Rear axle choice for 1/2 ton
- Thread starter TheBac
- Start date
So are guys actually running detroits at the strip with success?
Anything I've ridden in with a Detroit felt like a giant pile of shit on the street, even just leaving a stoplight. They are also axle breakers on the pulling track.
Anything I've ridden in with a Detroit felt like a giant pile of shit on the street, even just leaving a stoplight. They are also axle breakers on the pulling track.
pull truck is a completely different animal.
if your tires are different sizes or not worn the same, its gunna cause some havoc. detroit is always locked until there is enough force from unequal spinning tire to unlock it. we are not making turns at the strip nor are we loading the truck down with a sled in dirt. yes ive seen detroits used in these trucks, cars and everything else without issue at the strip.
if your tires are different sizes or not worn the same, its gunna cause some havoc. detroit is always locked until there is enough force from unequal spinning tire to unlock it. we are not making turns at the strip nor are we loading the truck down with a sled in dirt. yes ive seen detroits used in these trucks, cars and everything else without issue at the strip.
I know how they work, I'm quite familiar with diffs in general, I just have ZERO drag racing experience. I'm curious what everyone has to say as the OP PMed me on another board and asked for my opinion a few days back. But a 9" wasn't part of the equation.
BTW, do you all have a recommendation for brand of gears? The OEMs looked a bit worn in, and I didnt bother to check backlash when I tore the axle apart to verify.
TrueTrac in my 10 bolt, has held up fine for the past year, don't even know it's there until I get on it. Getting ready to build the trans, will see how everything holds up to the extra power after.
I don't have the time to read all the post, but when I first built my truck I used a Dana 61. It's the same as a Dana 60 but uses a much higher gear. I ran a 2.91 and probably had over a 100 runs on it at the track. I finally broke the pinion lunching at 40psi of boost at the track. I found a 3.00 gear set for it and had it cryo treated and probably have over 100 runs on it with out any problems. Strange Engineering made me a spool and street strip axles. I cut the ends off the rear end and had Ford big bearing ends welded on. That way the axles could never come out if they broke. I still have the rear end in the trailer out back. I dyno'ed 770 rwhp and went 10.6 with this rear end.
The next rear end I used was a AAM 11.5". I found a 3.21 gear set and had it cryo treated. Moser Engineering made me a spool and street strip axles. Just like the Dana 61 I cu off the FF end and had Ford big bearing ends welded on. I never had any problems with that rear end. I dyno'ed 1100 rwhp and went 9.8 with this rear end.
I run a TrueTrac on my DD and love it. I don't hear anything going around corners and 99% of the time it's nice and smooth. Once in a while when it's raining out you can feel it going around a corner but other then that it great.
The next rear end I used was a AAM 11.5". I found a 3.21 gear set and had it cryo treated. Moser Engineering made me a spool and street strip axles. Just like the Dana 61 I cu off the FF end and had Ford big bearing ends welded on. I never had any problems with that rear end. I dyno'ed 1100 rwhp and went 9.8 with this rear end.
I run a TrueTrac on my DD and love it. I don't hear anything going around corners and 99% of the time it's nice and smooth. Once in a while when it's raining out you can feel it going around a corner but other then that it great.
AAM's or Yukons. Dana has a new SVL line for a variety of makes, they set up nice and I would say they are Yukon Quality or better. They don't make any gear sets for the 9.5, I just thought it was worth a mention in general.
I swapped a 6 lug 9.5 14 bolt SF axle into my turbo'd half ton and put a tru trac in it with 4.88 yukons and loved it(truck was a t56 6 speed). Made 535 to the rear wheels and I ran drag radials on the street(ECSB weighing in around ~5300lbs). I was more concerned about driveshafts and my clutch than the rear. I also had a T/A girdle on it too. It was out of and older truck and I had to move my perches out. I was able to retain my disc brakes by rotating the caliber.
I have no real experience with rear axles, so I thank you all for your input. It is VERY much appreciated.
How's $470 for a brand new Detroit Locker for the 9.5", with outer bearings already installed?? 
Thanks Zak, that was a great link. :thumb:
Main cap studs, TA Performance girdle coming, too.
Thanks Zak, that was a great link. :thumb:Main cap studs, TA Performance girdle coming, too.
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How's $470 for a brand new Detroit Locker for the 9.5", with outer bearings already installed??
Main cap studs, TA Performance girdle coming, too.
:thumb: