Jeep D44 - Auburn LS or Detroit TruTrac

orange150

orange150

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 20, 2005
Location
Fairfax City, VA
Like the title says.
Guy at work just happened to have a D44 rear out of an '86 CJ he was parting, so of course I bought it. It is complete with 4.10s (4.11s.. whatever) minus a carrier, he sold it separately.
So, which limited slip is better? The Detroit or the Auburn? The Auburn is cheaper.. Should that be a sign?

Vehicle is an '82 CJ running 33s with a 4.2, light wheeling and farm use, mostly around town driving.
 
The clutch type (auburn) can wear out leaving you with just an open diff. The Detroit uses helical gears so it will not wear out. It either works or it is broken. With that said, I had a Detroit tru-trac in the rear of my jeep and loved it. For hardcore stuff either one will leave you spinning when you lift a tire.
 
I've had both lockers in axles over the years and both work pretty good. Detroit's are what I consider top of the line. On the street it can handle a little harsh and can be noisy. Another good one to look at is the Aussie locker. Easy to install and not quite as jerky.
 
I love my Aussie locker. Mine is up front though so I can't comment on how the road manners would be with it in the rear.
 
2 totally different things, xjsavage. The true track isn't a true locker like you are describing. It works great on the street and as said, won't wear out.
 
I'm going to revive this before I make a purchase.
I can get a Detroit TrueTrac (limited slip) and a Detroit Auto Locker for the same price. This is my DD so I do 90% street driving, the 10% is farm/work/general off road use. I would like to start going to Uwharrie a few times a year once I've addressed a few more things on it as well.

Which do y'all think I should buy?
 
The Detroit locker is far superior traction wise without question so it really boils down to streetability. I think you nailed it, 90% street and most of your offroad sounds like it doesn't call for something aggressive as a full locker. I would go trutrac in your case.

I've owned them and they are super smooth on street, work well in all scenarios when both tires are on the ground. Not preferred for super technical stuff like lifting tires in the rocks. I'm amazed that I even made this suggestion because most everything I run has a spool or detroit rear :)
 
"Streetability" is what's prompting the question. I've read too many posts about detroit lockers being very squirrely on the road on something as small as a CJ. If it's really no big deal, and my tires will absorb some of the motion I'm fine with that. The only locked vehicle I've ever driven on the street were full sized trucks (and my spooled Mustang), I just don't have experience with smaller vehicles. And it being my DD I don't want to hate driving it
 
I remember a while ago I had a lunch box locker in my D44, it was an 01' TJ 4.0 5 speed. It worked great offroad and was super cheap but wow did it like to ratchet a tooth once in a while. That small pop would shoot me a few feet to one side if I wasn't paying attention. It also would lock sometimes while turning which made it understeer mid turn. I think the Detroit is much better and friendlier but I think I'd stick with the trutrac for that reason. Comfort is king on a DD.

Not to discount the fact that they will both give you pretty much equal traction until you really unload one tire. Then the trutrac gives out unless you are hard on the brakes.
 
I have a Lock-Right in my Blazer and a Detroit in my Nissan. Both can be a little sketchy sometimes, you just have to be paying attention to your driving. An automatic locker in the rear on icy/snowy roads at really slow speeds can cause the rear end to want to slide towards the low side of the road (if off camber).

If the few times you drive it off-road doesn't matter to you then a limited slip would be happier on the street. For me, I would not bother with a limited slip, since on pavement a lighter foot on the skinny pedal will keep the tires connected to the road.
 
You will like it.
 
I put one in the back of my 2wd Toyota which was in the midst of a 4wd conversion. I did the solid axle up front and installed 4.88 gears to run 33" BFG's. I drove around everywhere in 2wd with that rear Trutrac and this was up north. Never got stuck with that truck. Of course I had to hit everything with a running start to build momentum and skinny pedal was the key but always impressed me that both tires churned everytime!
 
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