Well its time to tear into the Trak-Lok at 170,000 miles. Im having conflicting emotions on this. Should I just rebuild it or step it up to a Detroit or a LockRite. I have a LockRite in the front (well soon to have). I am just a little concerned with the strength of the 8.8 with a Detriot. Any suggestions.
Trak-lok or Detroit.
- Thread starter BucknO
- Start date
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Broncobill78
New member
The 8.8 is a good axle that gets a bad rap. It'll be fine w/a Detroit Locker. Just be aware of the little quirks the locker has (doesn't like to unlock on turns when installed in short-wheelbase trucks, likes to push you one way or the other when on slick ice, etc)
What size tires are you running? What type of wheeling do you do most? A Detroit locker is going to be the strongest of those three options, but also the most expensive. JSM84
35"s for now. As for wheeling... im building this for just about anything( mud, rocks.. the whole 9). I really dont want to go to a detroit, because it is so expensive and because Ill start my 1-ton conversion in about a year or so depending on the cash flow. Ive got my hands on a 10.25 that Im going to start on soon. I was really leaning twards the Lock-Rite just because thats what I am putting in the Front.
In my experience, neither the trak-Lok nor the Lock-rite are going to last very long with 35" tires, so you may be better off just rebuilding the factory unit. replace the clutches and wait for your 1-ton swap. You won't believe the huge size difference bewteen the Ford 8.8" and Sterling 10.25" gears and other parts. if you look back thru some of the other threads on overhauling the ford 8.8" axle, I posted a few links from Miesk5's Homepage. One of the links is a video on replacing the clutch discs in the trac-Lok. The number one most common failing I've seen on the 8.8" with L/S (trac-lok) is wornout clutches. For the front Dana44 TTB axle, I would either leave it open or install a full spool instead of installing a trac-lok, Lock-Rite/ Lock-Right or EZ locker. My main reasoning for this suggestion is that it's so difficult to work on the gears in the D44 TTB, and you don't want to be working on it more often than absolutely necessary. JSM84
American Thunder
New member
I like detroit lockers. I've had one in my Mustang II for about 15 years, and the characteristics of the ratching locker grow on you. In hot weather, when I make a tight turn from a stop, the tires squeal intermittently, which can present an awkward moment if there happens to be a cop sitting at the intersection. (it's happened!) "But officer.. it's a DETROIT LOCKER" hah
Aligning the car was interesting. It was at a shop where my buddy worked, and he, his boss, and myself, were all trying to turn the wheel that was jacked up, while the other tire was still on the ground, so the alignment machine could be leveled. We twisted on that thing HARD and it finally broke loose.
It makes various clicking and clunking noises, but the weirdest thing is that you can feel the carrier locking and unlocking in the middle of high speed turns, and it affects the attitude of the car slightly.
These issues are probably due to the fact that the Mustang II only weighs 2450 lbs, I'm not sure if you'd notice as much in a truck twice that weight. Even if you did, the strength and consistent grab of the detroit unit is worth it as far as I'm concerned.
Aligning the car was interesting. It was at a shop where my buddy worked, and he, his boss, and myself, were all trying to turn the wheel that was jacked up, while the other tire was still on the ground, so the alignment machine could be leveled. We twisted on that thing HARD and it finally broke loose.
It makes various clicking and clunking noises, but the weirdest thing is that you can feel the carrier locking and unlocking in the middle of high speed turns, and it affects the attitude of the car slightly.
These issues are probably due to the fact that the Mustang II only weighs 2450 lbs, I'm not sure if you'd notice as much in a truck twice that weight. Even if you did, the strength and consistent grab of the detroit unit is worth it as far as I'm concerned.
