Torsen Differential Experience Anyone ?

The 'all gear' design is quite clever. Has anyone ever put one in a rear axle Dana 44 ? I'm thinking about it

for my 'earlycj5'. Eaton Truetrac is one, ... however, I think others are making the Torsen as well.

 

I loved my torsen diff. I put a TT in my front D30 because they are the same basic design.

 

I had one in the rear of mine and loved it. It had excellent street manners and was great off-road. I have been all over MN and in Moab with it. I did end up switching it out for a locker only because I broke it doing doughnuts at a car show. I would run one again but I haven’t found one in my price range yet.

 

I've had some experience with Torsen diffs, as well as clutch type limited slips in 3 Series BMWs. Both do well on road and track, but the clutch type is preferred. At least with the BMW, when you lift a tire, the Torsen acts like an open diff. When both tires have some traction, the Torsen divides power very nicely. The Torsen also doesn't wear and loose effectiveness like the clutch type limited slips. The clutch type diffs can be tightened up (less slip) with added or thicker frictions.
-Donny

 

Thanks you guys ! I'm feeling encouraged about using a torsen diff. .... My early cj5 came from the west, and is pretty much unmolested and rust-free, with a nice sun-baked patina, (I found my frame number and it matches the VIN and my engine number looks appropriate AFAIK) I'm not going to be rock climbing or mud crawling with it. ... My friend and I used to wheel his Dad's jeep as kids, (nostalgic fun from 50 yrs ago !) and now after looking for years, I finally found a jeep for myself. All I really want to do is explore some old logging trails and such on sunny days, and do some made-up chores here on the farm. I figured a torsen in the rear axle would help keep me out of trouble if I got too bold. Or, maybe, ... perhaps, on occasion with a grin, "Oh, I haven't even put the old girl in 4 wheel drive yet !!" lol

 

I have a TrueTrac in the drum brake Dana 30 in the front of my A1. You don't even know it's there. But you can tell it's working. I have one trail that's pretty steep at our farm and near the top it used to slip and spin the driver side front. But with the TT it just motors up and over not slipping at all. I would certainly recommend it for a front. And if I had found a deal on a pair instead of the PowerTrax NoSlips that are in my '79 CJ-5 I'd have preferred them since it is my only "road" jeep.

Does somebody make a gear type LSD that works with the 10 or 19 spline axles? I thought the PowerLock or LockRight were pretty much the options. I have the LockRight in the rear 10 spline 44 of the A1.

 

Hi Mike, Your experience confirms other tales I've heard !! Thanks. I believe truetrac makes one for a 19 spline dana 44. My plan to use one is still many moons away though, so I don't have much information yet. I want to be sure my '56 is reliable enuff to go exploring for a full day first. But, I sure like the potential of the truetrac (front AND rear). I'd like to have full-floaters in the rear too, with lock-out hubs as well.

 

I had one in the rear of a grand cherokee dana 35. It was good not bad at all BUT not as nice as a power-lok. For the same money you can buy a ramp-style power-lok differential. This has clutches inside but once the cross pin walks up the ramp that diff is damn near locked...the ramp is like a log splitter wedge pushing the case halves and jamming the clutches and plates together. I'd definitely take a look at Power Loks too. I've seen some abused old power-loks that still lock up tight and smoothly take corners as well.

 

I'm still looking for a PowrLok 4 Series for my D30 for up front. I have a Gov-Lock for the D30, but don't want to be the guinea pig to see how well they work. On paper, they look good. Automatic engagement with 100 revolution difference, and completely disengage at speeds over 30 mph.
-Donny

 

If you go to a full-floater in the rear you can do 30 splines on the inner and it won't matter if Eaton still makes the 19 spline TruTrac.

I find it odd that a Gov-Lock would exist for a Dana 30? Do you have any more info on this or pics? I would be curious to know more.

GM never used the 30 to the best of my knowledge and I haven't seen one for a Dana ever. 12 bolts, 10 bolts, 9.5" 14 bolt, 10.5" 14 bolt, and the 11.5" 14 bolt. All axles made by GM or by AAM after it was spun off. I would assume it may exist for the 7.5" rears as used in the S10? I know in the Camaro/Firebird it had a cone type diff. The early ones for the 12 bolt were the source of the Gov-Bomb nickname.

 

Check out late 1980's through mid-1990's Volvos, especially wagons. They run a D30 (1031/1041) in the solid-axle rear drive cars. I think it was a '93 940 wagon I pulled mine out of with 3.73 gears and 27 splines at the U-pull. Its an Eaton part, and it should interchange in the intermediate D30 front diff. I know some of the larger GM vehicles with these had issues, but the piece looks pretty stout. Maybe I will find out?
-Donny

 

Interesting. I think a Gov-Lock would make a pretty interesting front diff. I don't know if it has to rotate the right direction for the gears and flyweights to work correctly or not. (Since it runs backwards in the front.)

I had a Gov-Bomb in the 12 bolt truck axle in my Jimmy that all the internal gears were shredded. But it was failed "on" so it worked like a regular clutch LSD. I have one in the back of my Jimmy now in a 9.5" semi-float 14 and in the 11.5" AAM in my '02 Duramax truck. They work OK for the most part, but you can't do donuts in the snow or mud. At least not mine.

I wouldn't buy a new one, but as you can see, I am running them.