Best Axle and Locker Mods for 2003 Wrangler X

[Nivek]

I am looking for your help with direction I should take my 2003 Wrangler X.

I do not plan to do any wild off-roading or rock crawling, but would like to go off-road and explore fire roads, mountain trails with some confidence of not breaking anything if I hit some rough areas. For the most part this is a "street jeep".

Currently equipped with: 4.0 6 Cyl., Automatic, 118k miles, 2.5 inch Rough Country suspension lift and front stabilizer bar, 16 inch Rubicon Wheels with BF Goodrich All Terains, Besttop Highrock bumpers front and rear, Smitty bilt X2O 10,000 winch, Hella 500 driving lamps. Dana 35 rear - no posi or limited slip.


I have read alot about doing the Super 35 swap versus going through the trouble and expense of the dana 44 swap, so I have several questions around that:
- I thought it would make sense to just get a limited slip rear because I am assuming with an open rear I really only have a "3-wheel drive" jeep? LOL!
- Or, is this what I should get - The Super 35 shaft kit and an Eaton 30 spline E-locker for Dana 35.
- If I change the rear do I also need to change the front axle to match?
- I am assuming 3:73 Gears? Is there a way to confirm this?
- And do I want to change the gearing? If yes, do I need to change both front & rear?
- I do not intend to put any tires above 33 inch on it

I appreciate the help!
Nivek

 

[CodaMan]

As far as current gears, there's a tag on the diff that show the stock gears. About locking, if you're only going to off-road as you stated just put lunchbox locker in the front. They're cheap, work great and you can install it in an afternoon.

 

[CodaMan]

You can also get the stock build sheet for your jeep here

https://fcacommunity.force.com/RAM/s/equipment-listing

 

[Hopper]

Super 35 will support 35" tires. E locker is good I like the auto locker in the rear of mine. Yes you gotta regear both.
What are your plans for a lift, that 2.5 ain't gonna cut it for 35s

 

[never monday]

Where are you wheeling, Uwharrie?

Put this in the front while you figure out what to do
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007N3P9DA/?tag=wranglerorg-20

 

[Nivek]

I just checked the tag and it is 3.73 - thank you for helping me confirm.
I am going to show my ignorance here - but maybe I simply don't understand why I would want to put a lunchbox locker in the front? If I drive this in the snow today as an example and I'm in 2WD the rear end is all over the place and I am "assuming" it's because only one of the rear tires is spinning, hence why I thought I needed a posi or limited slip? I then assumed if I put it in 4WD High that both front wheels turn plus the one wheel in the back? What am i misunderstanding?
Thanks

 

[never monday]

I just checked the tag and it is 3.73 - thank you for helping me confirm.
I am going to show my ignorance here - but maybe I simply don't understand why I would want to put a lunchbox locker in the front? If I drive this in the snow today as an example and I'm in 2WD the rear end is all over the place and I am "assuming" it's because only one of the rear tires is spinning, hence why I thought I needed a posi or limited slip? I then assumed if I put it in 4WD High that both front wheels turn plus the one wheel in the back? What am i misunderstanding?
Thanks

If you’re spinning tires amd all over the place on snow without lockers. Slow down and go home, it’s really ice.

 

[Nivek]

Super 35 will support 35" tires. E locker is good I like the auto locker in the rear of mine. Yes you gotta regear both.
What are your plans for a lift, that 2.5 ain't gonna cut it for 35s

Ok, thanks for confirming that I need to regear both. I am planning on sticking with the size tires I currently have which are only 245/75 R16. I don't ever plan to go larger than 33"

 

[Nivek]

If you’re spinning tires amd all over the place on snow without lockers. Slow down and go home, it’s really ice.

LOL!

 

[Nivek]

Where are you wheeling, Uwharrie?

Put this in the front while you figure out what to do
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007N3P9DA/?tag=wranglerorg-20

Not necessarily wheeling, just exploring in the mountains, wisemans view, Boone area, Cherokee,etc.

 

[Hopper]

Ok, thanks for confirming that I need to regear both. I am planning on sticking with the size tires I currently have which are only 245/75 R16. I don't ever plan to go larger than 33"

Find out your gears. You may not need to regear and save 1800.00
3:73 will get you 32s

 

[never monday]

I’m 45min N of Boone. You’ll be fine with just a lunch box for now while you learn. You really don’t even need that....
With your 3.73’s just turn off OD in the mountains.

 

[Nivek]

You can also get the stock build sheet for your jeep here

https://fcacommunity.force.com/RAM/s/equipment-listing

Thanks for the build sheet link!

 

[Nivek]

Find out your gears. You may not need to regear and save 1800.00
3:73 will get you 32s

Yes, they are 3:73, sounds like I don't need to mess with that then!

 

[Nivek]

I’m 45min N of Boone. You’ll be fine with just a lunch box for now while you learn. You really don’t even need that....
With your 3.73’s just turn off OD in the mountains.

Ok cool, thanks for confirming that for me. I will remember to do that too.

 

[never monday]

Rereading your OP,
i’d switch to an MT tire next time.
Upgrade the tie rod
Lunchbox the front, consider cromo shafts
Keep looking around for an LJ Dana 44. It’s 3.73 LSD and I’ve seen them on FB around $800

 

[Nivek]

Rereading your OP,
i’d switch to an MT tire next time.
Upgrade the tie rod
Lunchbox the front, consider cromo shafts
Keep looking around for an LJ Dana 44. It’s 3.73 LSD and I’ve seen them on FB around $800

Awesome! Thanks - that sounds like great advice. Chromo shafts for just the front? or both front and rear? And I am assuming if I could find the LJ Dana 44 that it would bolt right in but would need a new drive shaft? Anything else to have that fit together correctly?
Thanks

 

[never monday]

Awesome! Thanks - that sounds like great advice. Chromo shafts for just the front? or both front and rear? And I am assuming if I could find the LJ Dana 44 that it would bolt right in but would need a new drive shaft? Anything else to have that fit together correctly?
Thanks

For the front first
If you S35 it’ll have upgraded shafts. If you 44 the stock shafts are good
I’ve never replace a 35 with a 44 in the same chassis. Should be bolt on other than shortening the DS. But thats a great time to do an SYE

 

[Nivek]

For the front first
If you S35 it’ll have upgraded shafts. If you 44 the stock shafts are good
I’ve never replace a 35 with a 44 in the same chassis. Should be bolt on other than shortening the DS. But thats a great time to do an SYE

Ok, so if I've been following you, number one I have options, number two my jeep should be fine as is for what I'm doing, so no hurry, but - I couldn't go wrong at all if I got the Chromo shafts for the front with the lunchbox locker. Keep searching the internet and maybe get lucky and find a dana 44 from an LJ, then get a shorted shaft and SYE ( i need to look that up) Or go for the S35. Oh, an upgrade all my old (original) front end stuff - tierods, Ujoints, stuff like that!

 

[CodaMan]

The 44 doesn't need to be from an LJ to have 3.73 gears as some non LJs had them too