Rockwell detroit issue

SHELBS44 · Dec 23, 2016

Putting my rockwells together and opened up my chunk to weld the gears. Found out it had a detroit in it. Got to cleaning it up and the detroit is broke. Is it worth fixing or just weld the detroit up and rock on.

Eddyj · Dec 23, 2016

Pinion brakes or wheel brakes on that axle?

SHELBS44 · Dec 23, 2016

Pinion. Iv read they'll open up if you break a shaft. It's in the steer axle

Eddyj · Dec 23, 2016

Yep. With it being a rear steer I would say you slightly more likely to pop a shaft.
If you have rear steer what really would be the benefit to running a locker? Slightly tighter turn radius is not enough trade off for a weaker, possibly unpredictable axle.
Just my opinion. Weld it up. Plus it's already broke once...

SHELBS44 · Dec 23, 2016

Pretty much what I was thinking. Just wanted an opinion. I appreciate it. It's actually going in the front of my rig. Won't have rear steer till down the road. It I got a twin stick so I'll front dig. Thanks

Eddyj · Dec 23, 2016

I misread. I thought you said rear steer.
Still I wouldn't mess with it. But I'm cheap and like things simple.

SHELBS44 · Dec 23, 2016

Me too! Problem solved

fordcontraption01 · Dec 23, 2016

That's the right fix for that for sure. And yes if you have rear steer you need a welded or a spool. I'm welded in the rear and Detroit in the front. And I have broken a front and rear shaft at the same time and had to try and drive off the top of black mountain with the Detroit unlocking and popping and only having a driver rear brake most of the time and it was super sketchy.

BUG-E J · Dec 23, 2016

Lockers are for jeeps to go to the mall.

SHELBS44 · Dec 23, 2016

fordcontraption01 said:
That's the right fix for that for sure. And yes if you have rear steer you need a welded or a spool. I'm welded in the rear and Detroit in the front. And I have broken a front and rear shaft at the same time and had to try and drive off the top of black mountain with the Detroit unlocking and popping and only having a driver rear brake most of the time and it was super sketchy.

That was my concern!!! I knew I had read somewhere they were junk just wanted to make sure. Since it's my steer axle and no rear steer for now I didn't want to chance it.

BUG-E J said:
Lockers are for jeeps to go to the mall.

**** all I'm trying to do with my rig is get to Starbucks :JRich:

Rockwells607 · Dec 23, 2016

I've had several rockwells and my first set I bought a Detroit for the front . Never seemed to unlock so I shoulda just welded it to start but didn't know better at the time. I broke a few shafts and it'd stick open. A couple wide open throttle front digs and it'd usually pop back out and work fine . It's still in the front of Lady Luck