Locker information and experience

[Firstjeepbuild]

Thinking about putting an Aussie locker in the in my dana 30 with 3:07 gearing. I do not have a locker in my rear 35 it is open and stock. I have a stock 4.0. a built 3 speed auto transmission. It has a 2 1/2 inch lift and I am running 32 inch tires. What is your guys experience or knowledge about putting a aussie locker in just the front end ? Is it a dumb Idea ? I am not a rock crawler but want a little extra off roading ability.

 

[JMT]

Thinking about putting an Aussie locker in the in my dana 30 with 3:07 gearing. I do not have a locker in my rear 35 it is open and stock. I have a stock 4.0. a built 3 speed auto transmission. It has a 2 1/2 inch lift and I am running 32 inch tires. What is your guys experience or knowledge about putting a aussie locker in just the front end ? Is it a dumb Idea ? I am not a rock crawler but want a little extra off roading ability.

First off, I live in WA, East side, and we see snow. Second, I have a front lunchbox locker. It’s not an Aussie, but works on the same principles. Once you engage 4H it is automatically locked. Third, they can be squirrely on snow/ice. The Jeep doesn’t want to turn under acceleration. So, I take it easy on turns. It doesn’t bother me, but most will discourage it. Fourth, if you didn’t live around snow/ice I’d say the front is the ideal spot for a lunchbox style locker.

 

[Firstjeepbuild]

First off, I live in WA, East side, and we see snow. Second, I have a front lunchbox locker. It’s not an Aussie, but works on the same principles. Once you engage 4H it is automatically locked. Third, they can be squirrely on snow/ice. The Jeep doesn’t want to turn under acceleration. So, I take it easy on turns. It doesn’t bother me, but most will discourage it. Fourth, if you didn’t live around snow/ice I’d say the front is the ideal spot for a lunchbox style locker.

I live in the in Tri Cities in eastern Washington and as you probably know we can see just a little ice and snow for a short period of time or a long period of time. Do you have a locker in the rear ? From what I have read guys with just front lockers will put the jeep in 4 wheel drive when its snowy or icy but only to drive it slow on the streets (not on the highway) you just need to get used to how it handles is that how you use yours ? How does it handle off road ? My buddy who was into jeeps a says only using a front locker will give you better off road ability and you can steer better. Is that your experience? Thanks for the information

 

[Jerry Bransford]

A front lunchbox locker is a good idea but just know its presence would make 4x4 impossible to use on ice or snow covered roads. So long as you can stay in 2wd it'd be fine though. But shift into 4x4 on ice, especially, steering would be almost impossible with a lunchbox locker or with any locked locker.

If you feel you'd need 4x4 during the winter to get round on your paved roads I'd go for a selectable locker instead, like the Eaton E-Locker. That way you can shift into 4x4 and it'll drive like it does now by keeping the locker off/unlocked. When you want the front locker for offroading, flip the switch and it's engaged. It's not that much more than a good lunchbox locker. If you think you can live in 2wd during the winter and a lunchbox locker is more in your budget I'd go with either the Aussie or No-Slip which is made by Powertrax. They work the same way but the Aussie, as do other lunchbox lockers excepting the No-Slip, it makes a clicking/ratcheting sound while making slow-speed turns like in a parking lot. Some will hear it and perhaps even tell you you've got a problem in your front axle lol. The benefit to the No-Slip is it is virtually silent in such conditions. I had a No-Slip in the front of my previous TJ and I couldn't even tell it was there when I was in 2wd.

 

[Zorba]

If you feel you'd need 4x4 during the winter to get round on your paved roads I'd go for a selectable locker instead, like the Ox manual select.

FIFY.
*runs away*

 

[JMT]

I live in the in Tri Cities in eastern Washington and as you probably know we can see just a little ice and snow for a short period of time or a long period of time. Do you have a locker in the rear ? From what I have read guys with just front lockers will put the jeep in 4 wheel drive when its snowy or icy but only to drive it slow on the streets (not on the highway) you just need to get used to how it handles is that how you use yours ? How does it handle off road ? My buddy who was into jeeps a says only using a front locker will give you better off road ability and you can steer better. Is that your experience? Thanks for the information

I have the front lunchbox style locker and a rear selectable. I don’t turn the rear selectable locker on when I’m driving around town on snow or ice. I do put it in 4H or 2H. When I’m in 4H I just drive very carefully and I am used to the road manners. Tri cities is probably like here. Main roads are cleared pretty quickly, and neighborhoods see the bulk of road snow and ice.

As far as off-road, I originally just had the front locker, and I noticed a great improvement in capability. It was one of the best bang for your buck mods I’ve done. I was able to install it in about 4 hours. Those who have done it before could probably do it during lunch, hence the name “lunchbox locker.”

As far as turning, I don’t think it turns better when the front is locked rather than unlocked, but it doesn’t noticeably affect turning UNLESS I have the rear locked too. The reason was explained and demonstrated by John Currie who shows the turning radius when both locked vs just the front locked. When the rear is locked it will push the rig forward, effectively increasing the turning radius.

 

[txbemis69]

FIFY.
*runs away*

damn it boy!

 

[KennethS]

I have the front lunchbox style locker and a rear selectable. I don’t turn the rear selectable locker on when I’m driving around town on snow or ice. I do put it in 4H or 2H. When I’m in 4H I just drive very carefully and I am used to the road manners. Tri cities is probably like here. Main roads are cleared pretty quickly, and neighborhoods see the bulk of road snow and ice.

As far as off-road, I originally just had the front locker, and I noticed a great improvement in capability. It was one of the best bang for your buck mods I’ve done. I was able to install it in about 4 hours. Those who have done it before could probably do it during lunch, hence the name “lunchbox locker.”

As far as turning, I don’t think it turns better when the front is locked rather than unlocked, but it doesn’t noticeably affect turning UNLESS I have the rear locked too. The reason was explained and demonstrated by John Currie who shows the turning radius when both locked vs just the front locked. When the rear is locked it will push the rig forward, effectively increasing the turning radius.

I agree with most of that, except turning with the front only locked does take more effort. On a turn with an open diff, the inside tire turns slower and the outside tire turns faster as they are traveling different linear distances, and the open differential allows that to happen. With the front locked, the outside tire can't turn faster than the inside tire (the tires are forced to turn the same speed). This causes the vehicle to try to drive straight forward, and it takes greater effort to turn the steering wheel.

 

[LONGJP2]

I agree with most of that, except turning with the front only locked does take more effort. On a turn with an open diff, the inside tire turns slower and the outside tire turns faster as they are traveling different linear distances, and the open differential allows that to happen. With the front locked, the outside tire can't turn faster than the inside tire (the tires are forced to turn the same speed). This causes the vehicle to try to drive straight forward, and it takes greater effort to turn the steering wheel.

You're not going to win that one here.

https://wranglertjforum.com/threads...more-commonly-used-than-a-front-locker.31191/

 

[KennethS]

You're not going to win that one here.

https://wranglertjforum.com/threads...more-commonly-used-than-a-front-locker.31191/

Not trying to “win” anything. Just reporting what I have experienced with an open front diff compared to a locked front diff in response to the OP’s question. Note that there were similar experiences in the link you posted.