Trutrac vs Yukon Duragrip?

Posi-traction is a GM trade name for a clutch pack type LSD that goes back to the 1950s. It's the same as what is in my picture above: a clutch pack LSD = "posi-traction"

 

On dry pavement, yes they will act the same. On wet pavement, ice, snow, they will act very differently: the TruTrac sends the power to the wheel with traction; the clutch pack LSD sends power to both wheels- this can be very, very dangerous as I said earlier. Anyone who has driven a non torsen type (non TruTrac) LSD on snow and ice will know what I'm talking about.

Edit- I finally read the article you linked; everyone should read that.

 

Like you said, other than a true locker, the Detroit Locker diff would be the best choice for severe off-road as it will send power to both wheels no matter what- like a locker will. It's the closest thing to a true locker, that I'm aware of, that you could drive on the street.​

 

I find the clutch pack lsd way better in the winter compared to the torsen lsd in my lexus.

but that's just me.

 

Care to elaborate? What are you using and what are their winter driving characteristics? Thx

 

02 is300, 96 sierra. ones a torsen ones a clutch type. The Lexus is way more squirrely when you hit the gas vs the gm. both on winters.

 

The Detroit Locker got squirly on pavement in the rain in turns if I wasn't careful.

 

Interesting. First I've heard of this. I would think the seamless "lock up" characteristic of the Torsen would provide even power transmission to the ground on both tires and straight, predictable forward propulsion. Can you think why it doesn't in your case?

 

one weighs 4 times more than the other i dunno.

 

Sounds like the Tru Trac is best overall.

 

Both rear wheels being locked on wet or icy pavement in a turn is no good if you like being in control of your vehicle as it will want to swap ends.

Sometimes sliding is fun. Lol

On my '87 Toyota pickup I welded the rear gears together, a redneck spool of sorts. Worked really well off road, in the rain on pavement not so much. During a turn on dry pavement the 33/12.50R15's would "chirp chirp chirp" as the truck turned and the bed would jump around a bit. Lmao!

 

Another vote for TrueTrac. Have one in my Taco and I love it. Smooth and strong engagement, even with the super.

It is a torque based engagement. So the more power you apply, the stronger the engagement. It "locks up" with any decent throttle, so max effort will hold anything you throw at it.

Clutch types are sort of the opposite. Initial engagement is strong, but it can be overcome with too much power. It does have some sort of increase with applied torque, but you're still relying on friction material vs a self binding mechanism. Also, any time you turn, you ARE wearing the clutches.

 

Redneck spools are fun! My buddy welded one in an old Bronco and that truck would go anywhere, chirping everywhere it went! My e-locked 1st gen with anytime wiring exhibited some interesting characteristics on pavement, too. However, based on what I've read on the TrueTrac/Torsen, just letting off the skinny pedal a bit would get it to unlock if things got dicey in a corner. My N/A 1GRFE isn't making enough power to worry about it on anything other than icy roads, but I live at 9000ft and do more icy road/mountain pass driving than hardcore wheeling so will do a little more research before I add a mod that negatively affects winter performance.

So far for my needs, the TrueTrac is the obvious solution. They're strong, simple, durable with no clutches to wear out and they improve traction in almost all scenarios (if a tire is lifted and you need it locked, just lightly apply the brakes/e-brake). Winner winner.

 

When I was talking about a clutch pack LSD, and also a Detroit Locker, being dangerous in slippery conditions, I'm primarily talking about older RWD vehicles with no electronic traction control devices. Modern vehicles have plenty of sensors watching out for us. Anyone old enough to have driven one of these vehicles in bad conditions has experienced what I have also. You go around a turn at 5-10 MPH in an inch of snow, like the car before you, and suddenly you're fishtailing all over the road.

My DD is an Evo which is AWD and has a clutch pack rear LSD. You'd never notice with the AWD and I have never had it surprise me when driving sanely.

 

For a vehicle that it primarily street driven, it is the winner IMO.

 

Even with a IFS? I guess just watch how to drive it. Much also live in a none snowy area. Full Detroit would be to much I feel like.

 

A locker would act exactly the same on wet flat pavement in a turn with a IFS as it does with a solid front axle, same with a LSD, and a posi...

 

I would never put a Detroit Locker in the front differential of any vehicle I drove on the street because I wouldn't want that to engage when I wasn't expecting it. If you want a front locker, it would be much better to have a selectable locker that you engage when you want it instead of being "surprised" during bad weather conditions.

But that's just me...lol

 

I had one in the front. The truck had manual hubs. You don't have to lock in both hubs, even though I usually did. Pretty simple really. A Detroit Locker in the front makes it steer a little funny but that's about it, it's not like a rear differential being locked that will make the truck want to swap ends.

 

Manual locking front hub swap.