jwest1975 Posted December 15, 2002 Report Share Posted December 15, 2002 As I have mentioned in previous posts, I am not a mechanical type person in any way. What is a locking rear differential and what does it do? Now, please don't get too technical on me! Justin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcairns Posted December 15, 2002 Report Share Posted December 15, 2002 It "locks" both rear axles so they turn as if they are one. This is great for off-roading and drag racing. Not good for going around corners. I am assuming the locker on the SS will be electronically controlled to get around that problem and allow for decent handling qualities. The only downside about a limited slip or a locking diff, is the way traction is lost. It is all or nothing rather than the one wheel losing traction of a standard differential (ever notice how some cars leave two scratch marks behind and some leave one, when they burn out?). This can lead to fishtailing when accelerating hard on wet pavement (at least with a RWD truck) or having the rear end spin around on you in a turn. I have a limited slip on my S-10 and it is great. Just need to take it easy on the gas in the rain . Of course we have yet to see what computer gimmicks GM might be doing for traction control, that could be bothersome for us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UBDSLO1 Posted December 15, 2002 Report Share Posted December 15, 2002 for me, I would not have a vehicle without a rear locker. rear locker non rear locker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rapid-Richard Posted December 16, 2002 Report Share Posted December 16, 2002 It is disabled at 20mph I believe for safety reasons Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin Mervz Posted December 16, 2002 Admin Report Share Posted December 16, 2002 It is disabled at 20mph I believe for safety reasons huh? That doesn't make sense. A rear locker is not an on/off sort of thing. Either you have one, or you don't. And if you do, its always "on", mechanically. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RATFINK Posted December 16, 2002 Report Share Posted December 16, 2002 Yes, they disengage past 20 mph. This has been standard issue since the 1990 SS. It is called a "Eaton locker". It uses a mechanical setup operated via a flyweight on the carrier, once you exceed 20 mph the flyweight disengages the locker. This is also the first thing to break on the original SS, I repalced mine a long time ago with Eatons new H/D carbon fiber plate limited slip. It has been in the truck for three sets of slicks pulling low 1.6 60ft times, so I think it's bulletproof. RF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SSkindog Posted December 16, 2002 Report Share Posted December 16, 2002 Actually, RF, I think it changed in the 95 -96 models. I had a 94 with the factory locking rear and it worked the way one would expect. When I traded up to a 96 with the locking rear, it worked horribly. It was out of commission above 20 mph, and spinning in the mud or snow apparently sometime tricked the damn thing into thining it was above 20 mph!!! Call it the "dumbing down" of the locking rear... lol. I can see where an in-experiecned driver could lose control of the vehicle with the old style locker. But hen we all lose ..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ssvette Posted December 16, 2002 Report Share Posted December 16, 2002 Dang Ratfink low 1.6 60ft times in a truck?? I have a 12 bolt with 4.88s and a spool on slicks and I can't pull a 1.6 60ft time and that is launching at 4000 RPM, now I did get a 150 shot of NOS for my B-Day last week so we will see!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RATFINK Posted December 18, 2002 Report Share Posted December 18, 2002 Dang Ratfink low 1.6 60ft times in a truck??I have a 12 bolt with 4.88s and a spool on slicks and I can't pull a 1.6 60ft time and that is launching at 4000 RPM, now I did get a 150 shot of NOS for my B-Day last week so we will see!! What's your setup? I'm running 3200 stall, 3:73 gears, and 28x11.5 ET streets on Cal-tracs with a -4* pinion angle. What's your pinion angle? Pinion angle is crucial to 60ft times. How much does your setup weigh? Our 3000lb car pulls 1.2's on a true 10.5 tire. RF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ssvette Posted December 19, 2002 Report Share Posted December 19, 2002 1.2 60 ft times sounds like pro-stock numbers We run a 400 HP small block 331 with a 4000 stall converter turbo 400 with a 2.52 1st gear Honestly don't know the pinion angle, i am building a new shaft now since I broke a u-joint and through the last on out at 105MPH took the tailshaft housing and the rearend yoke with it. We are running 4.88s with a spool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RATFINK Posted December 19, 2002 Report Share Posted December 19, 2002 When you get the beast back together set the pinion about 3-4 down. Then keep moving the instant center out, the 60 fts will come, or are you on leaf springs? If you are on leaf springs call calvert racing and talk to Travis, whatever he says do, trust me. www.calvertracing.com Our car is a 388 small chevy, 4:30 gear, glide, Leaving at 4k on the brake, with 3000lb rolling weight on a true 10.5 tire with "stock type" suspension. Here's the funny part.......it's a 89 mustang LX sedan. RF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RATFINK Posted December 19, 2002 Report Share Posted December 19, 2002 Just out of sheer curiousity why the T400 with a 331 smallblock? RF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ssvette Posted December 20, 2002 Report Share Posted December 20, 2002 Just out of sheer curiousity why the T400 with a 331 smallblock? RF One is we broke the last t350 we had and we plan on spraying a 150 to 250 shot out of the gate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ssvette Posted December 20, 2002 Report Share Posted December 20, 2002 Just out of sheer curiousity why the T400 with a 331 smallblock? RF One is we broke the last t350 we had and we plan on spraying a 150 to 250 shot out of the gate. We figure we can run well in the 10s with a 250 shot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RATFINK Posted December 20, 2002 Report Share Posted December 20, 2002 Good enough. Were you running hardened sprags and shafts in the T350? We have ran 9.7's with a 200 shot in a 3000 lb car with a T350, but it had all hardened parts. We stilll have the transmission if you know anybody needing one. RF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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