengages the outer wheel in a turn so that the inside tire gets the torque. This pushes the car to the outside of the turn.
I understand that Tru-Trac makes a worm gear limited slip that the road racers love and is quite strong. I would recommend going this route is you are building a third member for the street.

Joseph

[68SS396]

100% with Joseph on this one. I have lockers front anfd rear in my truck and experience everything Joseph does. Also letting off the gas or getting on it seems to make the truck sway for a second due to both wheels being locked. Slightly more dangerous on wet roads, especially ones with that rubber crack sealer. My car has a Moroso Brute Strength differential and doesn't really experience those symptoms. The lockers don't bother me at all but I could definatley see why some people may not like them