Not sure on the lockers, but I am sure people are going to give you the "You can't run 33's on the D35 or the world will explode" rant. The selectable lockers are what I am planning. I think the auto lockers might make it kinda unpredictable in the snow, and I don't want my woman getting in a wreck driving to work in a storm.

 

For selectables you have air, cable or electric. Most popular probably air (ARB) followed by cable (OX) with electric a distant third. ARB v. OX threads can get rather extensive. Use the search function and I'm sure you'll find plenty. I'm very happy with the ARBs in my TJ and will likely put them in my XJ also.

 

Auto lokcer -vs. selectable, there's one big bonus for both on-road and off-road use: you can decide exactly when to keep the lockers on or off. For road use locker's aren't needed much at all (severe winter weather may require that, but that's about it), and on the trails you do not want an auto locker when driving a slippery sideways-inclined road. You will end up sideway and/or in a ditch

Auto lockers are cheaper, lunchbox lockers are very easy and cheap to install, and even a Detroit locker/ truqtrack costs about 30-50% less than selectable lockers. ARB needs a compressor, OX needs to cable actuator system, and they both cost quite a lot. Eaton E-locker is electric (very similar to what TJ and JK Wrangler Rubicons use), wires/ switches/ relays are all included.



I've had both an ARB front locker and now I've got an Eaton e-locker - would never get an ARB after running the e-locker :thumbsup:

No need for an air compressor, no problems with locker engagement in cold weather, no air leaks. Eaton sure needs the two wires for the locker as well which can snap, but IMHO it's a far better choise and easier trail fix would they snap. Smoother engament too. Overall cost is cheaper.

Some people have had problems with the locking mechanism breaking in the Eatons, but ARBs do that as well (not as common though). Avoiding full/ part throttle locker engagement should help in keeping the locker good.

 

My guess is you're gonna get all kinds of answers with all kinds of opinions and utimately you will still end up sifting through tons of information. I think most people are gonna recommend selectable for a dd, but tons of XJ peeps run lunchboxes in their dd's.

Myself - I opted for an Aussie lunchbox style because they are cheaper than selectables, easy to install, and my XJ is not a dd.

 

DD with lockers takes getting used to with auto or lunchbox styles. Arb and ox are great but the added options leaves the wallet sad and droopy. I love the selectable idea but I'm cheap as crap so I don't go that route. If the wallet allows (what am I saying if the wife allows lol) do it. If the cost is in your range the option is great!

 

I DD mine with a auto locker in front, no issues, rear is still open though.

 

I ran my old XJ with an Aussie in the front as a DD. You will never notice a front lunchbox locker in 2wd, because they only engage when there is power going through the diff. If you live somewhere where it snow, the lunchbox will suck if you use 4wd in the snow and ice.

 

WHAT??????.....how will a auto-locker (lunchbox) suck in snow and ice? Is it not a traction enhanced diff? Isn't more traction better? Lots of rear drive vehicles come from the factory with a traction enhanced rear diff and people, even women, drive them daily, even on snow and ice.:brickwall

 

Because they lock up and kick you side ways, lot of factory vehicles have limited slip diffs that wont fully lock up and or traction control to send breaking power to spinning wheels.

In the rear a locker in snow is managbale it just takes getting used too. A little two much throttle and you will lose it pretty easily.

The front is another story. If your just trying to DD your vehicle to work and need the 4wd because of the snow, the front locker will push you all over the place because its locked up from spinning. Its managable but really sucks if your just trying to get down the road.

 

I ran 4 hi all the time in the snow and the locker never gave trouble. Be realistic though also. Hoping you're not trying to go 79 mph in the snow. Most of our snow adventures didn't see more than 40-45mph.

As with anything the common sense comes in play here. Heavy pedal will put you in the ditch with an open diff so drive like its an icy road and there's no trouble.

 

If you plan on installing a locker into either one of those axles, plan on upgrading your axles, especially the fronts. I didnt really have issues with the axles actually failing in the front. It was the ears where the u joint caps press into. They would warp and flex enough until the caps fell out and in turn, that caused the axle to fail. Cheap route to solve that is to run "almost alloy" kits. Google search will find the site that sells them. You basically weld a plate of steel over the opening over the caps to prevent them from falling out. I put these on my dana 30 and have not had any issues since. I get very aggressive offroad. Before the install i would break an axle every trip, mainly the drivers side because it is shorter. Only problem is, you cant really reuse the axle if it needs a new joint, unless you spend a lot of time cutting the caps off. But they are cheap at the junkyard so i didnt really care. I highly recommend to upgrade to the 96+ axle shafts if you dont already have them and run the bigger joints. The company that sells the kits also has the option to purchase spicer 760 joints for the bigger axles which i highly recommend...

 

Before the install i would break an axle every trip, mainly the drivers side because it is shorter.

Shorter is stronger. You might have other issues.

 

We have just tack welded them caps in the past. Replace the u joint with a serviceable one because you will fry the grease. Then you just sand them off when that one dies down the road. Two tacks per cap should do 180 from each other.

 

i always thought having a locker was better then being open in any situation. So i guess i should reconsider locking the rear of my dd xj then.. i was actually looking at the spartan lockers

 

I DD with 31s and a rear Aussie locker. It's all about throttle control. You can make the *** end break loose if you want or you can drive it so that no one would ever know you're locked.

 

This is a good thread. I'm from Houston and have never driven in snow and only ice once. But, I will be moving to Northeast Missouri in a year or two. Snow and ice is something I need to consider when I install some sort of lockers on my XJ.

 

Here in VA we don't usually get much snow, then some years we do. Having a rear locker has been nothing but a plus in those conditions.

 

Bingo. Having a rear auto-locker has never been a burden for me. Learn how to drive in adverse weather and you won't have a problem.

I'd never go any other route than auto-locker in the rear and selectable up front. Lets you leave the front open in 4wd so you can make tight turns on the trails and keeps steering predictable in all conditions. Rear locker has been great in any terrain and street.

 

........*sidenote: this XJ is my daily driver.

Thought I read the OP said that somewhere.:laugh: The "2 hr in the driveway install" may be a deal maker for the auto-locker as well. None of the other style diffs can say that.:laugh: