Traction Lok

[xtremeRanger]

How well does Traction lok work? I wanna hear personal experience with it. Say the clutch plates are tight/Brand new how well does it work

 

[MAranger]

Never had a trac lock with brand new plates, but the two I've had will light up both tires no questions asked. It isn't as predictable trying to whip the thing on pavement. It'll either kick out or one wheel. Wet pavement and dirt you have no problems bringing the ass end around.

 

[pdmustgt]

Both axles are locked together in tell you reach the break-a-way applied force then they slip and stay slipping at lower applied force. The only way to get it to re-lock together is to stop spinning the tire.

 

[ozziemo27]

is it worth swapping in a trac-lok? for a weekend wheeler? I have a trac-lok in a spare 8.8 i have. I have an open diff right now and no plans or funds to get a locker anytime soon.

 

[Beanmachine7000]

Both the Trac-Locs I had were really tight and worked decently... Nowhere near as nice as a locker... I say if there is any part of you that is debating getting a locker, do it... It's worth the extra money (especially if you HAVE to get somewhere, like I do)...

 

[Sunk]

Both the Trac-Locs I had were really tight and worked decently... Nowhere near as nice as a locker... I say if there is any part of you that is debating getting a locker, do it... It's worth the extra money (especially if you HAVE to get somewhere, like I do)...

+1

I don't really think it'd be worth swapping in. I may help in some situations, but if you lift all or even some of the weight off one tire, you basically have an open diff.

For a street machine, they're nice. Off-road they help a small amount, but there is a reason I swapped in lockers.

 

[Mechanickid]

I have one in my 88. I luv it for the street but it always leaves me wanting more offroad. If you do use one and you want it lock then I suggest adding some kind of additive or friction modifier it will help it lock properly. My traclock likes to lock with power applied (right foot on the floor.) lol.

 

[Beanmachine7000]

Actually the friction modifier you put it reduces the friction inside the diff case... That way your lsd doesn't chatter going around a corner...

 

[86freebie]

i have the stock plates with over 200,000 miles on it. put it in 4 low without the front hubs. and it will lock them together and push the truck. never had a problem in the dirt or mud either.

 

[Beanmachine7000]

i have the stock plates with over 200,000 miles on it. put it in 4 low without the front hubs. and it will lock them together and push the truck. never had a problem in the dirt or mud either.

?what?

 

[86freebie]

sorry, i talk in rymes. the stock clutch plates in the rear diff.

 

[merc2dogs]

?what?

think he's saying without actually engaging all four wheels, I do it quite a bit myself when I'm hauling a heavy load and need to start out up hill or something, just drop it into 4low and I have all the torque I need.

I have no problems with having limited slip in my truck, it's well worth swapping in if you have an open diff right now. Since you already have it, it's no expense.

A lot of the locker vs LS debate depends on what kind of wheeling you do and where you go. Mostly where I offroad it's kind of rare to lift a tire so there isn't a lot of difference in the performance between the two.
Mostly have mud, (from peanut butter thick to the soupy sink to your waist type) and sand, and clay (dry and rutted, or wet and slippery) there are a few spots where I have to cross a creek or gulley at an angle, and I get so the RR and LF tires (or the opposite depending on direction) are the only ones in contact, and the LS always gets me through it without a problem. My buddy with open diffs, gets stuck as soon as he reaches the rocking point, so I always go through first and get the strap ready.

With the explorer I have LS front and rear, and it's gotten a reputation as being unstoppable with quite a few of the guys I run with, and it is actually very tame compared to many of the builds here on TRS. The only ones that go farther have V8s and huge tires, but when I get stuck it's always easy to get her out, they get stuck it's generally a real workout to get them out. (it's why I'm happy to have the second best offroader on a ride, there's always a better truck on the ride that can get you out!)

Ken.

 

[Bent Bolt]

How well does Traction lok work? I wanna hear personal experience with it. Say the clutch plates are tight/Brand new how well does it work

When I had my 7.5, I installed new clutches then shimmed them as tight as I could and ran NO friction mod. It worked not bad. Chattered a lot on the street, and I mean A LOT. Off road in loose stuff - gravel and mud - it worked pretty good, always spinning both wheels but it was no locker. Get in some technical stuff like off camber holes getting one wheel in the air, it would spin uselessly.

In short, it was better than a open diff but no where near as good as a locker.

 

[slammer67]

when I bought my ranger with 95K+ miles the trac lock didn't work at all. I bought a clutch kit and installed it with the optional (non stock) clutch plate setup - you can search for it - and it worked great, it would even chirp tires around a corner similar to locker sometimes.

I got rid of the track lock 8.8 and now have a spooled 9" so I can't tell you about the longevity of the track lock.

It depends on your off roading style, track locks/ limited slips are great for the street and for snow driving. If you don't do much heavy off roading, it may be best for you.

Personally, I'd rather have both ends locked up, but thats my prefference as i'd trade roadability for off-roadability

 

[Evan]

Mostly where I offroad it's kind of rare to lift a tire so there isn't a lot of difference in the performance between the two.

You don't need to get a tire in the air to have an LS start slipping. They let go long before then. A guy with full lockers will be able to run circles around LS guys in all offroad circumstances.

With the explorer I have LS front and rear, and it's gotten a reputation as being unstoppable with quite a few of the guys I run with, and it is actually very tame compared to many of the builds here on TRS.

Get some real lockers and be even more unstoppable!