ARB Locker in a Spicer 25 Front Axle

I have a '62 CJ-5 with the Spicer 25 front axle. I have often wondered if there is a way to put an ARB air locker in it, along with stronger shafts.

I think the short answer is 'no'. R) From reading other threads here it seems like it would be cheaper to swap a different axle into the JEEP. But what if I just really want to keep the one I have because it was the original axle for this model? I know there may be better ways to go, so I'm not really asking about that; more about whether this is even possible, and what would be involved, could it work, etc. (And if this really is an incredibly bad idea, feel free to let me know! )

I believe I read about someone who figured out how to do this - was that someone here?

 

It is that bit about it being wider that troubles me. It just seems odd to have a front axle wider than a rear! I know it would work - and I can see the advantage- but doesn't it look weird?

Are the 30's open knuckle, or were some closed too? I should probably know this by now...

 

D30s are not that much wider only like 3" if I recall.

 

First off your front already is wider then your rear axle. You really don't notice it unless you are looking for it since the difference is fairly small. There were so closed knuckle 30s but they are not worth looking at IMHO.

About the only thing I can think to do with a 25 to make it stronger would be custom shafts out of that 300M steel, but that would be way more then just about any dana 30 install even with the ARB.

 

If you’re just look’n for better traction but wanna keep your stock front end, I’d suggest search’n for a Power Lok for it.

 

My next project is actually to rebuild the rear axle with a Warn FF kit, and I wanted to add an ARB to the rear then. Since I have to get the compressor for that, I was just trying to see if I couldn't use another ARB in the front too.

I don't mind upgrading the internals, but I do have some philosophical problems swapping out whole units sometimes. Then again, I don't always play by my own rules! I just like keeping the stock appearance as much as possible, but adding some mods to make the JEEP do, go, and drive how and where I want it to. Restification? Restomod? Anyway, that's why I seem to end up trying to use the original stuff whenever I think I can - even sometimes when there would have been a more modern solution.

From what I'm reading above, it sounds like adding the ARB to the front would be a major custom job with lots of machine shop work - if it can be done at all. And that alone, plus the parts, would probably cost a lot more than simply swapping to a '30. Money is also a factor, though I'd gladly spend a little more to keep the '25. Doing the work is not the issue for me.

I'll have to think on this for awhile and see if I can get comfortable with the swap idea. Thanks for the input!

 

I like to look at it this way. If Jeep had a Dana 30 available to them when they were building mine, they would have used it. I kind of figure it's not my Jeep's fault it was put together before they had a Dana 30 front available for it. So you are just updating what would have been a stock install if the timing were different. It's still a factory Jeep CJ front axle, it's not like you are swapping in a portal axle or something. Hope that helps get your head around the swap.

 

Dana 30's were stock on 66 Bronco's. Jeep, for some reason through(all) the years has refused to go with larger front axles. I would second the Powr-Lok. I run one in my 27 and have had no complaints. It is also much stronger than the stock open unit and will help save your axles from shock loads.

 

I completely spaced that. My brother's '68 Bronco has a front Dana 30. I wonder why Jeep does that, you could get a disc brake Dana 44 front axle stock on an early Bronco too.

 

I used a Lock right on my 25 and its great, I am currently doing the FF rear and this weekend I am going to the Rubicon so I'll let ya' know how it goes...

 

Yup, they went to 44's in 71(Jeez, can't remember now) 'cause the 30's wouldn't hold up under the V8 power. Wished Jeep had done the same.

 

Do'nt forget that the factory matches the running gear to the power of the motor and the gvw of the vehicle. The military originally wanted a small lightweight vehicle. Anything more than these axles is really overkill and more costly for the manufacterer. I swapped in the front D-30 and rear D-44 in my '59 but i originally swapped in a 360, t-15 and Dana-20. Those are gone now but i will be keeping the 30/44 combo!

 

They are? I stand corrected. Boy that took a while for people to find out I really don't know much R)

 

arb makes one for the 27. see herm's webpage.

 

A buddy of mine is putting a D30 in his '70 CJ5 Renegade. He's taking out a D27 with a Powerlok that's in great shape. You would probably have to re-gear it as I would guess you have 5.38's and it is a 4.88. PM me if you are interested and I'll put you in touch with him. Shipping from N. Cal. might be formidable though.

 

I just saw Sparky's JEEP over the weekend, and you really don't notice it at all. Looks gud.

 

Now that's interesting. The 27's are similar to the 25's; actually, I'm not sure what the difference is. I assume the carrier is different somehow.