How strong is our front Dana 35?

[Paul]

Tom and Paul -

I'll take a stab at the license plate. Sounds like what I've often said when not exactly sure of my precise location... "Where the FAKRWEE?"

Good comments on the Dana 35.

See you in Moab

Paul

 

[Scott B.]

Thomas,

Thanks for the info.

BTW, I would think again before putting a Lock Right in the front if you are not running a locker in the rear (including an unlocked ARB) A locked front and unlocked rear cause very erratic handling problems on the trail.


------------------
Scott
sjbosso@mindspring.com

 

[FAKRWEE]

Hi Ray, thanks and I'm glad we see eye to eye. I wonder if you've been around the block as many times as I have. You're right about the tire carrier/bumper. Come to think about it it also applies to the front bumper and the modified 5 1/2 in.tweaked superlift. It seems I always wait for Paul to try out a prototype before I by the new and improved.My next project is the AtlasII I ordered.

Hi Bill,
See ya at Moab. I'll be your wingman any day, 4+ and beyond.

Saludos Paul M. and Paul J, Paul M., Paul J. was tooo quick. Give that boy a cigar.
See ya soon
Tom

 

[GJarrett]

Gloria, I am very interested in your comments on the new Detroit rear. I had thought that a locker would be a bad thing on a daily driver, and you are saying it works great? I assumed that the Detroit is a locker and would be a pain turning corners on pavement? Please explain further. If there is a way to put a locker on a daily driver I would certainly look into that option for my rear.

Gerald

 

[Extreme4x4]

We installed the Detroit after the second Lock-right blow-up. The Explorer was always used as a daily driver, and trail vehicle. My X had to drive 45 miles (one way), to work.

Even though the Detroit is a hard locker, it does have springs and things to allow it to release when a vehicle goes around a corner. The only way it will stay locked around the corner is if you are hard on the gas. There is an audible clicking around corners, but it is significantly more quiet than the Lock-rights were.

Part of the reason for the nice behavior is the longer wheelbase, and weight of the Explorer. However, Detroit has also made changes. The springs that release it in corners are now much softer, so all transitions are much softer. I have noticed no unusual tire wear on the rear, nor have I noticed odd handling characteristics. With the shocks all turned up to 5, I have still been able to play canyon carver with my 5500lb beast.

I in no way find the Detroit objectionable on the road. Like I said, Rick drove the truck, and due to the invisible nature of the Detroit, didn't even remember I had one.

Of course, this is just my opinion...... I may be wrong. Dead Link Removed)

Good luck on your choice.
Gloria
93 EB Explorer (highly modified AND RUNNING)
94 F150 Lightning

 

[Paul B.]

Gerald, Gloria is right about the Detroit. I have one on my truck also. Although it is not a daily driver, it runs fine on the pavement. You just have to watch thoughs turns from a stop. You go to fast and your laying rubber. It's not noisy, but on occasion it will make a funny noise from the rear. I went from a ARB to this.
_______________

91 4x4 4-door modified

 

[tdavis]

Paul; what happened to the ARB?

------------------
Thomas Davis
93 Mazda Navajo/5.5" superlift, 33x12.5 BFG AT/KO
4.56 gears/lockright/auburn pro

 

[briantf]

I'd also be very interested to hear about the new model Detroits. I've thought about a lock-rite for the front of my Ranger, but not for my wife's Explorer. Both trucks have factory LSD's, but as they get older and cease to be daily drivers, they will get gears and lifts - a Detroit would be a VERY good thing in that situation!

 

[Paul B.]

Thomas, after 5 years of hard use it blow up.
So instead of replacing it with the same, my mechanic (Darien) put in the Detroit. He said like Gloria it is almost unbrakeable. You saw how it work at Truckhaven. Dead Link Removed

 

[tdavis]

Hey paul, glad to see ARB's can be worn out from use! What is in the front end?

When I was looking at what to put in, the Detroit propaganda, said put a detroit in the rear, and a truetrack LSD in the front, and you'll have an almost unbeatable combo.

I got to experience a locker in the front end today - and I can see why they don't recommend it! (but, hey, I was climbing hills like they was flat!)



------------------
Thomas Davis
93 Mazda Navajo/5.5" superlift, 33x12.5 BFG AT/KO
4.56 gears/lockright/auburn pro

 

[Paul B.]

Thomas, I had both front & rear ARB's, so when the rear went we only changed the rear to the Detroit and left the front with the ARB. It's nice to be able to just push a button for the front when you need it.