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Detroit Locker - Automatic Lockers
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.
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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Onboard
Air
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. 
Detroit
Locker® Highlights
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