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Are Front And Rear Rubicon Lockers Interchangable?

Jay MacLeay

TJ Enthusiast
Joined
Dec 30, 2017
Messages
207
Location
Los Angeles, CA, United States
I have to replace my the locker in the rear of my Jeep. I was looking at used lockers and can only find front factory lockers. My question is if I purchase a front factory locker, will it fit in the rear axle w/o any modifications?
 
yes. you will lose the limited slip function, but since that is probably what broke in the first place, no big loss.
 
I have to replace my the locker in the rear of my Jeep. I was looking at used lockers and can only find front factory lockers. My question is if I purchase a front factory locker, will it fit in the rear axle w/o any modifications?

The rear gets the most abuse and die sooner, you wont see many for sale. I would recommend upgrading to an aftermarket locker versus a used OEM. Aftermarket are much stronger.

But, a front will work in the rear if that is what you want to do.
 
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The rear gets the most abuse and die sooner, you wont see many for sale. I would recommend upgrading to an aftermarket locker versus a used OEM. Aftermarket are much stronger.

But, a front will work in the rear if that is what you want to do.
ARB rd117 for thick cut gears like what is on the factory lockers. Or rd116 for regular cut gears.
 
You can put the front factory locker in the rear, but it is my understanding that it is significantly weaker than a factory rear locker because of the spider gear design.
 
You can put the front factory locker in the rear, but it is my understanding that it is significantly weaker than a factory rear locker because of the spider gear design.
There are only two spider gears in the front. And they have a reputation of breaking apart. And there are no replacement parts available.

Both Eaton and ARB have four spider gears. And they are serviceable.