Locker selection

[StG58]

I've got good, appropriately sized tires on the rig, suspension upgrades on the way, and the next thing on the to-do list is lockers / limited slip.

My order of preference is: Eaton Elocker, Trutracs, or a lunchbox locker. The budget says lunchbox, Trutrac and then Elocker.

I've just about settled on saving up for a re-gear to 4.56 and Trutracs, but thought that I would ask the collective mind here for some input.

How much am I going to hate life with a front and rear lunchbox? Elockers are pretty much a no-go because of cost.

The TJ is a 1999 SE, manual transmission. Dana 30 / 35. The tires are 31x10.50's. Not changing out tires for a bigger size and the axles aren't going anywhere. The rig spends about 60% of it's time on asphalt and 40% of it's time offroad by mileage, but only because it's my daily driver. The split is much closer to 50 - 50 time wise.

Thank you for any input.

 

[mouth]

I've got good, appropriately sized tires on the rig, suspension upgrades on the way, and the next thing on the to-do list is lockers / limited slip.

My order of preference is: Eaton Elocker, Trutracs, or a lunchbox locker. The budget says lunchbox, Trutrac and then Elocker.

I've just about settled on saving up for a re-gear to 4.56 and Trutracs, but thought that I would ask the collective mind here for some input.

How much am I going to hate life with a front and rear lunchbox? Elockers are pretty much a no-go because of cost.

The TJ is a 1999 SE, manual transmission. Dana 30 / 35. The tires are 31x10.50's. Not changing out tires for a bigger size and the axles aren't going anywhere. The rig spends about 60% of it's time on asphalt and 40% of it's time offroad by mileage, but only because it's my daily driver. The split is much closer to 50 - 50 time wise.

Thank you for any input.

I know plenty of guys running spartan and aussie lockers ( myself included) and I see no issues besides the Jeep getting a little loose in snow. But drive smart and you'll be fine.

Personal opinion true Trac is still just a limited slip setup. Not worth it.

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[StG58]

Thanks for the input @mouth . I've driven rigs with rear lockers in them. A full on Detroit, and the GM Corporate locker in a 14 bolt. Haven't really had a whole bunch of issues with lockers other than in the snow, where I put the Suburban off the low side a couple of times. But that is a full sized rig with an excess of HP (and probably testosterone at the time as well).

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Keep in mind that a Detroit Truetrac is a limited slip made for street use, it is not a locker... not even close. Having had front and rear Truetracs on my TJ for 2-3 years something like 18 years ago, they're superb on slick streets but they suck & are pretty much useless on offroad terrain uneven enough to lift a tire on the Truetrac equipped axle off the ground. Once a tire is in the air, limited slip differentials are no better than an open axle.

Since you have a Dana 35 rear axle, only your front axle is up for having a locker installed into it. The axle shafts in a stock Dana 35 are not even close to being strong enough for a locker.

I'd install an Aussie lunchbox locker up front in your Dana 30 and be done with it. Unless you have to drive on icy roads a lot during the winter. Only in that condition would I go with a Truetrac which will help on icy or snow-covered roads but not much offroad.

 

[StG58]

Thanks for the input @Jerry Bransford . I knew the Trutracs were limited slip, and I don't lift a tire very often. I have also read that locking a Dana 35 is asking for trouble. (insert bad language here) I was really hoping to come up with a solution that works without spending a ton of money that I don't have right now. I do have to drive on icy and snow packed roads often enough for it to be an issue to consider.

I may have found an HP Dana 30 for nothing, so that is something. The search continues for a Dana 44. I guess that I'll keep saving for a set of good selectable lockers.

Thanks for verifying what I already knew guys. If you all think of something that would last a couple of years, please let me know.