Locker / TruTrac / Re-Gear Questions

Beachhead

Beachhead

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Hi guys, I know this has been discussed a ton, and i've read over many of the threads & charts but I wanted to get a fresh opinion as i'm not sure what direction to go. Hoping I can get some pro input.

I have a 4.0, stock 3.07 gears, 32rh auto, 33" tires. Currently has a ARB locker in the front (compressor broken), OEM Trac-Lock in the rear.
Stock Dana 30 and Dana 35.

I've decided I need to regear, as I can't get over 40-45 going uphill.
I know i'm going to need to replace the ARB and the trac-lock, and i'm needing to decide which gears to go with.
The Jeep is used for some light rock crawling, general off road use, snow, and will be road driven several hours to it's off-road destinations. I have no desire to go to anything beyond a 33" tire.

I'm thinking that 4.10s should provide me with the road performance I need, while not killing my fuel economy too much?
I'd also like to either put an eaton e-locker in the front or rear, and an eaton true-trac in the other.
Doing a Super 35 "discovery" series from Revolution isn't terribly expensive and i'd be open to doing that as well.

I've priced out the options from Revolution Gear, and talked with a local installer (Who prefers Sierra gears...? But will do Revolution)

So with that in mind, are 4.10s sufficient, and would a locker in the front or rear be more effective for my scenario?

Thanks!
 
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I have the Super35 revolution with auto lockers front and back 4.10 gears with 33s and am happy. I do have the 32rh transmission that helps with the 4.10s being perfect. If I had the 42 trans I would go numerically higher with 33s. Also if I drove in alot of snow I would of done e-lo ker instead of auto lockers.
 
I would keep the ARB, buy a rebuild kit and maybe a new air compressor if the old one can't be overhauled. I wouldn't invest a bunch of money in the rear axle. Instead I'd try and find a take out Dana 44 or 8.8. 4:11s would be an improvement, but if you're struggling to go uphills already I would go to 4:56's.
 
Necro said:
I would keep the ARB, buy a rebuild kit and maybe a new air compressor if the old one can't be overhauled. I wouldn't invest a bunch of money in the rear axle. Instead I'd try and find a take out Dana 44 or 8.8. 4:11s would be an improvement, but if you're struggling to go uphills already I would go to 4:56's.
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I originally wanted to keep the ARB, but it's a 20 year old unit and there's no parts available for it.
 
Beachhead said:
I originally wanted to keep the ARB, but it's a 20 year old unit and there's no parts available for it.
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That makes sense then I guess. Kind of sucks that ARB doesn't support their own older parts. Maybe a competent machine shop in your area could overhaul it? What's broken on it?
 
I have eaton elocker in the front and truetrac in the rear and happy with this combo. Desert rock crawling is not my thing, everywhere else any time of the year my Jeep does not let me down. If you do decide to go with truetrac make sure it goes into the rear, otherwise with tendency of front wheels to go into the air it will be useless.
 
Beachhead said:
I have no desire to go to anything beyond a 33" tire. I'm thinking that 4.10s should provide me with the road performance I need, while not killing my fuel economy too much?
Click to expand...
This is what your RPMs will look like on the interstate/highway:
Screenshot_20220701-234557_Chrome.jpg

Beachhead said:
So with that in mind, are 4.10s sufficient, and would a locker in the front or rear be more effective for my scenario?
Click to expand...
4.10s are what I'd get with front and rear lockers and a Super 35 kit in the rear.
 
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Your 3-speed 32RH transmission makes 4.10 ideal/perfect for 33's. Love your plans to go with the Super 35 Kit from RGA! 😍
 
Thanks for the advice all. Its not within budget to put lockers on front and rear, as I'd have to upgrade axle for whichever one I do I think?

Super 35 is cheaper than Super 30, if I had to put a locker on one, it sounds like front would be more useful, trutrac on rear?
 
If you are going with the Super 35 you will need the E-locker in the rear as Eaton does not make a 30 spline Truetrac.
 
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dla said:
If you are going with the Super 35 you will need the E-locker in the rear as Eaton does not make a 30 spline Truetrac.
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An E-Locker would be a great choice, though the option for an ARB Air Locker and Detroit Locker (my favorite) exist with the Super 35.
 
Wow things did go up in price.
How about stretching the project for extra month, if two lockers you want it will be roughly $700 difference? Get rear done 1st then save up/sell something, Jeep will be drive-able, later finish the front. Or get parts 1st and save up for regear, very likely with currently supply shortage you will be waiting a month if not more anyways.
If you want to go two lockers rout, options are there. TT and locker in the front is a great alternative, and in my opinion a better one based on your needs.
 
eastbloc said:
If you want to go two lockers rout, options are there. TT and locker in the front is a great alternative, and in my opinion a better one based on your needs.
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A Truetrac (TT) is not a locker, it's nothing more than a limited slip differential. And for anything tougher than a flat dirt trail that will keep both tires on the ground, not all that helpful. Once one of the tires on a Truetrac equipped axle get in the air the Truetrac stops doing anything (!) helpful. Nope, applying the brake to that axle doesn't help enough either. I ran front and rear Truetracs many years ago and once I got on tougher/uneven trails where tires were being lifted up off the ground, I wasn't going anywhere. The tire in the air would spin like crazy and the tire on the ground wasn't receiving enough power to keep me moving. I replaced both Truetracs with lockers and wow, the Jeep became nearly unstoppable.
 
Jerry Bransford said:
A Truetrac (TT) is not a locker, it's nothing more than a limited slip differential. And for anything tougher than a flat dirt trail that will keep both tires on the ground, not all that helpful. Once one of the tires on a Truetrac equipped axle get in the air the Truetrac stops doing anything (!) helpful. Nope, applying the brake to that axle doesn't help enough either. I ran front and rear Truetracs many years ago and once I got on tougher/uneven trails where tires were being lifted up off the ground, I wasn't going anywhere. The tire in the air would spin like crazy and the tire on the ground wasn't receiving enough power to keep me moving. I replaced both Truetracs with lockers and wow, the Jeep became nearly unstoppable.
Click to expand...

I agree with all of this except for the "for anything tougher than a flat dirt trail" part. Our TJs have great articulation and can keep tires planted on very uneven/rocky terrain...certainly much more than a flat dirt trail. So for most people in most situations the TT is actually going to serve them well. But I agree, they are not lockers, and if you lift a tire in the air they are useless. If you can afford it selectable lockers are superior.

As for the OP's situation, I think the selectable locker front/TT rear idea is good, as the rear is less likely to lift a tire. But you may consider putting a lunchbox in the front and a selectable in the rear, which should cost about the same, but may not be desirable if you use 4high on snow-covered roads a lot (a lunchbox in the front is either fine or terrible in the snow, depending on who you ask...).
 
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Mobusaki said:
If you can afford it selectable lockers are superior.
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I agree with all of this. :geek:
Mobusaki said:
As for the OP's situation, I think the selectable locker front/TT rear idea is good, as the rear is less likely to lift a tire. But you may consider putting a lunchbox in the front and a selectable in the rear, which should cost about the same, but may not be desirable if you use 4high on snow-covered roads a lot (a lunchbox in the front is either fine or terrible in the snow, depending on who you ask...).
Click to expand...
I've posted this clip at least a half a dozen times but it best illustrates why you want a selectable in the rear (@2:12) and is not necessarily aimed at you:
 
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Jerry Bransford said:
A Truetrac (TT) is not a locker, it's nothing more than a limited slip differential. And for anything tougher than a flat dirt trail that will keep both tires on the ground, not all that helpful. Once one of the tires on a Truetrac equipped axle get in the air the Truetrac stops doing anything (!) helpful. Nope, applying the brake to that axle doesn't help enough either. I ran front and rear Truetracs many years ago and once I got on tougher/uneven trails where tires were being lifted up off the ground, I wasn't going anywhere. The tire in the air would spin like crazy and the tire on the ground wasn't receiving enough power to keep me moving. I replaced both Truetracs with lockers and wow, the Jeep became nearly unstoppable.
Click to expand...

No one claims it is, OP already has locker and limited slip combo, so we are moving forward with assumption that he is fully aware of limitations.
OP has stated his use case for which this combo is very viable.
Mobusaki has made a great response to your comment.
 
L J said:
I agree with all of this. :geek:

I've posted this clip at least a half a dozen times but it best illustrates why you want a selectable in the rear (@2:12) and is not necessarily aimed at you:
Click to expand...

That's a good video. He was talking about the affect of lockers on turning radius, which is often overlooked. Here's another video which illustrates the difference between front and rear lockers on off-road performance. I like that he demonstrates the difference on obstacles. He shows that a front locker gives you more control, whereas the rear will push the vehicle around despite what you're telling it to do with the steering wheel, so if you have to choose just one the front is the way to go. But, again, selectable front/rear cannot be beat.

Edit: Just want to be clear that this post and video is not meant to refute anything in your post or the video you shared, just complement it. He's absolutely right about how lockers affect turning radius.

 
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Beachhead said:
Would i need to put a super 30 and super 35 in if I do front and rear lockers?
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I don't believe you need to super the front, but you should do so in the rear with a locker. I believe you would be fine with an LSD in the rear without the super 35, though, since they aren't as hard on the axles as a locker. However, the peace of mind of a strong axle is nice regardless.
 
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