OK since the Traction lock rears are getting bashed

OK since I am hearing that Traction lock rears aren't so Good

down in the other thread that I posted... What do you all run in your cars for Posi Traction?? I know a lot of you guys and gals are running minispools and full spools in your strip only cars, but I want both tires turning on my street car. So what is everyone else running?

 

I was looking at either a new Trac-Lok carrier or one of these TSD (trac-loc) carriers

http://www.currieenterprises.com/cestore/productsRE.aspx?id=1666

 

Who is bashing them? I think the only problems with them is that they make noise. All posi setups except for clutch-based will make noise, either a click from the locking, or chirping from the tires.

I have clutch on my truck and mini-spool on my mav.

I think every posi setup will have it's pros/cons. The clutch setup requires extra maintenance and periodic rebuilds.

 

I run an 8" with Auburn posi, 3:55 gear. So far, it is doing well.

 

To answer the questions... I don't think it was as much bashing as it was warning of the dowfalls, and two people on this board have said that the clutches in the FORD Trac-Lok don't hold up well and Someone else said that he had a Trac-Lok that wouldn't turn both tires.....

how often do you drive the Maverick on the street with that minispool and how much trouble does it give you when you turn the car around and such? I drive my Maverick on the street A LOT so I don't want somethign that is going to comprimise that but I do want to be able to go to the track on a Sunday Afternoon and light up both rear tires....

 

Ford put their 9" rears with Traction-Loc (Trac-Loc) behind some powerful engines. They are a clutch based "posi" that allows for "slippage" that spools and mini-spools do not and allows you to make turns at speed - safely and consistently. They are quieter than most of the after-market "posi" units. If you are going drive primarily on the street, with the every now and again run down the strip, I wouldn't have a problem using the Ford, factory Traction Loc. Depending on hard you pound it, you will rebuild it periodically. If you buy one, have it rebuilt before installing it. If it could stand up to a '67 Mustang with 330 HP 390, it can handle a Maverick with a stout 302.

There are units that are more durable and can handle more power, but for a mild to stout street Maverick, a rebuilt Traction-Loc may be the most economical. Just my two cents. There will be some to disagree, but opinions are only worth what you pay for them.

 

can you tell me what the difference is between the Auburn Posi and the Trac-Lok???

 

This is what I was thinking.. I am not even going with a rebuilt unit I am going to buy new So I would guess that I will be able to get both tires turning for quit awhile since I will only be pounding on it a few time a year. Thanks

 

One more thing, a lot of guys are not going to like the Traction-Loc because one wheel does start spinning a little earlier than the other. The rear end has to be turning over a bit before the clutches lock up and both axles pull. In my humble opinion, the only time this is a real bad thing is on the drag strip. However, if your goal is street drive ability first and track second, you could still race with a Traction-Loc. You'll just have to learn how it reacts with your car on launch and learn to be consistent with that. I ran one on '67 Fairlane with 450HP small block, built C-4 and 3,500 stall, and 4.56 gears back in '77-'79 and had a blast with it. I rebuilt it once before selling the car (one of the dumbest things I ever did, by the way).

 

Nothing wrong with rebuilding them. If the hard parts are in good shape, you replace the clutches and soft parts and keep going.

 

The Trac-lock has the clutches and is the least noisy.
The friction discs do wear out, but it isn't like it's a common thing.
They are like the friction discs in a tranny... How often do those wear out? A tranny can last a very long time depending on how you treat it.

IMO, the Detroit Locker is the best version.
The noise is VERY minimal. I can't hear my van's locker over most road noise... with the radio off.
It will last the longest too, your tires will last (vs spool), and is not dangerous to daily driving like a spool.
Another thing nice about a locker is that 100% of the power is transmitted to the tires equally. Clutches have substantial parasitic loss and tend to send the lion's share of power to the tire that is easiest to spin.
Therefore if you lose traction with the right tire, the power will take the path of least resistance and continue to spin the right tire. The left tire will recieve power, but just enough to let you know you're not peg-leg.
A locker spins equally at full power...
I don't know if there is a "torsen" type diff for Ford rears, but they $uck!
GM guys have trouble with them all the time.

 

What he said Plus,The DETROIT is the ONLY TRUE positraction AUTOMATIC carrier there is. Ford saw fit to put these in the Boss Mustang along with numerous other hi-performance cars of the era. Now they even make a quiet series, But who would want one of those?

 

I have been driving the mini spool for several years on the street. Do a search cross-referencing my name and "spool" otherwise, I will post it here and start a long-drawn out thread on the pros and cons of using a spool on the street (which are clearly documented in the other threads) and get this thread way off topic.

I would put a limited slip in my child's car, but use a spool personally, if that means anything...

 

A locker is essentially a street friendly spool...
You left that one out.

 

Auburns cannot be rebuilt you can trade the old unit back in and get a new unit at a discount.