locking differential
 

what are the downfalls of using a locking differential on a street/strip application
because a freind of mine has a eaton locker thats he wants to sell me for cheap

Re: locking differential
 

They are unreliable and weak at best. This is why the great deal on it. Put a little power on it and it will be an open carrier in minuets. Any clutch unit is better than an eaton pawl locker type.
Bruce

well u see he got it and 3 motors for free with the last reuck he bought
and the guy said he thought it was a locker but wasnt sure......how can u tell if its posi or locking

Clutch types have a clutches on the out board sides of the axle spider gears stacked up usually with a z shaped pre loader spring putting tension on the clutches behind the gears.
The locker type that stink look like the guts to a grandfathers clock and has a locking pawl spring loaded that locks the carrier in posi traction when needed. This is the weak link in this unit.
The better choice for racing looks exactly the same as an open carrier but with the clutches on the outer face of the axle spider gears with the pre-load spring that creates static tension on the clutches the axle pinion retains when installed.
Some 7.5/8" units and some others have cones instead of clutches and are not preferred for racing applications either. The cones wear out fast and make chatter when they slip like a clutch type can without the friction modifier in the gear lube.
Bruce

so what would u recomend for a hopped up street car that i tae to the strip every once in a while

The GM clutch type used in the 12 bolt and 8.5" stock applications. Moroso may make one like this also but to be easy the stock GM clutch types can be made very tight and durable for street strip use.
Bruce

The old ones had 4 coil springs between the clutches...nop mistaking them when you popped the cover.

well i have a gm 8.5 ten bolt and im looking at performance ones..........any sugestions for brand

and what about spools?????????????

You do not want to run a spool on the street....some guys do, but trust me you don't want to. ..not for what you are doing. You are asking for a broken axle.

Huge difference for drivability/axle torture/rim flex/loss of steering when you try to run spool on the street.
If you run a spool on the street and have any fat footprint, you will have a "purpose" . A "purpose" is a wreck caused because you were warned in advance and you may kill me, my wife, my family membor or one of my friends. If you cause an accident with this feature, you should lose your license forever...........

Sorry I got hostile. KEEP THE RACING STUFF ON THE TRACK.

Neighbor: Kaylee 4-12-2001 on a bycycle until 7-4-2007 (yes 4th of July) gunned down by a 16 year old in his dad's Mustang 5.0 with a spool showing off for the neighborhood...................................eve rybody watching in lawn chairs with flags in their hands.

have gm series 4 posi 3.90 gear , had it rebuilt & finds its home in a 71 elcamino , WORKS GREAT ON STRIP OR STREET. LISTEN TO OLDANDTIRED

Yup, street's no place for a spool !

ok thanxx cus i didnt know