Locker choices

J

Johnnyrtheplumber

New Member
Joined
Oct 17, 2020
Messages
17
Location
Deer island
I'm looking to put a locker in the stock front dana 30 of my 97 tj 2.5L, running 4.56 gears and curently 31's but going to 33's at some point. I can't decide between these 4

1 Eaton e locker $1100
2 ARB $1100
3 yukon zip locker $800
4 RD100 (unbranded ARB) $500

I already have on board air, and can't find many reviews on the zip locker, the E locker looks good but runs about the same as the ARB, but the zip tempting because of price, then the unbranded arb i seen on Amazon/ebay is probablya cheep chinezium knock off. This jeep is a daily driver I take hunting and some trails nothing crazy.
 
I have a Super E-Locker in my TJ 30 upping the spline count. Revolution shafts.

We have a Ox in my wife's JK's 44...the Ox needs an actuator. The electric version makes it comparable to the Eaton in cost. You can also get a manual lever, or air actuator.

I'm running 33s now and planning on 35s.

-Mac
 
Another option is a lunchbox locker - LockRight, Aussie, etc. I have a LockRight in front and it works well but be aware it is always active when the Jeep is in 4WD so if you’re in a snowy / icy area it may not be the best option.
 
Johnnyrtheplumber said:
I'm looking to put a locker in the stock front dana 30 of my 97 tj 2.5L, running 4.56 gears and curently 31's but going to 33's at some point. I can't decide between these 4

1 Eaton e locker $1100
2 ARB $1100
3 yukon zip locker $800
4 RD100 (unbranded ARB) $500

I already have on board air, and can't find many reviews on the zip locker, the E locker looks good but runs about the same as the ARB, but the zip tempting because of price, then the unbranded arb i seen on Amazon/ebay is probablya cheep chinezium knock off. This jeep is a daily driver I take hunting and some trails nothing crazy.
Click to expand...

Since you already have onboard air I’d go with ARB. Otherwise Eaton. Good luck sourcing one. I love my Eaton E-Locker.
 
Personally, I chose ARB’s front and rear but Eaton has stepped up their game on the E-Locker and fixed the slow actuation problem that made them less desirable, so my vote is the Eaton.
 
  • Like
Reactions: TheBoogieman
Johnnyrtheplumber said:
I have LSD in my Dana 35
Click to expand...

I wouldn't tell everyone where you stash your drugs. It might be safer in Joe's "locked garage" next to his Corvette. IT'S LOCKED.🤫
p.s. Hunter was renting it from his Dad for $50,000 a MONTH. Money laundering for dummies book is coming out soon.. Another reason to not buy Chinese shit.
 
Last edited:
  • Haha
  • Like
Reactions: DWR, John Cooper, BlueC and 3 others
Johnnyrtheplumber said:
I'm looking to put a locker in the stock front dana 30 of my 97 tj 2.5L, running 4.56 gears and curently 31's but going to 33's at some point. I can't decide between these 4

1 Eaton e locker $1100
2 ARB $1100
3 yukon zip locker $800
4 RD100 (unbranded ARB) $500

I already have on board air, and can't find many reviews on the zip locker, the E locker looks good but runs about the same as the ARB, but the zip tempting because of price, then the unbranded arb i seen on Amazon/ebay is probablya cheep chinezium knock off. This jeep is a daily driver I take hunting and some trails nothing crazy.
Click to expand...
Where is Deer Island, or more importantly does it snow or do the roads get icy where you live so you need to drive in 4x4 on the pavement? That makes a big difference in if you actually need a selectable locker up front or if you can get away with a far less costly lunchbox locker. No, lunchbox lockers don't affect your steering when you're in 2wd.
 
  • Like
Reactions: John Cooper, DrDmoney and NashvilleTJ
ARB or Eaton.

ARB user here. The rear for close to 100k miles and going on 7 years. The front a little less and somewhere around 5 years. Very happy with them. Don't even know they are there until I flip the switch. ARBs switch wiring can be altered too to activate the front locker separately from the rear, all it takes is a small jumper wire.
 
  • Like
Reactions: rasband, alittleoff and DrDmoney
Jerry Bransford said:
Where is Deer Island, or more importantly does it snow or do the roads get icy where you live
Click to expand...
You pampered Cali and Fl people are snow snobs. 🥶 😁

Deer Island is a peninsula in Boston, Massachusetts. Since 1996, it has been part of the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area. Although still an island by name, Deer Island has been connected to the mainland since the former Shirley Gut channel, which once separated the island from the town of Winthrop, was
 
Last edited:
TheBoogieman said:
You pampered Cali and Fl people are snow snobs. 🥶 😁

Deer Island is a peninsula in Boston, Massachusetts. Since 1996, it has been part of the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area. Although still an island by name, Deer Island has been connected to the mainland since the former Shirley Gut channel, which once separated the island from the town of Winthrop, was
Click to expand...
I googled Deer Island and there were close to a dozen Deer Island locations in as many states.
 
  • Like
Reactions: L J
if money is no object, ARB's have a long track record of being strong and reliable - if setup properly. If you're going to install it yourself, I would do an Eaton. I am in the middle of an ARB RD30 install (the older model, it was cheap) and its a royal PITA. Don't forget to factor in install cost, it can be outrageous for some of these but if I could do it again I would go back and happily pay it. - this has proven to be really really annoying.

I read something about Eatons attracting all of the metal in the diff to the ring gear when they energize the electromagnet to lock - no idea if thats true or not but if it is that would suck.

ARB's introduce extra complexity with the air, so you run the risk of a leak - but they're not too hard to find.

I have never heard anything good about cable lockers despite the seemingly simple design.
 
Jerry Bransford said:
Where is Deer Island, or more importantly does it snow or do the roads get icy where you live so you need to drive in 4x4 on the pavement? That makes a big difference in if you actually need a selectable locker up front or if you can get away with a far less costly lunchbox locker. No, lunchbox lockers don't affect your steering when you're in 2wd.
Click to expand...

In NW Oregon about a hour and half north of Browns camp area, we get some snow amd ice, I do alot of hwy and side street driving and because of all that I want a selectable locker
 
  • Like
Reactions: DrDmoney and Jerry Bransford
Johnnyrtheplumber said:
In NW Oregon
Click to expand...

80419-dwight-schrute-fist-pump-screa-CtKy.gif
 
  • Haha
Reactions: NashvilleTJ and DrDmoney
Top Bottom
Back