Soft locker vs true trac

traitor5150 · 01-17-2006, 05:45 PM

I can get a detroit true trac for $340 or a detroit soft locker for $500 is there a major diffrence worth the extra $160???? I need a new carrier so i figured this is the best way to go... Or for $300 i could get POWER LOK POSI DANA that dosent seem bad since it's a Daily driver and i dont want to ratchet around corners or when i hit the gas like my frends chevy with a detroit locker. a soft locker is like a normal detroit locker but has a preload sring so it is (quieter) they say

anony91xj · 01-17-2006, 05:51 PM

What exactly is a "soft locker"?

jeepme95 · 01-17-2006, 06:06 PM

The soft locker is a detriot locker that is a little less ratchety but it still ratchets, just not as bad as the original detriot. Basically you really cant compare the two as the true trac is a limited slip and the soft locker is a locker. If you dont want ratcheting then get the true trac you wont even know it is there on the street, but it will not lock up like a locker will.

traitor5150 · 01-17-2006, 06:24 PM

I have factory trac loc now i want something a bit more aggresive i was under the impression that the Truetrac used all gears not clutches would it be and upgrade over mine??? or is same range as my stock???? how about a Tractech. WHY ARE THERE SO MANY DIFFRENT YET SIMILAT CONFUSING NAMES!!!! damn

**Matt Gertsch** · 01-17-2006, 06:36 PM

The Truetrac is a gear driven LSD. It is quite a bit more "agressive" than the stock LS, but it won't lock up 100%.

viator · 01-17-2006, 07:27 PM

Here is what I have gleaned:

The Truetrac LSD is a Torsen type LSD, completely gear driven, so you don't have to worry about special maintenance and wearing out your clutch packs as you do with the Trac Loc. It will provide much better traction than an open diff until the point your wheels are up in the air. At the point your wheels are off the ground, the LSD has outlived most of its usefulness.

An auto locker will keep driving with wheels off the ground. But auto lockers come with serious consequences for a DD, at least if you regularly encounter snow or wet roads. If you put a locker in the front, it won't be activated while you're running in 2WD, so it's a non issue if you don't engage 4wd anywhere but on the trail. But if you are running 4wd at modest speeds with a locker on slippery road conditions, I understand handling is problematic, especially for the uninitiated. I also understand there is a frightening tendency to swerve unexpectedly in these conditions if you are going above a certain speed.

The best setup seems to be the ARB air lockers. These can be turned on or off with the push of a button. So when you are wheeling you turn them on and you have locked diffs and all their advantages. When you are on roads you turn them off and you have none of the negative on road issues associated with lockers. While this setup is ideal, it is also very expensive.

traitor5150 · 01-17-2006, 11:34 PM

So the truetrac will not lock??? it just acts as a limited slip and will allow torque to be lost if one wheel is in the air? Seems like a good choice for me Ill put that out back and an arb up front.

hotrod22 · 01-18-2006, 06:11 AM

I have a Detroit Soft-Locker in my high-pinion Dana 30 in the front of my 95 XJ. I drive it almost daily with no problems whatsoever on road or off road. Have not had any inclement weather to drive in to see if there are any handling issues like some have said there could be.

**Jason, aka: Jeepin.com** · 01-18-2006, 10:58 AM

TracTech is a company, they make the Detroit brand line of products - Detroit soft locker (now called the NoSPIN), EZ-locker, TrueTrac LSD, etc.

**Matt Gertsch** · 01-18-2006, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by viator

he Truetrac LSD is a Torsen type LSD, completely gear driven, so you don't have to worry about special maintenance and wearing out your clutch packs as you do with the Trac Loc. It will provide much better traction than an open diff until the point your wheels are up in the air. At the point your wheels are off the ground, the LSD has outlived most of its usefulness.

Its my understanding that with a little brake modulation, the Truetracs can maintain motion to both wheels with one of them in the air. The bias will be to the airborne wheel, but the wheel on the ground will still recieve power.

01-17-2006, 05:51 PM	#2
anony91xj Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: North Jersey Posts: 2,742 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	What exactly is a "soft locker"? __________________ 1997 VW Jetta - Daily Beater <---Totaled, seeking replacement DD 2004 GMC Envoy - Wife's Ride

01-17-2006, 06:06 PM	#3
jeepme95 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: SF bay area CA Posts: 151 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	The soft locker is a detriot locker that is a little less ratchety but it still ratchets, just not as bad as the original detriot. Basically you really cant compare the two as the true trac is a limited slip and the soft locker is a locker. If you dont want ratcheting then get the true trac you wont even know it is there on the street, but it will not lock up like a locker will. __________________ 95 XJ 6.5" of long arm lift, locked, 35's, warn/dutchman axles.

01-17-2006, 07:27 PM	#6
viator Registered User Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Lansing, MI Posts: 154 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	Here is what I have gleaned: The Truetrac LSD is a Torsen type LSD, completely gear driven, so you don't have to worry about special maintenance and wearing out your clutch packs as you do with the Trac Loc. It will provide much better traction than an open diff until the point your wheels are up in the air. At the point your wheels are off the ground, the LSD has outlived most of its usefulness. An auto locker will keep driving with wheels off the ground. But auto lockers come with serious consequences for a DD, at least if you regularly encounter snow or wet roads. If you put a locker in the front, it won't be activated while you're running in 2WD, so it's a non issue if you don't engage 4wd anywhere but on the trail. But if you are running 4wd at modest speeds with a locker on slippery road conditions, I understand handling is problematic, especially for the uninitiated. I also understand there is a frightening tendency to swerve unexpectedly in these conditions if you are going above a certain speed. The best setup seems to be the ARB air lockers. These can be turned on or off with the push of a button. So when you are wheeling you turn them on and you have locked diffs and all their advantages. When you are on roads you turn them off and you have none of the negative on road issues associated with lockers. While this setup is ideal, it is also very expensive. __________________ ______________________________________ [I][SIZE=1]2000 XJ Limited NP242, AW4, 8.25 rear (29) [/SIZE][/I]

01-18-2006, 06:11 AM	#8
hotrod22 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Fayetteville N.C. Posts: 147 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	I have a Detroit Soft-Locker in my high-pinion Dana 30 in the front of my 95 XJ. I drive it almost daily with no problems whatsoever on road or off road. Have not had any inclement weather to drive in to see if there are any handling issues like some have said there could be. __________________ [list][/list]1995 Cherokee 4.0l H.O. 5-speed 4-door 6" lift 33x12.50x15 15x8 w/3.75" BS Bushwackers AA SYE w/custom driveshaft 8.8" rear w/discs Autometer gauges A.C.O.S. A.J.'s front winch bumper A.J.'s rear bumper A.J.'s Super Rails

01-17-2006, 06:24 PM	#4
traitor5150 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Dartmouth MA Posts: 310 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	I have factory trac loc now i want something a bit more aggresive i was under the impression that the Truetrac used all gears not clutches would it be and upgrade over mine??? or is same range as my stock???? how about a Tractech. WHY ARE THERE SO MANY DIFFRENT YET SIMILAT CONFUSING NAMES!!!! damn

01-17-2006, 11:34 PM	#7
traitor5150 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Dartmouth MA Posts: 310 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	So the truetrac will not lock??? it just acts as a limited slip and will allow torque to be lost if one wheel is in the air? Seems like a good choice for me Ill put that out back and an arb up front.