Gears in 10 days: Locker or LSD?

[Jaime313]

Hello Forum, I am listening to you guy @Jerry Bransford and going with 5.13 gears for my 2004 LJ Auto Non Rubicon to go along with my 35's. I bought an automatic Torq Locker for my front Dana 30 and planned on using my Rear Factory LSD (Trac Lok). My gear guy recommends keeping the LSD and going with an air locker in the front. I don't ike the idea of dealing with an air compressor and the price really increases but while he's in there it crossed my mind. I am new to wheeling and do not plan on going anywhere crazy. But I want to be able to go a lot of places and not have problems. Only one guy in my crew has both lockers, one with a rear locker because he bought it that way and everyone else is on open Diffs. I was mostly trying to make my Jeep more capable in case I got into a tough situation. But then I considered keeping the Auto front locker and getting an Air Locker in the rear but feel like I might not be able to justify it's use. Assistance please, what do you guys recommend? Thanks

 

[AndyG]

This just in- We learned last night on another thread regearing is not necessary , so we all have to start over.

I’m sure lockers are now out of the question.

Honestly I’m not the guy to answer what types , but you want lockers if possible .

Jerry and Mr. Blaine and Rob can get real specific, and know their stuff.

 

[Daryl]

Go with a Detroit locker if you don’t need selectable. LSD is only good for one thing, snow.

 

[Rob5589]

I love the Detroit Locker. Bullet proof and simple. If it were my LJ, that is the way I would go.

 

[Daryl]

I love the Detroit Locker. Bullet proof and simple. If it were my LJ, that is the way I would go.

Same here. If my ARB ever fails, that’s what I’m buying for the reasons you stated.

 

[Chris]

Go with a Detroit locker if you don’t need selectable. LSD is only good for one thing, snow.

X3 to this.

 

[TJ Hunnicutt]

In general, selectable lockers are preferable over LSDs but it depends on what you plan on doing. If you're looking at rock climbing or other off-roading that has the potential for a serious difference in the traction between right and left tires, a locker or Torsen type LSD like the Detroit/Eaton True-trak will outshine a standard clutch type LSD every time.

Here's a very informative video on the various types of LSDs and lockers.

 

[Jaime313]

Thank you guys for the input. I strongly considered the Detroit Locker but we go to the mountains when it snows and didn't know how it would behave on ice or snowy roads??

 

[Daryl]

Thank you guys for the input. I strongly considered the Detroit Locker but we go to the mountains when it snows and didn't know how it would behave on ice or snowy roads??

An LSD is better than a locker for ice or snow covered roads

 

[Jerry Bransford]

I replied earlier to your message. The key thing is how much time you spend in the Lake Arrowhead area during the winter, if it's a daily driver, and if someone besides you will be driving it.

 

[Jaime313]

Every other year at best for some snow. It’s not a daily driver and I’m usually the one who will drive it.

 

[Alex01]

Selectable locker. Buy once cry once.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Selectable locker. Buy once cry once.

They're great but they're more expensive and not always needed. I installed f/r automatic lockers into my previous TJ (stolen) and they worked great. If my present Rubicon's rear selectable locker ever breaks I'll replace it with a Detroit Locker like was in the rear of my previous TJ.

 

[Jaime313]

Seems like the consensus is the Detroit in th rear. Someone with an LJ said the longer wheel base should help some of the issues that come with it due to the longer wheel base. Hope he was right. Thank you all very much!

In general, selectable lockers are preferable over LSDs but it depends on what you plan on doing. If you're looking at rock climbing or other off-roading that has the potential for a serious difference in the traction between right and left tires, a locker or Torsen type LSD like the Detroit/Eaton True-trak will outshine a standard clutch type LSD every time.

Here's a very informative video on the various types of LSDs and lockers.

thank you, I’ll watch the video in the morning

 

[Alex01]

They're great but they're more expensive and not always needed. I installed f/r automatic lockers into my previous TJ (stolen) and they worked great. If my present Rubicon's rear selectable locker ever breaks I'll replace it with a Detroit Locker like was in the rear of my previous TJ.

The day will come when you can no longer find any spare blatters for the oem locker . Then we all will slowly need to make that call. I don't have any experience with a detroit so I'll take you at your word. I have heard they click a lot though but that may only be an issue in the front.

 

[Wildman]

The day will come when you can no longer find any spare blatters for the oem locker . Then we all will slowly need to make that call. I don't have any experience with a detroit so I'll take you at your word. I have heard they click a lot though but that may only be an issue in the front.

I can't say how the newer Detroit lockers are as I read that they had done some redesigning and is why it is termed the Detroit Soft Locker. I had one in the rear of my 1997 and this was back in 2002. I liked the Detroit and yes it would click and pop sometimes. I had a lunchbox locker in the front and it made similar noise.

My step daughter was riding in the Jeep one day with me and I had just gone around a corner when all of the sudden it let go with a big BANG!! It was just the normal noises but my step daughter had not been in the Jeep since I had installed it. Her eyes got as large as saucers and she's like " What was that? Did we break something?" So I played it up and told her I didn't know and we had better stop and check it out. Well now she is really worried so I let it go a little longer. Then I finally told her that it was a normal sound and explained to her what it was.
So about a week later her mom was driving the Jeep and it made that same noise. So my step daughter plays it up and is telling her mom "You are going to be in so much trouble because you broke my Jeep" And she let her mom think that there was something wrong. When they got back home and I came home from work that afternoon her mom starts telling me that she had done something to my Jeep and that she is very sorry. Finally my step daughter can't hold it in any longer and is rolling on the floor laughing. It was awesome and I got a good laugh out of it.

 

[Rob5589]

Keep tire pressure even, don't goose it on turns, and the DL is no bother. You will get the occasion "click bam bang" so expect it once in a while. You are correct, the extra wheelbase is helpful as is the auto trans. When you are tearing up some nasty sheeit with reckless abandon you'll be all

 

[jazngab]

I was in your same situation deciding about a week ago. Jeep still at the shop. I decided to pair my No Slip up front with a Trutrac in the rear. Did I want a selectable? Sure. But based on cost and research, I think that set up will be more than enough for the off roading I do.

 

[JMT]

It would be good to have more time to decide. It’s cost effective to do it all at the same time. Seeing what your buddies are running is also helpful. In the end you should know your uses and plans best. Then make a decision. You have enough info on lockers and lsd in this thread to know what they do and where they should be driven. Now it’s on you bro!

 

[Jaime313]

In general, selectable lockers are preferable over LSDs but it depends on what you plan on doing. If you're looking at rock climbing or other off-roading that has the potential for a serious difference in the traction between right and left tires, a locker or Torsen type LSD like the Detroit/Eaton True-trak will outshine a standard clutch type LSD every time.

Here's a very informative video on the various types of LSDs and lockers.

What a great Video, parts of it were very technical but he did a great job explaining it. And now I'm leaning towards the TORSEN LSD. I've never even heard of it before today. Thanks
It's been several years since Southern California got rain and on occasion when we go offroading I drive up the Cajon Pass which sometimes gets icy. This seems like it's better than the trueutrac but Ive got to do more research.
The DETROIT LOCKER is still loved by most but no one has weighed in on ice/snow or windy roads on an LJ. Thank you guys again!