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Lockers?!? Which ones do I get ?!

Discussion in 'General Jeep Discussion' started by teamdirtbash, Jul 23, 2017.

  1. Jul 23, 2017 at 2:33 PM
    #1
    teamdirtbash

    teamdirtbash [OP] Member

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    (Not sure which section to add this in)
    What's up jeep family, here again with another question! Which lockers do I get ?! I have a sport 2014 jku
    Stock axles I believe Dana 44 in the back and Dana 30 in the front .

    I saw limited slip diff and i saw e lockers and I saw air lockers and I saw the prices So let me know which is best to get to for somebody who daily drives and wants to use them for mud / recovery .

    Somebody school me thanks

    IMG_1572.jpg
     
    phonedrn8 likes this.
  2. Jul 23, 2017 at 6:30 PM
    #2
    chris4x4

    chris4x4 With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine Moderator

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    Depends on what you want. There are Electric Operated lockers, Air operated, and cable operated.

    Pros of Electric: Easy peasy push button
    Cons: Break a wire off road, and it stops working.

    Pros of Air Operated: Easy peasy push button, and you get On board air compressor
    Cons: more wiring, complexity, and break a wire, or hose, and it stops working

    Cable Operated pros: Powered by your arm, easy pull the cable = locked operation
    Cons: Break the cable, and you have a 5 to 8 foot wad of cable riding in the cab with you.
     
  3. Jul 23, 2017 at 6:34 PM
    #3
    JKBob 25

    JKBob 25 Well-Known Member

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    Thanks Chris. You just learned me some thing. Are any more reliable than others? Cable vs Electric vs Air.? How about ease of installation? I don't see myself installing any of these soon. But maybe down the road.
     
  4. Jul 23, 2017 at 6:45 PM
    #4
    chris4x4

    chris4x4 With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine Moderator

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    I think all of them each have their own tricks to install. I prefer electric. For me, the wiring is simple. ARB makes a very good unit, that's reliable, and you get on Air Compressor for yolur tires, if you don't have one. Given that I like Co2 systems, more flow, quiet, but can run empty, I never really thought the ARB system was for me. Although.......Its nice to have a friend that has one, for when my Co2 tank is empty :) As for the cable, Ive used cable lockers in the past, and haven't been a fan. If crap gets into the line, it can take an act of God to pull/push the cable.
     
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  5. Jul 23, 2017 at 6:50 PM
    #5
    aggrex

    aggrex Well-Known Member

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    Depending upon your plans for mudding/recov some might hesitate investing too heavily into the Dana 30 and upgrading to a Dana 44

    Adding to the above suggestions: TruTrac, one of the better LSD is a good choice.

    Unless your game for the installation, find a reliable PRO
     
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  6. Jul 23, 2017 at 7:03 PM
    #6
    JKBob 25

    JKBob 25 Well-Known Member

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    Sweet. Awesome guys. Learned me a few things that I'm storing away for now. But I definitely see lockers in my future. Thanks guys. I'm sure op will find this information just as helpful.
     
    teamdirtbash[OP] likes this.
  7. Jul 23, 2017 at 8:22 PM
    #7
    JKBob 25

    JKBob 25 Well-Known Member

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    Another repost. Your in NJ. Not many members here from NJ. Just curious. From where? I'm in NJ.
     
    teamdirtbash[OP] and chris4x4 like this.
  8. Jul 23, 2017 at 8:55 PM
    #8
    Rc Jeep

    Rc Jeep Well-Known Member

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    I would be cautious about a locker in the front on a Dana 30. Having a locker in the front along with the reargets you up like 5% more stuff. Most obstacles are fine with just the rear locker.
     
    OFFGRID, aggrex and chris4x4 like this.
  9. Jul 23, 2017 at 10:43 PM
    #9
    OFFGRID

    OFFGRID Well-Known Member

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    I agree with RC here. I have done most trails in Moab with just a rear detroit locker, Dana 44 rear and open diff Dana 30 front in my jku. I now have a ARB air locker in the front because I wanted the air compressor to air back up in case of flat or slipped bead. My CJ runs Detroit locker rear and Eaton/Detroit e-locker front. Both setups work great. I have no complaints. The elocker was a little easier to install because there are less components. My buddy runs an Ox locker with a cable. He finds a lot of mud. His cable froze up with mud and rust and he had to replace the cable after about 4 years of use. A true trac is a limited slip differential. My opinion is if you're going to spend $5-600 on a true trac you might as well spend $800 on an elocker. (Does not include the labor). I believe that the true trac does not give enough performance upgrade over open diff to warrant the cost of the upgrade.
     
    JKBob 25, aggrex, Bob and 1 other person like this.
  10. Jul 24, 2017 at 6:47 AM
    #10
    SmittyJeeper

    SmittyJeeper Well-Known Member

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    5" lift, 4.11 gears, tru-trac limited-slips, winch, bumbers... you know the rest.
    I personally run Eaton tru-tracs front and rear in my daily driver and they are awesome! They are maintaince free, no special fluid to add just good gear oil. They are strong and lock up when under load /giving it gas or when torque is applied. What this means is no cables, wires or hoses it's a completely self contained unit. If you rock craw everyday and need the axles locked together most of the time Eaton E-locker is a sure way to go but bust out the cash because it's gonna be expensive... if I could do it over it would be a tru-trac in the rear and an E-locker up front.
     
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  11. Jul 24, 2017 at 8:38 AM
    #11
    teamdirtbash

    teamdirtbash [OP] Member

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    Thanks you guys I have learned a lot . I believe I will go with just rear lockers, most likely E lockers or Air but I know the prices of those are very high so I will have to wait before I go with rear lockers .
    And as for installation doing my lift kit was hard for me so I will take it to shop to mess with the diff I'm only 18 so I'm not that experienced yet . And as for where I live somebody had asked I live by freehold nj. I ride in reed in Jackson . I found a sick spot in old bridge but nobody to wheel with over there .

    Need more people to wheel with .

    If anybody wants to contact me or follow my build my Instagram is DirtBashJku
     
    JKBob 25, chris4x4 and Rc Jeep like this.
  12. Jul 24, 2017 at 8:53 AM
    #12
    Rc Jeep

    Rc Jeep Well-Known Member

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    Even an experienced wrencher would most likely take their gears to be done by a specialist, don't feel bad.
     
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  13. Jul 24, 2017 at 6:37 PM
    #13
    JKBob 25

    JKBob 25 Well-Known Member

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    Agreed. Thanks guys. I know much more about lockers now than I did. :).
     
  14. Jul 24, 2017 at 11:26 PM
    #14
    OFFGRID

    OFFGRID Well-Known Member

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    Your welcome. I know you have made you decision but for others reading this thread I want to reiterate that the Trutrac is not a locker. It is a limited slip differential. A locker will turn both tires at the same time whether they are in contact with pavement or not. When used in the rear a locker unlocks in a turn so that the tires can roatate at different speeds. Once moving forward again they lock back up. A limited slip transfers power from the one slipping to the one not slipping this can be less effective in mud, loose gravel, sand, snow, and anything else where both tires may slip at the same time. Trutrac have their place. I like them in big multi duty trucks.

    Here is the link to more info on trutrac

    http://www.eaton.com/Eaton/ProductsServices/Vehicle/Differentials/detroit-truetrac/index.htm
     
  15. Jul 24, 2017 at 11:29 PM
    #15
    OFFGRID

    OFFGRID Well-Known Member

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    A lift kit on a JK is hard work. Good job!
     
    JKBob 25 likes this.
  16. Jul 25, 2017 at 10:26 AM
    #16
    aggrex

    aggrex Well-Known Member

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    Great information as always but Im confused about this part:"A locker will turn both tires at the same time whether they are in contact with pavement or not. When used in the rear a locker unlocks in a turn so that the tires can roatate at different speeds. Once moving forward again they lock back up". You are probably referring to the LSD. Definitely not a locker but Tru trac users have stated good results in NON-Extreme rock crawling with full auto traction benefits for the street
     
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  17. Jul 25, 2017 at 10:58 AM
    #17
    Rc Jeep

    Rc Jeep Well-Known Member

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    A locked wheel is fine when turning as long as the wheel can still slip on the ground i.e. Snow sand gravel. Do not try and turn a locker on pavement or rock like the ones found in Moab, axle will bind and something will break.
     
    aggrex likes this.
  18. Jul 25, 2017 at 12:04 PM
    #18
    UrbanCowboy

    UrbanCowboy Well-Known Member

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    Suspension: 3 1/2" Rubicon Express Super Flex SL, 1" BL, Brown Dog MML, D44/D30 with Chromoly axle shafts, SYE, Teraflex belly up pan, Adams Drive Shafts, Currie heavy duty front end (inner and outer tie rods and draglink), Fox Racing 2.0 Performance Shocks with remote reservoir, 4.56 gears, ARB air lockers front and rear, ARB twin compressor, 37x12.5 Nitto Trail Grapplers on 17" Mickey Thompson Classics Motor: K&N cone filter and Flowmaster Delta 40 Muffler Body: Stout Fabrication Body Armor (all 4 corners), steel flat fenders (enlarged inner aluminum fenders front and 4" flare rear), Quadratec LED Stealth headlights, Pro Comp light bar with 5 6" HID Lamps, Round LED brake and reverse lights, custom front and rear bumpers, custom tire carrier with Hi-Lift mount, rock sliders, CJ style dropdown tailgate, Warn 9.5 Ti Winch, Rigid Industries metal hood latches, Buggywhips LED light whip, Baja Designs Squadron Pro-R amber wide cornering lights, Interior: Corbeau Baja Racing Seats front and rear with 4 point harnesses. Full custom roll cage, LED dome lights, CB radio, ApolloIntech switch system Audio: 2 10" JL W3v2's in a custom bedlined (waterproof) box, Kenwood 600w amp, 2 Kicker 6.5" marine speakers in waterproof SSV Works cans for rear speakers, 2 4x6 Pioneer front speakers, Axios 400w mini 4 channel amp, JL 500w mono amp, Kenwood head unit
    I have ARB air locker front and rear on a D44 rear and D30 front with 37" tires. I know that a lot of Jeepers think it's a big no-no to roll more than a 35 on a D30. But I have built axles and don't try to overpower the terrain, but rather finesse it. That being said, I don't worry about locking the rear, but locking the front scares me a bit. On a D30 with big tires, I look at it like a last resort if I'm stuck with no one around and nothing to winch off of.

    The ARB air locker is great and Give you on board air so that I can air down my tires and refill at the trail, which comes in very handy. I highly recommend that setup.
     
  19. Jul 25, 2017 at 12:44 PM
    #19
    Rc Jeep

    Rc Jeep Well-Known Member

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    its just a little baby axle... don't worry little guy you will grow up someday!
     
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  20. Jul 25, 2017 at 6:34 PM
    #20
    JKBob 25

    JKBob 25 Well-Known Member

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    Interesting. Thanks guys. I'm not the OP. But I learned a bunch. Very cool.
     
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