When I was researching my new diff I was trying to decide between Auburn and Eaton. I did some searching on the site and saw a lot of bad feedback on Auburns, so I went with an Eaton. But, I would like to know, what is it that makes Auburns get such bad reviews?

First, foremost and ONLY, when they go south, they are not rebuildable.
End of discussion.

The Auburn does not have clutch discs in it like the Eaton and others do. It uses a cone that is made onto the axle gear that runs in a tapered hole. The cone is pressed into the hole by the force of the gears pressing against each other and the spring pack in the center. This creates a lot of friction, which locks both axle gears to the case. When you turn a corner, or if you have mixed tires on the back, or if the air pressure is not ballanced between the rear tires, or if you do a lot of water burnouts the axles will not turn at the same speed. This causes the cones to slip in the holes and wear will occur. As the cones and tapered holes wear (which happens pretty quick) they fill the rear end with powdered metal. When they wear enough the cones bottom out in the holes and there is no more friction to lock the axle gears to the case. At this point you have a weak standard differential, and a rear end full of metal. All of this metal has been running through the bearings and gears, which has damaged them too. Now you need a new differential and a complete rear end rebuild. The Auburn is not rebuildable because the holes in the case and the cones on the axle gears can not be replaced.

Thanks for the detailed explanation Gear Head.

Ahhh, good detail BGH, appreciate your insight as always. Makes me all the more glad i have the Eaton.

Daniel

Isn't the old Detroit Locker just about the MOST bullet-proof one there is!!

But it's noisy and jerky, isn't it going around corners!!

Free-wheeling "dog-clutches" and all here.......................

pdq67

The Detroit Locker is best for a car that will be drag raced a lot. It will not slip whil doing a water burnout like all of the clutch type limited slip differentials will. Eventually all of the limited slip differentials, Eaton, Auburn, Power Lock, Sure Grip, Traction Lock and others will start to slip while doing the water burnouts. When they do it is time to replace the clutches and shim them tighter.