[bctj]

Debate with some friends going here. If you were short on money and were going to install a locker in an off roader, ( not DD ). One says front is the only way to go, Other says rear. Whats your opinion and why?

[lilboy1023]

I did the front only because I got a smoking deal on a ARB. It is hard to say for me tho. I know there is good and bad for both, but I like the front. If I can't get on an obsticle, hit the locker and can usually crawl up on it. Rear locked and you are still trying to push your "brick" up onto the rocks or other obsticle. Front is the way to go for my $$$.

[quattrogato]

I locked the rear, with an LSD in the front. The consensus I saw on the forums here before I did it was that 90+ percent of the time a rear locker will get you through a tough situation due to the fact that when climbing, the vast majority of the weight of the Jeep is shifted to the rear axle, giving it better potential traction than the "lite" front. So far, being locked in the rear has worked great for me. My Jeep sees some snow driving duty, hence the LSD in the front, otherwise I would have put an Ox on both ends, not just the rear.

[jeff83]

Go with a front if you want a lunchbox and go rear if you want a selectible

[Dogman]

I use the rear more than the front. I like having a selectable up front so I can turn it off to steer when needed.

[wrangler2007]

I'd go with a locker in the rear because of the fact that climbing you will get better traction

[97casteeltj]

it also depends on your axles.

if you have a 30/35 combo i would say lock the front up with an Aussie; but if you have a 30/44 setup or better i would lock the rear up with a selectable, but if money is tight go for some sort of auto locker, but not the Aussie in the rear they tend to act up in the rear.

-John

[alex71]

Dont waist money on a LSD. Pay money for a rear locker and through a lock right in the front.

[BYuen]

Heck if it's not a DD like you say, just throw some lunchbox lockers for cheap in the front and rear. But if you had to choose one, I would definitely lock the rear first. When the Jeep climbs up an obstacle most the weight transfers to the rear and is where a lot of the traction is needed to pull you over. Regardless if you lock one or the other you will notice a huge difference than open front and rear.

[vitapimp]

Originally Posted by bctj

Debate with some friends going here. If you were short on money and were going to install a locker in an off roader, ( not DD ). One says front is the only way to go, Other says rear. Whats your opinion and why?

for debate purposes... how much money and what kind of axles?


if i was told $350, i would put an aussie in the front and a mini spool in the back (as long as it was not a D35).

[JeepRocks86]

Originally Posted by vitapimp

for debate purposes... how much money and what kind of axles?


if i was told $350, i would put an aussie in the front and a mini spool in the back (as long as it was not a D35).

forgot about a mini spool. if its a trail only, no street sounds good.
ebay 52.99 but doesn't work with posi rear.
Heck weld the spiders.

[bctj]

It is a road worthy TJ it takes me to work and back each day, 5 blocks. On the weekend's it does a hundred or less miles off road. Im not concerned with the on road limitations of the front locker. The weather conditions in my area may require I park the Jeep for a couple weeks if snow gets bad. I am concerned only with the off road performance. D30 front 8.8 rear. want to spend Less than $400.

[vitapimp]

Originally Posted by bctj

It is a road worthy TJ it takes me to work and back each day, 5 blocks. On the weekend's it does a hundred or less miles off road. Im not concerned with the on road limitations of the front locker. The weather conditions in my area may require I park the Jeep for a couple weeks if snow gets bad. I am concerned only with the off road performance. D30 front 8.8 rear. want to spend Less than $400.

you def want a selectable locker in the rear. however, for less than $400 i doubt you will find one so that means buy an aussie for the front.

is the rear limited slip?

[Toms87]

Originally Posted by vitapimp

you def want a selectable locker in the rear. however, for less than $400 i doubt you will find one so that means buy an aussie for the front.

is the rear limited slip?

Originally Posted by 97casteeltj

it also depends on your axles.

if you have a 30/35 combo i would say lock the front up with an Aussie; but if you have a 30/44 setup or better i would lock the rear up with a selectable, but if money is tight go for some sort of auto locker, but not the Aussie in the rear they tend to act up in the rear.

-John

I have been daily driving an explorer (8.8 rear...) with aussies front and rear and they don't "act up." a couple times it has made a loud bang during tight cornering with hard acceleration, but again, that is only a handful of times over a period of more than a year and about 20,000 miles.

[Pillswoj]

Originally Posted by bctj

If you were short on money and were going to install a locker in an off roader, ( not DD ).

Originally Posted by bctj

It is a road worthy TJ it takes me to work and back each day, 5 blocks. On the weekend's it does a hundred or less miles off road. Im not concerned with the on road limitations of the front locker. The weather conditions in my area may require I park the Jeep for a couple weeks if snow gets bad. I am concerned only with the off road performance. D30 front 8.8 rear. want to spend Less than $400.

So it is a Daily Driver

Since you don't care about onroad manners, For best offroad performance lock the rear with what you can afford. The rear benefits more as some have stated, also locking the front with anything but a selectable affects turning on tight trails when in 4wd.