alrighty folks, i need your guys expert opinions again, i got a 04 wj laredo, 4.0 selec-trac non-trail rated, base model, with dana 35 rear end thats open, is it worth it to put a mechanical locker in there? i know they make that ratcheting noise during slow turns but that doesnt bother me, i dont want to mess with hydro or air powered lockers, i just want a basic locker for the best price. i want to get into some mild off-roading and im gonna get a set of at or mt tires soon and i have a 2.5'' lift, so whats your all's opinion, is it worth it and any suggestions to brands and prices?
oh and it has about 150k on it i just put new axle seals and bearing in it, but if i do put a locker in it, do i need any special tools and do i need to adjust backlash and all that good stuff and should i get a re-build kit or just leave it...
how much do they run and where can i get one? and im assuming its a mechanical? like i said i dont need some hardcore set-up for rock crawling or anything extreme, i just want that extra edge
Truetrac Detroit limited slip locker in rear is more expensive but street friendly especially on ice and snow on the road.
Before you do anything go search the web get prices and understand what all the different lockers do.
The best locker is a air locker like ARB as you can turn it on only when needed. But it does carry a premium price !
Again it's worth investigating all the types check you budget and make your choice
Assuie and spartan are the cheapest and popular especially in the D44 because there is limited choice ( nothing else)
Your D35 had all the options from lunch box LSD to air lockers.
Plenty of reading ahead for you
i mean ive done some research but not alot, and you said about snow and ice? wouldnt just about any locker help out? i mean i dont want to spend prob more than $300-400 on a locker, i just want to put it in and go with no hassles or anything like that, thats also why i dont wanna mess with an air locker, even tho i know there much better, with what im doing and my budget i just need a basic mechanical locker, i just dont know where to get one or price one out. could i just go to my local 4x4 shop?
Nope. A locker makes ice travel harder/more dangerous, as instead of one wheel breaking loose and spinning too fast, both will break loose, and the rear end will slide all over the place.
Get a spartan or aussie but dont put bigger than 31" tires with that D35 locked. Both lockers only replace the spider gears and make for an easy installation
For mild offroading you don't even need a locker. Good tires are more important for your needs. Why don't you get new tires, hit the trails and see what you can do. If the open rear truly limits you, then consider a locker. Lunchbox lockers are terrible for majority street driven vehicles -- my personal opinion, of course.
You have selectrac. if you install an Aussie, lockrite, or spartan in the rear it will be almost completely invisable in fulltime mode on road. Oh yeah.. your jeep IS trail rated, you just dont have the badge. Some came with it some didn't but all 4x4 jeeps are trail rated with the exception of compass and patriot, those have to be an FDII to be trail rated.
Understanding how a open diff works and believe it or not is actuality more expensive to manufacture than a locked diff is key to understanding the pros and cons of fitting a locker . Have you ever wondered why no road going car or jeep comes with a full time locker ?
You obviously have heard of the advantages of a locker but what you weren't told is the disadvantages. I'll try to explain to enable you make a informed decision.
For on road handling especially when turning the open diff works best and is safest in slippery conditions. Because the drive is sent to the wheel with least resistance. This allows when turning the out side wheel have all the drive as it had to travel further distance compared to the inside wheel.
a locker (spool) it keeps both wheels spinning at same rate now when you turn the inside wheel is forced to turn more than needed and outside less. On dry road the tires are forced to break contact and can be heard to squeal (plus wind up the shafts that is slightly twist the shafts and keep a load on them) in but there is enough traction to keep you driving true. On slippery roads wet, ice or snow the tires brake traction impacting your traction and handling.
Auto locker try to overcome this in a crude way and using ratchet type system (clunking noise) to take the drive away from the wheel with highest resistance when there is no power like entering a turn as soon as you apply power it suddenly lock (bang noise) and its the same as a spool locker This sudden engagement cause the tires to brake contact and again impact you handling.
Limited slip diff are more expensive but don't impact on the handling as much and most don't even realise they are there. Because they come on gradually when one wheel is moving faster than another so for typical turns they don't come on enough to impact handling.
Now back to the ice and snow there is a camber on nearly every road and you do have to turn at some point your locker is forcing both wheels to spin at same speed your back slips a little locker forces the wheels to spin at same breaking traction causing the back to slid towards the edge of road you need to turn to correct it gets worse.
As skait8 said tires is the key and this is true. Good tires will get you further than any other mod on the trail.
So you decided to live with crappy road performance buy a auto locker and hit the trail now one wheel loses traction your locker will enable you to make better head way by keeping the other wheel spinning.
I suggest a LSD like true trac as it a compromise not as good as a full locker but better on the road.
ARB air locker id best as you can turn on off as needed.
So before you buy and I've no doubt you will read up and attempt to adsorb the information and make an informed decision.
There nothing worse reading my lockers are crap my back tires are scrubbing every time I turn and I hear loud clunks is this normal.
Hope I haven't turned you off a locker but would just like to make you aware it is a compromise.
You have selectrac. if you install an Aussie, lockrite, or spartan in the rear it will be almost completely invisable in fulltime mode on road. Oh yeah.. your jeep IS trail rated, you just dont have the badge. Some came with it some didn't but all 4x4 jeeps are trail rated with the exception of compass and patriot, those have to be an FDII to be trail rated.
Did you intend to say
Selec trac Install in front and in two wheel drive mode its not noticeable as its not under power so is disengaged. I think you did.
Nope, I said exactly what I meant, auto locker in the rear while in selectrac fulltime mode is almost completely invisable on the road. I'v had a lockrte in my d35, an aussie in my 44a, and now another lockrite in my d60 all rear axles and all nearly invisable in fulltime mode.
My experience is the complete opposite of WJ04 in both my WJ and my old XJ. Some get lucky and have a very mild mannered lunchbox style locker, I suppose.
ok, well reading through all your posts, and i appreciate all of your opinions, i think ill agree and get rid of my highway tires and get a nice a/t or m/t tire and then go take it out and see how it does on trails, also i might be helping my buddy do some hauling at his house and he has an xj with highway tires he can barely make it up into his property with real steep hills and ruts, so i think ill get a nice good set of tires and some skid plates and then see what happens, but i have the rusty's 2.5" lift, any suggestions on tires or size that i should run? also im getting 1.5" spacers and havent decided about going to 17's or not, so a good tire size in both the 16 or 17 would me much appreciated
also remember to check some lockers like spartan and Eatons electric lockers because they forget to mention that when they're not engaged you have an open diff while others will give you on demand locking capabilities and still can have limited slip diffs when its not engaged.
There is a tire and lift chart in FAQ it is very good and the tires sizes work when flexed.
I think all jeeps should come with AT as standard after all why have a 4x4 and handicap it with car tires. Pick a AT with M+S on sidewall.
I love my coopers ATs Fanatic grip ! There is plenty of other brands too that are just as good if not better.
Hope you discover as I did tires make the biggest difference off road
yea aaron thats what you were telling me the other day, im just trying to figure out what i want, if i want to get a set of jk or wk 17" wheels or just keep my 16's but if im gonna help my buddy this summer at his place i need something that can get me up some kinda narly dirt roads that he bottomed out his 3" lifted xj the other day so i definitely dont want to get stuck and i would assume my options would be more in a 17" plus those generals are cheaper than a cooper stt's
its just my buddy's property like his personal property im not going there to wheel really, mainly just help him up there, but it leads me to a question, what kind of skid protection can i get? i know theres a transfer case plate that rustys offers, but im looking for best protection for the best price...
yea i saw that, but for $200 its out of my budget range, rustys has it for like $110 but im wondering if S&S can get me something cheaper, i mean i dont do much off road but i cant afford to rip something out
The Mopar transfer case skid is actually a nice little skid for the money. If light wheeling is all you intend, it will serve you well. Plus, it is cheap and you can find used ones rather easily for even less.
now is the transfer case the only skid plate that i can get?
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