The Detroit Truetrac® from Eaton has long been one of the most trusted differential upgrades for trucks, SUVs, and 4x4s. But is it the right choice for your vehicle? Let’s take a closer look at how this upgrade can improve your vehicle’s traction and grip both on-road and off-road.
What Is a Limited Slip Differential?
Before diving into the advantages and benefits the Detroit Truetrac® limited slip differential brings to your vehicle, it’s important to understand what a limited slip differential is and how it operates.
Limited slip differentials are designed to improve traction over standard open differentials by controlling how power is distributed between the drive wheels. Instead of letting one wheel spin freely when it loses grip with an open differential, a limited slip redirects torque to the high-traction wheel.
The Detroit Truetrac limited slip differential functions as a standard open differential during normal driving. This allows each wheel to rotate at different speeds as needed. You will not even know it’s there until you need it¹. However, unlike an open differential, when one wheel begins to lose traction or the terrain shifts, the internal gear separation forces engage and redirect torque to the wheel with better grip.
The helical gears in the Truetrac apply increasing force until wheel slip is reduced or eliminated. Once the vehicle moves out of the low-traction situation, the differential seamlessly and automatically returns to normal operation⁵. The helical gears in the Truetrac set it apart from traditional clutch-style limited slip differentials. Unlike clutch style diffs that can wear out overtime and lead to chatter and binding, the Truetrac delivers long-term reliability without the need for maintenance beyond oil changes. In addition, it doesn’t require friction modifiers in the gear oil.⁶
In short, the Detroit Truetrac® is engineered to provide enhanced traction and performance without compromising the handling or drivability of your vehicle. The Truetrac® maintains a smooth driving experience, giving you added confidence in both everyday driving and challenging conditions.
Benefits Of the Eaton Detroit Truetrac®
Upgrading your truck with a Detroit Truetrac® can significantly improve overall performance on and off the road. This helical gear limited slip differential automatically senses traction loss and transfers power to the wheel with grip. This helps you maintain control without harsh engagement or added maintenance³. By reducing wheel spin, you gain more controlled handling during daily driving, improved off-road traction on uneven terrain, and better stability in snow, rain, mud, and other slippery conditions.
Whether you’re navigating a steep trail or backing down a slick boat launch, the Truetrac® delivers consistent traction and increased control behind the wheel.
One of the most appealing features of the Detroit Truetrac® is that it requires no input from the driver to use. There are no electrical connections to wire in and no air lines or activation switches to install. Once the Truetrac® is in your axle, it is ready to work on its own. It reacts instantly to changing traction without any input from the driver. This makes it a true set-it-and-forget-it upgrade that delivers consistent performance.
Real-World Applications of the Detroit Truetrac®
Towing
The Truetrac® can help improve traction when towing trailers or hauling loads, especially on slick or uneven surfaces, giving better control while towing. When a normal open differential could lose traction and lead to instability while towing, the Truetrac® helps maintain traction even when towing through unpredictable terrain and roads.¹
Off-Roading
Whether you’re crawling over rocks, mud, or uneven trails, the Truetrac® provides automatic torque distribution to the wheel with the most traction. While open differentials often lose traction off-road⁴, the Detroit Truetrac® helps prevent wheel spin to provide the traction your vehicle needs to keep moving through challenging terrain.
Snow and Ice Driving
On slippery roads, the Truetrac® reduces wheel spin without locking up, allowing safer acceleration, cornering, and braking compared to an open differential.⁵ Unlike an open differential that can leave a wheel spinning helplessly, the Truetrac® gives you improved handling in rain, snow, ice, or any slick surface, making tough conditions more manageable.³
Daily Driving
Even in everyday driving, the Detroit Truetrac® delivers real value. It provides a smooth driving experience similar to a factory open differential during normal conditions. Yet, it still provides the traction advantages you want. The Truetrac® is unnoticeable while driving until it is needed and doesn’t have any harsh engagement or unexpected handling behaviors⁶. Its versatility makes the Detroit Truetrac® an excellent upgrade for nearly any application. ⁵
Limited Slip Differential VS Open Differential
Now that we’ve thoroughly explored how the Detroit Truetrac® operates and looked at the massive benefits it has to offer for your truck, let’s definitively answer the question “Why wouldn’t I just stick with an open differential?”. Let’s look at the advantages and disadvantages of both options.
| Detroit Truetrac® Limited Slip | Open Differential |
| Provides far better traction by sending power to the wheel with grip | Inexpensive and simple from the factory |
| Reduces wheel spin in snow, mud, rain, and loose terrain³ | Smooth, predictable operation in ideal traction conditions ⁴ |
| Improves towing stability and control under load¹ | Sends power to the wheel with the least traction, causing easy wheel spin ⁴ |
| Enhances off-road performance without harsh engagement | Poor performance in snow, mud, or uneven ground ⁴ |
| Boosts acceleration and handling in everyday driving ¹ | Weak off-road capability and limited control in low-traction scenarios |
| Cost considerations when replacing the OEM open differential | Offers no real performance advantage when traction is inconsistent |
Installation and Compatibility
Designed for a variety of compatible axles, the Detroit Truetrac® is the go-to limited slip differential for professionals & enthusiasts alike.
Most professional installers familiar with gear setups will have no issues performing the installation. Since the Truetrac® is a maintenance-free unit³, once installed correctly, it requires no additional service beyond regular gear oil changes.
Fitment for GM 2500HD Trucks With AAM 11.5 inch Axles
The Detroit Truetrac® is now offered for the AAM 11.5″ axle found in 2020+ GM 2500HD diesel trucks with 31 spline axle shafts. Bringing top of the line traction to your heavy-duty GM truck.
Truetrac® – The Bottom Line
Your truck was built to perform heavy-duty tasks and tackle tough terrain with ease; it shouldn’t lose traction when conditions get slick. Detroit Truetrac® is a practical axle upgrade for anyone who wants to add confidence and capability every time they hit the road.
Whether you’re tackling off-road terrain, driving through snow, or towing heavy loads, the Truetrac® delivers reliable traction to your truck, providing traction in the roughest conditions.
Don’t forget to check out XDP’s full selection of Detroit Truetrac® differentials.
Source:
1 https://www.eaton.com/us/en-us/catalog/differentials/eaton-detroit-truetrac-differential.html
2 https://www.eaton.com/content/dam/eaton/products/differentials-traction-control/truetrac/Detroit-Truetrac-RAM-brochure-en-us-EPSL0009.pdf
3 https://www.eaton.com/content/dam/eaton/products/differentials-traction-control/Eaton-Performance-Brochure-Web.pdf?
4 https://www.eaton.com/us/en-us/products/differentials-traction-control/open-differential.html
5 https://www.eaton.com/at/en-gb/products/differentials-traction-control/limited-slip-differentials.html
6 https://www.eaton.com/us/en-us/products/differentials-traction-control/aftermarket-differentials/detroit-truetrac-faqs.html