Detroit Softlockers

Idling up an ice-covered ledge!

During my big axle swap adventure, I had to address the fact that the Detroit Softlocker in my old Dana 44 rear axle would not work in the new Ford 9" rear end. Rather than sell it, I decided to swap it into the new Dana 44 front axle. The fact that it was going from a standard cut to a reverse cut housing wasn't an issue, the Detroit could be used in either.

I used to think the advantage of a front locker wasn't worth the added stress on parts and tougher steering. But as I got more experience on hardcore trails, I began to encounter situations where dual-locked 4x4s could drive though while I couldn't. This axle swap provided the nudge I needed to move to front and rear lockers.

I was really pleased with the Detroit Softlocker and its excellent highway manners so I decided to buy another Softlocker for my new 9" rear end. Yes, it cost more than a Lockright but it is way stronger and the labour costs would've been about the same since I was having new gears installed anyway. I ordered the Detroit Softlocker, US Gear ring and pinion, and a Yukon Gear installation kit from Randy's Ring and Pinion in Everett, Washington. The install went smoothly, getting a perfect pattern on our first set up.

As with my first Softlocker, the 9" unit performed flawlessly on the street with virtually no noticeable side-effects and absolutely no annoying clicks or bangs. The maiden voyage with the new axles found us clawing our way up a newly-discovered trail into Blue Mtn. Any skepticism I had about the advantages of front and rear lockers disappeared in an instant when I reached the first obstacle, an ice-covered rock ledge. The added traction allowed me to idle up the rock, avoiding wheel spin which would have sent my Jeep slipping side ways. The rest of the day confirmed my first impression at the rock ledge: dual lockers let me handle tougher obstacles with less speed and wheel spin. That translates into better performance and greater reliability. In short, one Detroit Softlocker is good, two Detroit Softlockers are GREAT!

As with any improvement in your drive train, adding a locker in the front axle will tend to highlight the weakest link in the chain. In this case, it is the axle shaft u-joints. A front locker will exert greater stress on the u-joints, particularly when making tight turns on high traction surfaces like bare rock. Having the wheels turned all the way left or right, and applying lots of throttle, especially if you're backing up a hill, is a recipe for broken u-joints. Fortunately, having front and rear lockers means that you rarely have to use a lot of throttle to overcome an obstacle. In short, having a front locker requires that the driver must be aware of its peculiarities and adjust his driving style accordingly. In doing so, he'll have a more capable and reliable rig. After a few months with the front Detroit Softlocker, I am absolutely happy with it. I can officially state that the axles on Project TJ are now complete.

For you gear heads, here are some photos of the installation:

Santa was generous this year! Left to right: Detroit Softlocker, Yukon Gear install kit, US Gear ring and pinion.	First step? Throw away the old parts!	One of the reasons I'm swapping in a Ford 9": BIG GEARS.
Once the bearings and ring gears were installed on the Detroit, it was time to mount it to the third member.	The 9" uses an adjusting ring to set up the gear laterally. It beats adding/removing shims.	Once all the bearings are installed on the pinion gear, we'll bolt it to the third member.
Backlash looks good.	Pattern looks great!	Make sure the adjusting rings are locked in place by using those clips. After this step, it was just a matter of bolting the third member back into the axle housing.