Locking Diff? Please advise

[pantera77]

I know I'm late to the party, and you've already made your decision, but a stock trac-loc is more than adequate in nearly any situation. Especially in the winter. Trac-loc + snow tires = unstoppable beast.

[davidwarner]

Thanks for the advice Pantera77. Several people have advised going with a Trac-Loc.

However, for me the Trac-Loc seemed more difficult to source, more difficult to install and nearly as expensive as buying a new Powertrax kit for $500. I could be wrong on all three points.

I plan to buy the Powertrax kit (includes 3 quarts synthetic oil, gasket and sealer) from Pace today (cyber Monday, free postage).

I was hoping to hear back on a confirmation on the number of splines before I purchase the kit but Pace say they will do an exchange if it's not correct. I called the dealer and read the tag info to them and they told me the splines was probably 40 or 41 which seemed way off the mark. I'm pretty sure mine must be 28 splines.

[pantera77]

You have 28 spline axles.

[davidwarner]

Thanks, I went ahead and placed the order for the 8.8" 28 spline.

I'll be sure to report back on the instalation and results.

[gadget73]

200 bucks new.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/FMS-M-4204-F288/

i wouldn't mess with used ones and rebuilding them and all that crap. Just the clutch set is 70 bucks, the clutch and steels set is 110. Add to that the price of the used unit, plus your time to rebuild it, and its just not worth the bother to me. 200 bucks for a brand new unit that you can bolt in and drive away with seems like a better option. Just my 2 cents. If I already had the unit, I'd rebuild it though. I actually bought a used traction lok, and I found a clutch kit in a box of crap at a swap meet for 2 bucks so it'll be worth my bother to overhaul it.

[davidwarner]

Defianetly worth considering the Traction Lok but I'm hoping the powertrax No Slip will give me better performance. I know, at more than twice the price it's probably not worth the extra cash but I'll give it a go. The tug of war demo's on the powertrax site played a part in influencing my decision. Not that I'll be driving my car over rollers.

[sly]

again... it's cheaper at Late Model Restoration as I originally posted...

http://www.latemodelrestoration.com/item/M4204F288/Mustang-88-28-Spline-Traction-lok-Differential

$170

[pantera77]

The tug of war demo's on the powertrax site played a part in influencing my decision. Not that I'll be driving my car over rollers.

Is that the video with the trucks going over rollers and stuff? That's the most BS propaganda video I have ever seen. They purposely take the trucks with clutch based limited slip diffs, and slowly drive them onto the rollers, then just floor it, which results in nothing but burned up clutches. Then they take the powertrax truck, and haul ass onto the rollers, and keep going.



The only thing I'd be worrying about with the powertrax unit is it being to good in the snow, ie: never unlocking. The stock track loc is a lot more forgiving, and even it will get you into trouble if you don't pay attention.

[davidwarner]

Yeah, I do worry about it being 'too good', especially on ice. I do quite a bit of highway driving and am always seeing cars that have spun off the road into the meridian and I don't want to end up being one of them.

I've read a few Jeep forums (CJ's and TJ's) where people have raved about the Powertrax and said there were no problems encountered on the road. Myself, I have driven a Jeep through the winter (standard drive train) and know how quickly and unexpectedly they can spin on ice due to the short wheel base. I hope that any adverse actions induced by the Powertrax will be slower and and more predictable with the longer wheelbase of the Marquise.

I have not read any reports of people having problems with the Powertrax No Slip units on the road.

[SVT98t]

Just saying, we, the collective Panther community, mostly agree on the Trac-Loc.
The Jeep community, seems to agree with the PowerTrax.
If I were buying parts for a Jeep, I'd probably listen to the Jeep guys.
Just saying.
And I agree with Pantara77 on the idea of it being too good. You need the Limited-Slip Differential (LSD) to be a LSD in the winter. It needs to lock and unlock as needed. I think the PowerTrax unit may have adverse affect on the winter driving.
Jeeps are also 4wd.

-ryan s.

[Mercracer]

Just saying, we, the collective Panther community, mostly agree on the Trac-Loc.
The Jeep community, seems to agree with the PowerTrax.

A Panther is not an off-road truck. Ford does not even put lockers in Cobra or Shelby Mustangs. That should tell a person something.

[davidwarner]

Just saying, we, the collective Panther community, mostly agree on the Trac-Loc.
The Jeep community, seems to agree with the PowerTrax.

Valid comments, and I do appreciate everyone's thoughts and advice...But I'm still going with the Powertrax. Call it an experiment or whatever but perhaps I'll be able to provide some objective feedback in any case (bad or good).

[gadget73]

Also consider that for the most part, not many of us have tried things other than the stock traction-lok. I personally only know of two, both of which I believe used a Tru-Trac. At least one of those had problems with it, and it hasn't held up well. Beyond that, I know of nothing else being used. There probably are people using other things, I just don't personally know about it. I for one look forward to hearing reports about something else.

[davidwarner]

Ford does not even put lockers in Cobra or Shelby Mustangs. That should tell a person something.

But on this point, I would not be wanting to take a Cobra or Shelby Mustang onto snowbound back roads. I know, you might say well buy a Jeep then. Unfortunately buying another vehicle is out of the question at the moment and besides I have reagular 300 mile highway journeys as well as the back roads bit.

I could just not bother and rough it out with snow tires and a bit of weight in the back but I have been wanting to experiment with lockers for sometimes.

[Mercracer]

...I could just not bother and rough it out with snow tires and a bit of weight in the back but I have been wanting to experiment with lockers for sometimes.

Myself and others have been there and done that but you don't seem to care. If you want something which is more positive than a Ford Clutch pack but are using this for a daily driver in the rain and snow then an Auburn is a great option instead of a locker. I drove a Mustang with 4.10 gears and a 4000rpm stall converter in WI winters with an Auburn.
A locker will cause you headaches when you least want them. They will not release when you most need them to in the snow. You had better be running ALOT of weight in your trunk if you go with a locker.

Yeah, I do worry about it being 'too good', especially on ice. I do quite a bit of highway driving and am always seeing cars that have spun off the road into the meridian and I don't want to end up being one of them.

Then do not go with a locker..