I have to replace the seals in the front axle and was thinking of finally getting a locker. It is still a daily driver so not a full Detroit or anything, maybe OX or ARB, not sure what would work better for me. I already have an onboard compressor for my air horn, the tank is a gallon and a half i believe, so i was leaning toward the ARB. What is everyone running in theirs and how well do they work...ie. any problems or anything i should stay away from?

 

doing some research on lockers, how many spline is the Dana 44 on the rams?

 

Just get a full locker, it doesn't matter if its a DD. When you put the t-case in 2wd the front un hooks anyways. This will allow the wheels to spin at different speeds and not cause binding. The only thing this will do is make the front driveshaft spin all the time.

Get an Aussie Locker http://www.aussielocker.com/ They're cheap and are damn good. I know tons of people using them and none of them have ever had a problem.

 

if you live anywhere where u drive your truck in the snow id highly recommend not getting a auto locker in the front. with it in 2wd it will be fine but when in 4wd you will have a really hard time trying to turn. Eaton makes an electric thats only like 500 something. might wanna check that out.

 

I've never heard of Aussie, looks like it worth checking out...I like the eatons, anyone have the Auburn electric locker? If I don't plan on doing anything crazy, will the stock shafts be alright, or should i check into a crome moly for at least the short side? I've just heard about all this junk, never talked to anyone with it..

 

The people I know with Aussies beat the **** out of them in their trail rigs. I know multiple people that are running 33's on them, 2 running 35's and 1 running 40's on them. When I say beat them up, they really do take a beating.

I've never heard of anybody breaking an Aussie, even the guy on 40's. He has broke an axle shaft though, he did Saturday actually. If your running 35's though you'll be fine on a locked 44 as long as your not standing on it when its at full lock, 44's are pretty much fine locked up to 37's. So don't bother getting shafts, Chromo's are nice and have a warrenty, but they're probably overkill for what you want, expecially if you do have a selectable you can turn off for sharp turns.

Eaton should be a good locker, I do know a kid who had one in his 4 Runner and it craped out on him though, so he said the heck with Electric Lockers. Eaton owns Detroit Lockers though, and Detroits are some of the best out there, so I would assume they're quality.

A few people on here are running the Auburn LSD and say they like them, but I dunno of anybody running the Electric Locker from them.

As for ARB's they are DAMN nice. I'm in love with them, but I just don't have that kind of money to throw them in the Jeep. I know a kid who has them front and rear, both D44's on 37/13.00 Boggers

Heres his Jeep, the Orange one, and thats him with the black hat on, and crap, thats me in the Blue coat next to him


He says he love them too. Even though they were so expensive they are one thing he doesn't regret buying and will run them again.

As for OX, I have had any experiance with them, and I don't know anybody who has one. I think if your going selectable ARB is the way to go. I do remember reading an article (I think it was in Peterson's) about an OX gernading the first time out. The whole cover assenbly blew, rendering the thing useless, but that was probably an isolated incodent.

Hope I answered some of your questions.

 

what arethe downsides to running a locker in the front diff on a DD?

someone mentioned the front driveshaft will spin all the time. i imagine turning radius is significantly reduced, unless that's only when in 4wd. will it cause additional wear on the diff?

i'm relatively new to 4wd differentials, i'm more used to seeing fwd trannies with nastyexploded differentials and/or axles because of one-wheel burnouts.

 

Yes the shaft will spin all the time. The short side shaft is connecter directly to the carrier, and the long side is disconected at the CAD unit. So usually with an open diff the the short side spins, and the long side doesn't so the diff doesn't spin, so the driveshaft doesn;t spin, and neither does the t-case. (It spins a little just from different resistances in the diff but its not at full speed...)

Putting a locker in there will make it spin all the time since the short side is connected right to the locker. This will cause a bit more wear on the diff and t-case but its nothing to really worry about. Theres hardly any force on it, and think of all the abuse the rear diff goes through all the time, and its fine.

As for the turning radius, it won't be any different in 2wd, again because the long side disconects, so the locker isn't actually connected to the pass side wheel, allowing the inner and outer tires to travel at different speeds.

 

I have an Auburn LSD in the rear of mine and really like it a lot. Super quiet and I like how it hooks up. Nothing unexpected. I also have an OX up front and love love love it!! The cover is very stout. This, I know so I don't know how one could grenade through it. Engagement is easy. I have no worry about it. I worry about my axles and joints more than either setup.
*The Auburn LSD takes an additive and conventional oil only. The OX is ok either way but you cannot remove the cover without having to resetup the cable. But, there are drain and fill plugs so no real reason to anyway.

 

thanx for the input, i'm thinking i'd rather go big or go home, truck a money pit anyway! I'll probably end up with the ARB, but i've still got some more looking around to do!