rear locker selection

I'm in the process of installing my rear disc brake set up and noticed my stock Dana limited slip is shot. While I have the rear end apart I may as well install a locker of some sort. I have a Truetrac in the front and love it. I would like something a little more aggressive in the rear though. I don't rock crawl so a spool or full locker really won't be needed. Mostly we play in the mud, snow and trail ride. I also do lots of street driving so I don't want anything that would make it a handful to drive. So, EZ locker, Truetrac, electric locker or ???? I know most Jeep nuts have tried everything available so what fits my needs the best?

 

I believe that Eaton or Powertrax has a lunch box locker that will fit into a Powerlok case if that's the LS you currently have. If it's a Track Lok it's probably toast and not suitable for much. New diff. cases are available for under $100 if you want to go in-expensive and do a Lock Right. If you want good street manners and are willing to spend more $ I'd probably do an ARB selectable locker. Just my .02

 

If you have the money, an OX is the way to go. ARBs are nice, but there is too many other components involved.

 

Slick snowy streets demand an open diff.
So I was going to get an OX, best option...


I have a Chevy 3/4 ton with a locker and its long and it still scares me out of the blue on slick roads.

IMHO

 

Yup That chevy locker can scare the wee out of ya ifin your not expecting it throws those big trucks sideways in an instant.

For me I would go with an ARB one its nice to have onboard air and they are no more involved than an OX and no need to figure out where to put that darn cable but this just my opinion mind ya.



Allen....

 

Ox or ARB. I like the OX because it's a little simpler. Then a lunchbox locker. But inthe snow and ice, a slectable will be your best, and safest, bet.

 

Thanks all, I'll look at the OX. I have some time to check all of them out since the weather stinks. No heat or top so we have to dress pretty warm to go Jeepin' for the next several months.

 

On board air is nice, but for a locker, I don't like to have to worry about air leaks or the tiny airline getting ripped off.

 

'Nother vote for ARB. I've had them in my trail truck and my full blown rockcrawler and they work great.

 

NorCo, you ever have any trouble with your on board air system letting you down? That would be my only concern. I like the cable actuator on the OX. Seems pretty reliable. The air would be cool for other things too. What about the electric lockers? Haven't had a single vote for those. Believe it or not I've had great luck with my factory Dana posi. Like I said though, I don't do rocks so I ve never had a need for a full blown locker. My idea of fun is to try a mud hole or hill in 2 wheel, see how far I can make it then try again in 4 wheel. My kids hate it when I do this because we almost always end up stuck to some degree. We also don't have near the different terrains to chose from either. Indiana isn't too blessed for mountains or much else. A weekend at the Badlands in Attica is a great time though.

 

Don't depend on the ARB compressor for much in the way of output. Great for the locker but they suck for blowing up tires. Can't run air tools on them either. If I were going ARB I'd skip their compressor and get one with the guts to do more than engage a locker.

 

If they are routed correctly and you use heavy duty lines they are no more likely to get torn off than a brake hose. Mis routing or going cheap and using the blue plastic line are the biggest culprits with air locker issues as well as them being mis-installed. I've stepped up to heavier duty lines and also to mechanical air switches to do away with the problematic air solenoids. I've installed LOTS of ARB's with no problems other than the solenoids failing or mis-routing of the air lines.

 

I'd have to agree with this. The compressor is simply too small. I have an ARB compressor for my '6 but it is simply for the air lockers or as an emergency back up. There is a newer model that is supposed to be high output but have no experience with that one. I have engine driven air as well as the ARB compressor on the '6. An air tank with an addition air source for airing up tires or running air tools is preferable. IIRC ARB even says this in their literature, at least in mine.

 

I've always run a good, reliable air source (York AC compressor, currently a Warn heavy duty compressor.) I never trusted the little blue line, so I adapted -3 AN braided hose and used mechanical pneumatic switches for control. There are a lot of articles on the web describing how to adapt the fittings at the diffs for pipe thread fittings instead of the metric push lock fittings. I got my pneumatic switches from Grainger, but they are available from several sources in many configurations.

Even in the terrain I like to play in, I'm more concerned about airing up tires at the end of the trail than my lockers failing. I have a good winch as a backup for the lockers. My compressor has to be dependable and capable.

 

I just figure with how expensive the lockers already are, you shouldn't have to buy extra stuff to make sure they are reliable. The OX has a cable and thats it. No switchs, air lines, compressors, etc. And they are about as tough as you can get, and you get the extra thick diff. cover too.

 

Awsome full blown debate! This is great reading. I like the pro's of both but the simplicity of the OX sounds good. One thing about wheeling in this state is that we're never very far from a farm! I would love to wheel with NorCoJeeper where I could be lost for days and actually have to worry about airing up a tire or whether or not my locker was going to function. Back to the locker subject, I have talked to a couple of guys that run a lunch box locker and they both recommend those. I guess it all comes down $$$$$'s.

 

I have a lunch box in front for now but it really is a low budget approach.

I have heard alot about how there only good for a couple years in general.
I guess I will find out.

 

I don't want to debate one locker over another. They all have their pro's and cons. Ox has a cable that can be hit by rocks, etc. so can be just as vulnerable to failure as anything else, although you do get a nice heavy cover with it and it is a very good unit. Kind of funny as they make conversions for them to switch them to air powered and electric now as well which opens up options on those.

I have lock rights front and rear in the '59 CJ-5 with 33" tires and a warmed up 231 and I don't baby them at all. They've lasted about 12 or 13 years, somewhere around there. Never a problem. I was also very careful to make sure the cases they were installed in were in excellent shape or brand new and used the zytanium shaft with them. I also converted the 44 case from a roll pin retainer to a threaded in stronger retainer to keep things together as the shaft has a tendency to walk back and forth in the case wearing out the roll pin and allowing the shaft to walk out. Lock Rights and Aussie's are both good. Stay away from the Detroit EZ Lockers as they seem to have a much higher failure rate than the others.

Bottom line, if you have the money then a selectable locker is the best of both worlds. If not then one of the other options may be better. Just be aware that any automatic locker will have "quirks" that will need to be aware of and prepared for.

 

Glad to hear of the longevity.

I think it really is mostly how you treat stuff.

You hear about guys with a D30 front and 35's lasting for years, Or grenading second time out.

But really at least on the internet I see stories about guys blowing up D60's twice as often as guys blowing up d30's.

You just know the guy's with d60's are riding them hard..

 

I am one of the guys that runs a D30 and rarely breaks anything. D30 with a detroit in front, D44 with a detroit in the rear, 4.56 gears. Works for me and I live in snow country...

But yeah, to each his/her own. I would surely do selectable if I had that kind of cash. Would do a lot of things if I had that kind of cash.