So first and foremost, thank you for looking. I did a search and read a lot of the forums and wanted to get some clarification. I have a 98 Sport, and I have the C8.25 with 29 Spline Shafts. Currently, I'm running the 3.55's and 31's but I'm most likely going to upgrade to 4.10's and 32's. I have been looking at getting a locker or at least an upgrade for my axles so that when summer comes, I don't have to waste time I could be at the trails replacing my diff's.

My XJ is my Daily Driver, so I want to find something that has good road manners. Here in Indiana, we do get snow and ice on a regular basis during the winter. As far as my intentions offroad, I'll be hitting up the trails and such this summer, but nothing crazy. Most likely some mild trails for now, as I'm pretty new to it.

I looked at the Aussie's, and hear great things. I hear they take a little bit of getting used to and you sacrifice a little bit of quiet. Thats when I came across a thread mentioning the Detroit TrueTracs. I'm very familiar with the function of the Torsen system, as we've taken our HMMWV's to a couple trails. All the videos I saw on youtube with negativity were from people laying on the skinny pedal, and not really modulating the brake/throttle.

I understand that they have very good road manners, but wanted to hear from some people running them on how they do offroad (more so on mild trails). It's a real toss up right now between the Trueurac and the Aussie's. I'm really leaning towards the TrueTrac for the rear and an Aussie up front, but wanted to get some input since the price of the Trueurac for the front isn't that much more than the Aussie's.

Thank you again, and any experience/ advice is greatly appreciated.

 

I have the same differentials as you do but with 33" tires and 4.56 gears which you might want to give serious consideration to yourself being so close. The 4.10's are equal to a stock gear with a 31" tire a 4.56 would be much better both on/off road. After making my choice of the 4.56's I now wish that I had went with 4.88's for several different reasons not much difference in mileage and also upgrading tire size and being way under geared.

As far as lockers go I chose full lockers "Detroit Lockers" in the D30/Chy 8.25. Mine is not a DD but driven on the streets quite often in all weather conditions. The Detroit's are very quiet the D30 you never know its there till you go into 4wd and the rear works flawless every time.

 

regearing to 4.10, buying 32" tires, and running a tru-hack all sound like useless ideas to me.

reason being, the very second you want to start off roading just a little more you immediately need to upgrade all over again. 33's, 4.56's, and a real locker will keep a smile on your face much longer and will cost about the same. even if you don't end up getting into more hardcore off roading you'll still be happy that you over built for the simple stuff anyway.

 

I also wouldn't waste the money on regearing to 4.10s.

 

I have 31's on my 87 and 4.56 gears. Perfect gearing, again don't get 4.10's.

I run a Tru-trac in the rear and it is great on the street in snow and ice. No noise, just does it's thing. I have been on moderate + trails with no issues. The times I got stuck was in mud, and a locker wouldn't have helped. Maybe find someone in your area that has a locker in the rear, a ride along to see how you like it on the street.

 

Thanks for your input. I prefer the Truetrac because for one, this is primarily a Daily Driver. Also because we take our HMMWV's out to trails a good amount, so I'm familiar with how to drive offroad with a Torsen style differential.

 

Just wondering about the D30 up front. Does the Tru-Trac ever give you any problems at all?


I'm about to molest (for the first time) my new-to-me 2001 xj. I have a high pinion front axle from a '99xj that I want to rebuild completely and then swap in in. I have been considering trying the Volvo locker as I'm familiar with the gov-locs after having a couple S-10s.


If I can't find the gov-loc I'll need to find something else.


I don't go "wheeling" or rock crawling but I do want to have the ability to take-on the fields we have here in NJ and to drive on the beaches for surf fishing without getting stuck.


Thanks for all the helpful info......


Dan

 

by riding the brakes? that's a very bad way to abuse a Cherokee. driving a HMMWV offroad and a Cherokee are two hugely different ball games

I think a Detroit full case locker would be a true torsen. a trutrac is still a limited slip and will allow for slippage when you really need it. idk. if you're gonna spend the money why not get the item that is FOR SURE going to give you traction without question and still be good on the street

 

I thought a 4.10 and a 32 were almost stock ratio like within 5% I just got 4.10s and a stock Dana lsd for mine... I was gonna buy the tru trac as well but best deal I found was 450$ so I opted for the 180$ new in box lsd which will still be way better than my open diff out back. For the percentage of off-roading and street driving I'll do this is prolly perfect for me. I like to take it to my lake house 340 miles away and with the 4.10 and 32's I think my purposes will be served well I had 33x10.5's ordered and I cancelled them even so a 33 with a 4.10 will be way better than a 3.55 gear. I was mainly concerned about going 70 ish without drinking fuel

 

Sorry but for me, having to pucker my butthole while driving on icy roads isn't what I would consider "still good on the street". I want a differential that I can get better traction that my stock differentials can provide, and that I can drive on the road (which is 90% of my driving) without having to worry if I'm giving too much throttle while in a turn.

 

Let me know how you like that setup. The 4.10's and 32's is what I'll be running come summer time. Like you I want to keep some decent mpg, and I drive pretty conservative.

 

That TruTrac isn't going to do **** the second you lift a tire off road. Lots of guys dd with lunchboxes up front and have no problems. IMO I don't think it's worth spending the money to regear just for 4.10's. Don't fear the gear.

 

ive got a detroit in my 29spline c8.25 does decent on the road, only time i really notice it is when im trying to pull out of some where quickly, it clunks pretty violently when i let off/apply the gas,

off road i dont do a bunch of crazy rock crawling but on most trails mud/medium level rocks i barely had to shift int to 4hi at all, i even tackled a lot of stuff with out a front drive shaft and in 4lo and id did fantastic. i dont have any issues with it but if i were going to buy a full case locker instead of it coming with the axle, i would probably buy a selectable. but i wouldnt turn away a detroit if i found a good deal on one

 

I'm in my second winter of having a TrueTrac in the rear of my '99 4wd and I have no regrets choosing it. No handling quirks on pavement, and very well mannered in snow and on ice. I found myself using 4wd less in snow than I ever did with the open diff. Last summer, I ran a hunting trail with a few decent mud holes in it that held me up the past with a trailer on, and had no issues. As far as LSDs go, I think it's one of the best. The down side to it is purchase and installation cost, but if you're re-gearing at the same time, the installation cost isn't really an issue.

 

ok, then explain to me, how would your definition of a torsen be different in the snow between a trutrac and a Detroit. if both give traction under acceleration, wouldn't the difference be the same either way if you let off the gas under slippage? I can't imagine wanting to pay for a trutrac instead.