Is this the ultimate Differential?

[tyoneal]

Hello:

I was just reading, "Super Chevy", April 2007, and saw an ad for the Auburn Gear, "ECTED", Differential.

It's limited slip AND a Locker. It can be programed to come on or switched from inside the car back and forth between L-S and Locker.

Here is the link:

http://www.auburngear.com/oemdifferentials/ected/

I am having a rear end built and was wondering if anyone has any opinions one way or the other on this product.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Thanks,

Ty O'Neal

[JamesJ]

Unless you are going to go to the drag strip or go off road many times over I dont know why you would need a "locked" diff. Seems like alot of extra work work not much real gain. It would be cool though!

[chet]

detroit makes something similar called an electrac. They work great off road.

[chicane]

Originally Posted by JamesJ

Unless you are going to go to the drag strip or go off road many times over I dont know why you would need a "locked" diff. Seems like alot of extra work work not much real gain. It would be cool though!

This differential doesnt "lock", per-say, because of it being a clutch type limited slip design... and that it doesnt exactly lock in its intended applications either... meaning, light duty trucks etc. In a lighter vechicle it will show some tendancies of near lock, but depending on traction and power applied, it can be over-ridden with subtle ease.

On another note: Their statement of 18000in/lbs (that's 1,500ft/lbs) is rather generous. Strength of magnitism in such a small unit is a mere dream in theroy as it is. That, and its integration with factory electronics isnt really as straight forward as they advertise that it is susposed to be. I mean come on now, 1,500 ft/lbs of torque (bias) in something the size of a soap dish ?? I dont think so.

This differential isnt new to the market. There have been a few renditions over the past 10 or so years... and this is just the latest one. For a creeper, rock crawler, light weight application sure... but I can tell you that the little microscopic carrier bearing that is susposed to take the load of its original piece... some 4 times its size... is it weakest component. It wont live very long in an abusive environment, such as drag racing or anything with increased impact loading... like performance street use.

Eatons Elocker is close but, it actually uses a 'dovetail and slider' locking mechanism... and it does actually lock.

Anyway... these units are by far the easiest of the 'selectable' type differnetials to install.

[tyoneal]

Thanks for the explanation. It did sound like a nice thing for those who like to hit the track on the weekends.

I was not aware of how long this type of technology had been around, but with your input, I'll do some more research.

Thanks a million.

Ty O'Neal

Anyone else have any experience with these things?

[CraigMorrison]

For a while I worked at ARB, the Australian 4WD accessory company. They have an air-actuated locker that goes from open to fully locked diff using a small on-board air compressor and internal air-actuated locking ring. THEY ARE AWESOME!!! They are "the thing" to have on a hard core 4x4 and when I was working with them, they introduces a 35 spline 9" unit for street-strip drag race guys. Very cool units.

The rest of the market OX-lock, Auburn, etc are all copies of this unit and use either electric or cable as the mechanism (since ARB has the int'l patents on the air locker design)

What would be the "ultimate" PT diff would be a unit where you could adjust the level of power distribution to the wheels, going from nearly an open diff to full lock. F1 has had this tech for years, it just hasn't trickled down yet.