How Do I Set Up a Detroit Locker for a Particular Track Size?

The Detroit Locker differential allows both driven wheels to freewheel under deceleration. This gives cars equipped with a Detroit Locker excellent turn-in characteristics. The Detroit Locker applies full and equal power to the driven wheels under acceleration; in other words, when power is applied, the Detroit Locker behaves like a spool. This spool-like behavior means that tire stagger is critically important for cars equipped with a Detroit Locker differential. Use more stagger for shorter tracks, and less stagger for longer tracks.

Things You'll Need

  • Tire gauge
  • Tire pyrometer
  • Stagger tape or stagger stick
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Instructions

    • 1

      Set the stagger and tire pressures. Proper setup parameters vary with the car, the track, the tires, and much more. If you don't have a good baseline setup, ask your chassis builder, or ask other racers.

    • 2

      Run 10 to 20 laps. Try to run by yourself, and make sure you get the tires hot. Pay attention to how the car feels at mid-turn and exit. If the car pushes, it has too little stagger; if the car is loose, it has too much stagger.

    • 3

      Check the tire temperatures. If the outside edge of the left rear tire and the inside edge of the right rear are abnormally hot, you probably have too much stagger.

    • 4

      Continue to test until the car is neutral throughout the turn.