I finally got around to installing my Tracrite rear differential. It's the one the dodge uses. Working alone, it took me about 3 hours start to finish to do the swap. That's one heavy sucker. I bet the differential with the ring gear and bearings on it weighs over 80 lbs. I drove the truck around some and it's nice to be able to spin both tires again. The tracrite works better than the stock G80 posi ever did.

There were no broken parts in my housing, so I'm assuming that the stock gov-lok G80 posi simply failed due to burned up clutches. The gear oil I drained out was burnt and black, so that would also support this theory. One of these days I'll probably tear it apart just to have a look inside and see for sure.

Tearing apart the chunk is pretty easy. The clutch pack and gear on mine were pretty much destroyed, the gear cracked in half and the clutch steels had the ear tabs sheared off.

It cost me about 150 bucks or so in parts to get what I needed for reassembly. The spider gears were a PITA but other than that not too bad. You do need a special tool for the Gov-Lok assy as well.

I like Trac-Rite a whole bunch better too.

yup, no wheelspin pulling the trailer out of the boat launch ramp today. I was one wheeling all the time at the launch with the burned up G80

how much?

The TracRite was $517.00 if I recall correctly. Add new bearings, races and shipping and you get out the door for about 600 bucks.

http://dieselplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=31188

Mine was $543 from Randy's. The bearings and races were $70 for 2 bearings and 2 races. Shipping was $40.

I have the 03 Chevy CC SB. It does not have the G80 in it..... only single wheel drive. It is a bit dicey sometimes when pulling the boat out. Can anyone recommend which posi I should get installed? Sounds like Tracrite works pretty good. Also, is there a vendor in SoCal that installs this?

Does the TracRite dis-engage after 28 mph. This dis-engaging drives me nuts. I am wanting a detroit locker, but they don't make them yet.

The TracRite is engaged all the time biasing traction to the wheel with the most traction. Pretty fun to drive with a little extra power and when you want a 3/4 ton to drift a bit. ;)

From AAM's site:

AAM's TracRiteªGT differential is one of the most reliable ways to transfer power from the engine to the wheels. Our long pinion-gear-face-width partnered with a patented brake shoe TracRiteªGTtechnology allows the driver optimum control of the gear-mesh separating forces. This control and the fact that this differential uses no springs or clutch plates translates into a very quiet and highly durable torque biasing differential. The TracRiteªGT is a full-time system which continuously biases torque to the higher traction wheel, preventing wheel slip from occurring. All of this technology gives drivers the safest, quietest ride possible.

My rearend has been acting up bad. It was locking up going around corners. Now its shuddering in forward slow start. It grunts and shakes in reverse turning.

Would this tracright fix the problem. Can I gut my pod and install this in a weekend by myself without shop tools?

Or should I bring it somewhere and have a pro do it?

Sounds like there's something wrong with your differential. If so, a new one should cure your problems. I installed mine in my garage by myself using only regular tools in 3 hours. If you do the job yourself you will need to take the new differential somewhere and have the new bearings pressed on.

I have the 03 Chevy CC SB. It does not have the G80 in it..... only single wheel drive. It is a bit dicey sometimes when pulling the boat out. Can anyone recommend which posi I should get installed? Sounds like Tracrite works pretty good. Also, is there a vendor in SoCal that installs this?

The tracrite works better and it's cheaper than the stock G80 locker. Those are your only two choices right now.

The TracRite is engaged all the time biasing traction to the wheel with the most traction. Pretty fun to drive with a little extra power and when you want a 3/4 ton to drift a bit. ;)


Yeah, the tracrite is capable of kicking the truck out sideways around a turn and producing burnouts that the G80 would never do.

The tracrite works better and it's cheaper than the stock G80 locker. Those are your only two choices right now.

Thanks Jorday,

What is the part number you ordered for the Tracrite?

from randy's the item number listed is YP PC11.5-HELIC

is the weight about the same (stock vs tracrite) with all the componets?

Can someone tell me who has or can do a pro install near Long Beach, CA ?

How much for the install by a mech? I guess I should have my rearend checked out first.

If I keep driving will it leave me stranded along the road or will I just lose positraction features?

You will still be able to drive it if the locker is broke. You just won't be able to do any twin tire patch burnies.:(

is the weight about the same (stock vs tracrite) with all the componets?

Pretty much. Both of them are heavy bastards...

I believe they weigh about 70 lbs give or take...without the ring gear or bearings on them

I have the 03 Chevy CC SB. It does not have the G80 in it..... only single wheel drive. It is a bit dicey sometimes when pulling the boat out. Can anyone recommend which posi I should get installed? Sounds like Tracrite works pretty good. Also, is there a vendor in SoCal that installs this?

did you order it like that? Im just curious cause it seems like 99.9% of the Dmax's have the G80.

Is it called a lockrite or a tracrite?

I went to a rearend shop and he said locrite.

It is a TracRite made by AAM.

Yeah, it's a tracrite. I'm still getting a detroit locker if it ever comes out though. After driving around in the rain and testing the tracrite still wants to unlock sometimes during a burnout while turning right in the rain. It's far better than the stock G80 though. That's a hard test for any posi. One thing about a detroit locker, if you're burning rubber ...both of them are spinning...I promise.


The reason most Dmax trucks have G80 is most of them are heavy duty power package trucks, which includes the Duramax diesel, Allison transmission, towing package, and G80 locking rear.

The guy at the rearend shop showed me the g80 guts and pointed out the defects. Said it was a krappy design. He said dino oil would make them last longer then synthetic.

i very much like mine as well. i've had it for quite some time and its holding up well.

did you order it like that? Im just curious cause it seems like 99.9% of the Dmax's have the G80.

I bought it from a private party. It was six months old and I didn't think to check at the time, because like you I thought they all had the G80. I got to looking at the codes listed in the glove box and no G80 listed. Backed off the road into a little mud last winter and it just sat there spinning the rear wheel.

It is a TracRite made by AAM.

I called Randy's yesterday about getting one, and the guy on the phone referred to it as a Trutrac. Now I am confused?? :confused:

TrueTrac is a similar product line by Detroit. Both the TrueTrac and the TracRite are gear-based biasing limited slip differentials, not lockers.

The difference being is Detroit does not yet make ANYTHING to fit the 11.5 ring gear.

The only options today are the Eaton Gov-Lock or the AAM TracRite. Don't let the sales guys confuse you with the different names. Bottom line is most sales guys don't know sh*t from shinola and just call it whatever they want.

TrueTrac is a similar product line by Detroit. Both the TrueTrac and the TracRite are gear-based biasing limited slip differentials, not lockers.

The difference being is Detroit does not yet make ANYTHING to fit the 11.5 ring gear.

The only options today are the Eaton Gov-Lock or the AAM TracRite. Don't let the sales guys confuse you with the different names. Bottom line is most sales guys don't know sh*t from shinola and just call it whatever they want.

Thanks for the good info. I felt like I was getting wrapped around the axle on this issue. I guess I will order one from randy's today.

is this "dodge unit" rebuildable? or has anyone burned one up yet?