What am I doing?! Rear axle ?'s

I don't know what I have gotten myself into fellas! I rebuilt my T-case and tranny, and thought oh well I'll do my rear axle next. I've been reading some of the tech articles on the rear end and now my head is swimming with dollars signs and question marks. :?
Should I do a full floater kit? or leave the stock setup? I'd like to put in a locker but will have to wait until some more fundage appears. I will be doing some flat towing(if its not being driven). I already have the axle off the Jeep and in my garage, which helps or hurts I don't know.

I huess I'm just feeling overwhelmed, outgunned and generally panicky, and I'm not even in the garage working on anything yet. I'm not even sure what kind of setup I now have sitting on my garage floor!

Help me out guys. Thanks for letting me rant.

 

Have about ten bills ($1k) in the rebuild so far. IF you are unsure about the locker Either:

A) get one that replaces the spider gears (runs about $200)

B) get a limited slip (powerlok, tracklok, posi [run about $400])

C) $$$$ is no object and get a selectable unit (ARB, OX or E-locker[run about $750])

I recommend staying away from spools, unless you drag race your jeep.

 

If the funds are not there now keep saving up, just do it once and do it right.
30 spline full float kit with a locker.
I guess kinda of if it aint broke dont mess with it yet.

 

I'm with Jerry. If the funds aren't there right now, just wait and do it all at one whack. I had both axles rebuilt last May and did everything at that time: 30-spline FF kit, locker in the rear, and a limited slip in the front. Also, take it out and see what it can do in stock form. It may surprise you and you may decide that you won't need all that stuff.

 

$600 plus shipping will get you a D27 and D44 FF ?????????
See thread in Jeep Fore Sale section

 

Not beating a dead horse but I presume the primary use is for off road, rock crawling, generally running around the woods. If you ski and plan to run the highway on icey roads think twice about the diff locking option. Since you live in Colorado the question of appropriate use comes up. I may be an idiot but having run the hills outside of seattle, going skiing years ago, I saw many posi rearend vehicles stuck butt first in snow banks. A while back I brought the same issue up on a different board and my head still hurts from all the rock throwing in my general direction. A Jeep will go further on ice and slippery roads without a locking rearend, granted, a limited slip diff may start moving a little better but any loss of traction and both tires are now no longer tracking. etc-etc-
I'll duck and go back to my fox hole now and await the usual barbs from everyone who has lockers and doesn't want to hear oposition to their wonderful modification.
Kinda like the NDT vs bogger tire disscussion. Cut through the mud to solid ground or float and spin.

 

I don't think you will get any arguments here that putting a posi or locking diff in won't affect wet/snowy/icy traction. The people that have them admit to not driving their JEEP in those conditions.

Now the tire argument.......tires are "like religion and politics" as Sparky once said.

 

I agree 100%
who ever was bashing you, well, to be polite, they weren't thinking straight !

Oldyeller: if you don't know how to do the R-P set-up, or locker install, pay someone to do it for you. Take them the stripped down housing with just the carrier and gears left inside.
Very expensive lesson to learn if not done correctly.
The rest of the rear axle overhaul should be fairly simple and straightforward with the right tools and knowledge.

 

I don't know much about limited slip or locking axles but as someone who has plowed with his jeep for years on a long and hilly driveway tire chains and a few cement block work just fine and cost next to nothing. With an extra set of wheels its as easy as changing a tire.

 

Quote: The people that have them admit to not driving their JEEP in those conditions. Quote.

I agree. Not much snow or ice around here.

 

What about air lockers are they any different when it comes to snow/ice, like when there off there off right? Like the ones they put in the new Rubby.

 

The Rubicon"s are E-lockers, they are electrically shifted off or on. Same principle as the air lockers just a different way of doing it, and yes when they are of they are OFF.

 

The limited slip in my Dakota rearend works great in snow and ice, but its a dana trac loc and it still works good even after 141k miles on it.

 

Duh, no its a Dodge.R)

 

The site that gave me the head ache was the Dodge Power Wagon
one. Nice enough enough guys there, I thought about the big iron for awhile. But I missed my old DJ5 so I picked up the Barn Fresh assemblage of spent parts on wheels I now have. I am getting it fixed so my 14 yo boy will have something to learn to drive in a year.
I feel like one of the prarrie dogs in the commercial. It seems safe enough to crawl out of the hole now. Thanks guys.

Sooooooooooo what are you gonna do??

And like Oldyeller, I'd like to see the benefits vs cost vs differences
of the types and options available when going to something other than a standard spider gear carrier.