Anybody use a locker?

[71chevylowrider]

I'm trying to decide the best way to put posi in my truck, according to richmand gear the Power Trax Locker is easy to install & makes my current 12 bolt 3.73 non-posi rearend, POSI! It sounds good to me, I've been looking for a used 12 bolt 3.73 posi rearend for a coil spring truck (mine) but for the money I could buy a brand new locker unit & install it myself, & if I bought a used one, I wouldn't know how long it might last before it had problems, anbody have experience/opinions/advice on this? I'm kinda embarrased that my beautiful, fast truck can only leave one black stripe when I get on it. Or I can't get enough traction with one tire to really appreciate getting on it. Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated.

[69CvyPickup4x]

I dont know much but anyway, my bro has a locker in his 14 bolt and its pretty sweet. major traction, but when you hit any water in a turn and get on the gas, the rear end wants to break loose and fish tail so easy. The locker is gonna be as strong as those axel shafts in that 12 bolt.. im sure a used one would be fine.. hope that helps

[Yukon Jack]

I've got a factory No-Spin in my 69 K20 and that is what they called a Detroit locker back then. I'm putting a Detroit locker in my 70 K5 in the next few days. The traction they add for a 4wd is awesome - my 69 4wd will go places in 2wd that my previous 1995 Yukon 4wd couldn't go in 4wd.

I'm sure there will be some 2wd guys that will chime in about your options - nothing better than a 2wd laying to nice black patches of tire!

[cdowns]

those power trax blowup real good usually causeing major damage (sometimes you need a new housing and axels)// get an eaton,auburn ,detroit lockeror moroso brute strength(my choice) unit if you want reliability//ya get what ya pay for

as far as wet weather driving / not a problem with a skilled driver

[71chevylowrider]

ok, I'll check out the other brand names you mentioned, as far as wet weather I'm from the NW, you should see the chunky rain outside right now, but I don't plan on driving the truck in the rain anyway, I'm too lazy to have to clean it after it get's that dirty. I do want something that's gonna last & hold up to my abuse. I checked out the Moroso Brute strength, it says it chatters when you go around corners, I don't like the sound of that, I'm not always gonna be going straight when i drive it around town.

[johnnywagon]

I have a PowerTrax Lock-Right unit in my 14 bolt on my 4x4. Granted, I only spin my tires in the dirt, but I do use it hard (see 4x4 forum: action pix) and I have'nt had any problems with it yet. Every now & then I'll let the Swampers bark on asphalt. They are easy to install and the price is way less than half of most other options.

[ND_guy]

We have all three
I love the Detroit in my k20 it is 10 times smoother and quieter than the powertrax in the chevelle 12bolt. We put the "street use" springs in the powertrax, and it still jerks and chatters around corners. I wouldn't even put FREE powertrax in another street use vehicle. THe Detroit works great but still very obvious to uninformed passengers. When it unlocks with a bang they always ask if that is normal or if something just broke. This next summer the chevelle is getting the same eaton posi as the Camaro it is silent and hooks up on dry pavement as well as the locker.
71lowrider my vote is for a posi.

[71chevylowrider]

Wow, you have some great feedback ND guy, Since you spoke highly of the Posi in the Camero, I was wondering a little more about it, you said it was an Eaton, I was wondering which Eaton, I see on their website they have several variations of the Detroit Locker, is the Camero Posi just a stock Eaton Rearend? Or is it an aftermarket unit?

[7387chevys]

why not go with a spool or a mini spool you can get them for 70-100 bucks from summit racing or speedway motors
Shane

[71chevylowrider]

I'm not familiar with them, is there some good/or bad reviews on these? THey are cheaper, but I guess I'm afraid of the ol "you get what you pay for" routine, are they quiet? do they last?

[ND_guy]

It is a clutch type eaton limited slip we bought a few years back new from a speed shop in Canada(good exchange rate). I would strongly recomended against a spool or welded side gears they do not allow any differential action and are hard on tires and even harder on axle shafts. This would make your beautiful pickup very unstreetable and a chore to drive.

But you would allways spin both tires

[sick69]

I'm running arb air lockers front and rear in my 90 gmc jimmy. absolutly love them! i have a couple friends running the locright locker and they are really happy with them although the first time the went around the corner and heard the popping from the diffs they about lost their minds trying to figure out what was going on

[ND_guy]

ARB or any other selectable locker would be the best option but they are expensive

[sick69]

yes they are ! the only reason i have mine is because the previous owner had them installed. otherwise they are to pricey for my blood

[71chevylowrider]

Hey thanks ND. I sent you a pm

[71chevylowrider]

They sound cool Sick, but I'm a poor guy just driving around in a 35 year old truck, actually that truck is why I'm poor, I just gotta get the best bang,uh er burnout for the money without anything exploding

[sick69]

well lowrider i would suggest looking into the lockright lockers. ive never seen them for more than 350.00 and the friends i have that are running them seem to love them with the exception when turning sharply they pop loudly when they reset


the locright system replaces your spiders with straight cut "gears" that mesh together for the posi effect but when turning sharply they will pop out of sync and reset in the next groove

[84 400]

oaky. sounds like you need a posi rearend. A locker is conna click around corners no matter what as it is a locker. on the other hand a posi will be more usefull with street driving but they can burn out. I woudl suggest eaton as they seem to hold up great.

[QKENUF4U]

a standard posi is your best bet IMHO. i loved the factory posi in my 12-bolt camaro. i would love to have one i my 12 bolt truck rear also

[jhow66]

I put a Eaton in mine--3.07 behind a 502HO crate motor--works like a charm -quite and east to install. (just take your ring gear off old carrier and put on new eaton posi carrier along with new bearings and reinstall as it came out --nothing to set up.)

[69TowRig]

For a street-only, non-drag racing rig, I would do a limited-slip instead of a locker. BTW, Posi, although a slang term since the 60's, is Eaton's trademarked name for their clutch-type limited slip. I would either get one of those or a Detroit TrueTrac. Auburn has an ECTED for that thing, limited slip then flick a switch and get a locker (electric). All of them will be more than $450 or so.

I agree with one of the above postings about the Detroit vs. Lock-Right. I have a Detroit in my Nissan and a Lock-Right in my Blazer. I don't really like either for street driving. On the highway no issues, but around town they can wear your nerves a little thin.

[409biscayne]

I vote for the Eaton , i have a mini spool in my 68 , it's a pain on the street , wouldn't reccomend it . Watch ebay , i got a brand new Eaton for $200 plus the ride . I do have a 72 3.73 posi complete rear end i may not use , i should have a better look at it .
Later ........................................ 409

[71chevylowrider]

I think if the Eaton can handle Jhow's bad ass 502, it can handle my 350, I'm on hte hunt for the eaton unit unless I come across a nice stock 12 bolt posi unit for coil spring truck that I can just stick under mine & be done with it. But so far people want too much money for them & you don't know how badly theyv'e been abused.