Quote:
Originally Posted by p76rangie
Your right about less stress to each axle in normal situations. But if you are say climbing a hill, a greater proportion of the stress to move the vehicle is going to the rear wheels (centre diff locked). If the centre diff is unlocked, the front wheels will spin easier and you will lose momentum.
With the risk of starting some of the debate again, the stress on the pinion has nothing to do with keeping the detroit locked. All that has to happen is for one wheel to be turned quicker (by its contact with the ground) and that wheel will unlock. Think of the drive side of the locker as a "C" shape and the axle side being a "T" shape laying on its side. The top of the "T" is small enough to fit through the mounth of the "C". When there is power to the pinion, and the wheels are turning at the same rate, the "T" locks into one end of the "C" to stop it forcing itself out. But as soon as that axle starts to move faster than the drive, the "T" will move back into the mouth of the "C" and unlock. So power to the pinion helps lock the axles in place to stop them being forced to disconnect under load, but does not prevent them unlocking when a wheel is forced to travel faster by turning or uneven terrain.
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Ian, I think if the force locking the axles in place (detroit is locked) overcomes the force/traction on the wheel traveling faster by turning, the detroit will stay locked. This should happen more easily on a rear wheel drive truck sending all the power to the rear. I think the stress on the pinion will determine whether that outside wheel will "free-wheel" or not. Even pavement has a traction limit.
Dave
