Lockers (Not the ones I used to get shoved into)

[B52BUFF]

Which are better?  Air, Cable, or any of the other types I have found?  Where is it better to install them?  Front or back?

How many of you are screaming "NOOOB!!!!!" at the computer screen right now?

[B52BUFF]

These are what I have seen so far and I am curious about.

http://www.4wd.com/productdetails.aspx?partID=11946

http://www.4wd.com/productdetails.aspx?partID=4572

http://www.4wd.com/productdetails.aspx?partID=10238

http://www.4wd.com/productdetails.aspx?partID=14145

http://www.4wd.com/productdetails.aspx?partID=4875

http://www.4wd.com/productdetails.aspx?partID=8468

I realize it is a lot but I need to know and you are the guys with the answers.

[reg]

my opinion:

detroit true trac
http://www.4wd.com/productdetails.aspx?partID=11946
limited slip, great for highway drivers.... not much more.

detroit soflocker
http://www.4wd.com/productdetails.aspx?partID=4572
I hear they are good and work really well, haven't personally talked to anyone who ran them. good name brand though. Know some people who run the Detroits they are nice. would recommend for the rear only for a dd. looking into these or the regular detroit locker for the rear of my rig.

ARB air locker
http://www.4wd.com/productdetails.aspx?partID=10238
industry standard. if you have the money to run these and the air compressor and storage tank, this is the way to go.

OX
http://www.4wd.com/productdetails.aspx?partID=14145
OX's are nice. The cables get pretty coroded in the NE though. a little more maintenance but work well. (the ARB air locker is about the same price)

lock-right lunchbox
http://www.4wd.com/productdetails.aspx?partID=4875
"lunch box" locker... they break, good if you plan to run moderate trails with tires 31 inches or less in my opinion. lot of people run them though.

ECTED electric
http://www.4wd.com/productdetails.aspx?partID=8468
I'm actually looking at these for the front of my rig, half the price of an ARB and selectable. I know a guy who runs something similar to these and it works nicely.

hope this helps, just my opinion though.

[B52BUFF]

It seems to me that the ECTED is the way to go.  The only thing is that I feel I would need to get a different differential before I go to lockers because your can't go from a Dana 35 to a Dana 44 and expect to take the part with you.  Therefore my next logical question would be what size axle should I go with and why?

[B52BUFF]

I found this page and it explains a little but thought it was worth sharing.

http://coloradok5.com/axleguide.shtml

[gearhead1985B]

Another thing to look for is later model tj rubi dana 44 axles they come 4.10's and a selectable lockers so you get gears better axles lockers for about 5k pricy or more for the set 

[reg]

I'd go with either the 8.8 or dana 44. both are good axles (I run a 44) but you can get the 8.8 already set up with disc brakes (big plus!) out of an exploder (forget which years)  you could always put one up front first. it makes a difference.

[Cheek-Bone]

Like Donny said its my opinion. I ran ARB's in my last rig and I loved them. They are really expensive and maybe a little over kill for the rear but a selectable is the only way to go in the front. It allows you to manually unlock it and get your turning radius back on the trail where you will need it the most. So if I had to do it again, Id run a Detriot in the rear and something selectable in the front, all hindging on your budget.

As far as axles. This debate can go on forever but having been a guy who had the wheeling bug really bad and low budget. You are always better off spending your money once. I know and some people will say if you make one thing stronger something else will be the weak point and they are right. But I would rather have my weak point be an $8 u-joint from AZ than a $2000 locker/differental after you get it all set up. So if you are thinking about doing an axle swap, dont screw around go straight to 2.5 Ton Rockwells and dont look back. Then you wont have to worry about them and you can upgrade to as big as you want. All seriousness. If you plan on keeping it a DD then I would find some 1 tons and put them in. Plenty of strength and piece of mind.

Brian

[calvynandhobbs]

I thought I read in another post that you wanted to wheel it stockish for a while and just add armor for protection. I've never had a sectable in any of my Jeeps. I've run Aussies and Lockrights in the front axles on a couple of them and I've had a Lockright, a spool and 2 welded rear axles. I would not suggest welded rear axles, especially in a TJ. It tears the control arm bushings up and really throws it around a lot pulling into parking spots on cement. My TJ has a D44 rear and will have a Detroit installed by the end of next week.

I love the option of selectable lockers, but I've never been able to come up with the money to put one in and I've never had a problem with the lunchbox lockers. I drove my current TJ through a winter with a welded rear end and didn't crash it, which surprised me since it was dangerous a couple times. If you go with a Detroit or lunchbox locker you just have to taylor your driving style a little bit and you'll be fine. I would look for a D44 out of a TJ to throw in your TJ. If you get a later one you can get disc brakes and all of that also.

[B52BUFF]

I want to see how far I can go without lifting it.  Of course everything I think I might want to try makes me consider other things.  I started thinking about lockers because of what happened in Va.  I feel that if I had both wheels turning I would have gotten out of that with little effort.  The fact that the weak wheel slips bothers me.  It doesn't really mean 4x4.  I should be 4x4 if all the wheels are turning no matter what.  That is how I came to this point.  Armour is still priority.

[moosin]

Dont forget about the tire upgrade looks to me that you may have made it further if you had more aggressive tire! You have made it to the point of upgrading and now its the begining of the end for you. Its a problem every jeep owner goes through and you will get a million different opinions on which upgrade is better. But really all you have to do is figure out your budget and buy what you can. As an example I've been wheeling for years with 4.5" lift 33" tires and limited slip in the rear and have wheeled almost all of BTC and all of Florida Road all on the stock axles (except last year)with little problems. Side note I would go with Aussie if you pick a lunchbox, I narrowed it down to ARB,Ox,and the Eaton E-locker for selectable and I would opt for the install in the rear axle. And another little note I just happen to have an extra 8.8 laying around if you decide to go that route. Good luck

[B52BUFF]

8.8? 

Am I to assume that you reasoning for putting lockers on the back is so that you can use them in 2 wheel drive also?  I had considered the front because the weight of the engine would help with traction.

I still want to go back to MaBell and give what I have a shot. 

[Cheek-Bone]

Its a Ford 8.8. They are a very good axle and much stronger than the stock Dana 35. I had a write up once that shows all of the different axles and their breaking strengths and the 8.8 is stronger than a Dana 44 and almost as strong as a Dana 60. They are a dime a dozen sice Ford put them in trucks and explorers and the aftermarket is really good for them. A couple disadvantages to them are, they have C-clips style axle shafts like your stock 35 so if you break (which is highly unlikely) then your tire will be useless, also the axle width on some especially the Explorers and the Rangers are a little narrower then you stock Jeep axles. But Superior took care of that and made the "Super 88" kit. It gets rid of the c-clips and puts the axle back to stock width.

On a side note I know you said that you want to stay at stock height. I can tell you this much and I'm pretty sure most will agree. It wont take long especially once you really start wheeling and hanging around other lifted Jeeps that you will want to lift yours too. So best of luck to you and if you have any questions feel free to shoot me a line. I might not have a Jeep anymore but I didnt get rid of the knowledge that I picked up through the years.

Brian (Cheeks)

[B52BUFF]

Believe me when I say that not lifting it is bugging me but I would like to see what I can do before I do lift it.  Frankly, if the money suddenly appears I will most likely forget this silly idea of seeing what I can do and lift her to a respectable level.  Thank you for the insight on the 8.8.  

[gearhead1985B]

I want to see how far I can go without lifting it.  Of course everything I think I might want to try makes me consider other things.  I started thinking about lockers because of what happened in Va.  I feel that if I had both wheels turning I would have gotten out of that with little effort.  The fact that the weak wheel slips bothers me.  It doesn't really mean 4x4.  I should be 4x4 if all the wheels are turning no matter what.  That is how I came to this point.  Armour is still priority.

this is a semi hijack as far as you can go with out lifting  does a hiline count 37's and no lift does that count as going as far as you can go with out lifting it
http://tntcustoms.com/fronttubefender-3hylinetjlj.aspx

now for a real hijack frozen nutty bars are awesome
end hijack