Locker: front or rear? Type?

[Obsidian]

I run a 4cyl, 5spd, 4" lifted YJ with 488 gears on 33s. I'll be moving to 35s in a couple weeks. In the rear diff I run a D44 with a Trac-lock LS. The front is an open D30.

I'm on a limited budget, but I want to lock up soon. Should I lock front and back at the same time? If I can only afford one, should I lock the front only, or back only? Pros and Cons... what's better for Krawling, better for not breaking axles?

If I'm not in 4wd, would a front locker still run full time? This is a daily driver. I'd rather not hear a locker clunking around or get skiddy around corners.

What about an Aussie in the front only, while keeping the LS in the rear, and possibly running an OX in the rear later?

As you can see, I'm totally new to the locker issue. I've got some wheeln' buddies to talk with too. But you all are always very helpful.

Lots to think about. Thanks guys!

[CjCarl]

If you intend to get an Ox for the rear soon, then i would put an aussie in the front. theyre pretty cheap, only about 270$ i think, plus they dont require tons of mechanical knowledge to install. I personally think that a locker in the rear allows for better climbing, but i wouldnt waste the money if youre going to pull it out for an Ox soon anyway. Ive never driven one on the street in a YJ, but theyre usually not very noticible. Having a manual trans makes it a little more obvious. You will be happy with how much more capable your YJ will be with an aussie. Try and call one of the vendors on the board, theyll answer any q's you might have. good luck

[hondastomper]

I'll second the Aussie/Lockrite/NoSlip (they're pretty much all the same), especially if you already have a limited slip in the rear. You won't notice it much in the front in 2wd, aside from some slight clicking noise going around corners. If you get the Powertrax NoSlip, its a bit quieter...thicker gear oil is said to help lower the noise I've heard on the Lockrite. In 4wd, you'll be amazed at how much more capable your jeep will be. I find that w/ some friends that have lockers just in the front, they're able to climb ledges and boulders better, and the rear just seems to follow along, whereas someone I know w/ just a locker in the rear has some trouble climbing ledges/boulders when a tire in the front doesn't want to climb.

Either way I'm sure you'll be happy w/ what you get. I just installed an Aussie in the front of a TJ tonight, and you can barely hear it, but what a difference offroad

cliff

[GLEN REAMS]

i run a aussie up front and i cant tell its there in 2wd but while in 4wd it sucks when trying to make tight turns. If i were going to go with any selectable locker it would be a selectable front not rear. Just my .02 tho
-Glen

[Andrew F]

I installed a Lockrite in the front of mine a few weeks ago. Got it from Joe at Absolute Offroad. No on road complaints, and I will be testing it out for the first time next weekend. The install was very easy. I would do a selectable in the front if I was going to get just one selectable.

[azcharlie]

If you were to get a locker I would do the front first. To do it right get a selectable for the front. I have an ARB/detroit and love it. You said your on a budget so a lockrite or aussie are good and cheap. Depending on what type of wheelin you do it's a good idea to carry spare axles for the front once your locked.

[Fire Ball]

If you lock the front first you have the front tire climbing over things and it makes it easier on the whole drive train. If you lock the rear first, there is more traction due to weight transfer and pushing wheels have more traction than pulling. Problem is you are now trying to just muscle over things so it is sort of a wash.

I locked up my front first and notice a lot of off road improvement. When I locked up the rear I didn't notice as much increase in performance as when I did the front.

On your YJ is there a vacuum actuator for the front axle?

[T.C.'S TOY]

i run a aussie up front and i cant tell its there in 2wd but while in 4wd it sucks when trying to make tight turns. If i were going to go with any selectable locker it would be a selectable front not rear. Just my .02 tho
-Glen

I totally agree....T.C.:)

[Tom Jacobson]

In 4wd, you'll be amazed at how much more capable your jeep will be. I find that w/ some friends that have lockers just in the front, they're able to climb ledges and boulders better, and the rear just seems to follow along, whereas someone I know w/ just a locker in the rear has some trouble climbing ledges/boulders when a tire in the front doesn't want to climb.

cliff

Agree 100%!

It seems that with locked rear and crawling rocks/ledges, you often just et 2 tires trying to push a dead front end against the obstacle. The front locker crawls that front end up and over.

Actually surprised how unanimous the response is for the front locker! Not too long ago, this same question would start LONG debates. Ahhh...the goood old days! :D

Just do it! Aussie or Lockrite, either will be fine on your YJ. All YJ's came with the vac disco front axle, so it makes the front locker even more invisible in 2wd (street or dirt). Even in TJ's, or YJ's with the vac thing eliminated and one pc axle shaft, a front non-select locker is basically invisible in 2wd.

Can't complain about mine...been running a lockrite in the YJ's D30 for ~7yrs or more now. 33's, 35's, 36's. All kinds of trails. No breakage. For the money, it has returned huge performance.

[CaptainMorgan]

I have a locker in the rear and it added a lot over stock so far as off-road ability is concerned. I can now do things in 2wd easily that were hard in 4wd before.

However, I can really tell how the rear is pushing and if a rock is flat and tall enough my Jeep really struggles to climb it because the front isn't locked. I can tell that a front locker would be advantageous in such a situation, hopefully I will throw one in this year.

Although I cannot say for sure since I haven't run dual selectables, it would seem that the rear locker only would provide better traction because of weight transfer in other situatoins like snow, mud, sand and light rock crawling.

Either way, if you are getting serious enough you will want both axles locked, but on a budget I would definitely go with a Lunchbox up front if you are into lots of ledges and large rocks. Also as others have mentioned the lunchbox will be almost invisible on road...unless it snows and you have to drive around Phx on ice, I hear locking the front sucks on ice, I doubt you will get into much snow on your commute in the vally though:D

I would do a lunchbox but I do a lot of snow driving(in a snowy year) and so I am saving up for an OX or an ARB.

[slimtny]

yeah when i lived in michigan i had both axles on my chevy locked and every time you tried to turn at anything faster then 2mph your front end just went straight. REALLY wouldnt recomend it.

[Obsidian]

I think I'll throw an Aussie in the front (maybe a selectable in the rear later) and I'll pay extra close attention if I ever end up in ice on I60... Thanks a lot guys--once again VERY helpful. I would have locked the rear first had I not posted here. I counted 5 votes for locking the front first and only 1 vote for locking the rear first. Peace. --Mario.

[desertfabmotors]

Put an ARB up frt. and leave the limited slip in the rear.
you will go anywhere you want to go.:)

[terron gregg]

i locked the rear first just cause its a 44 but truthfully to do it over again it would be the front

[flawlessfab]

lunchbox?? refering to lockrite, aussie, powertrax right?

[GRUNT]

Do it right the first time. I concur with going front first but go selectable. While you may not notice it on road when you are off, like the big red glenn said, it is a pain when trying to nimbly negotiate a turn. I have a selectable f and r and I have found myself disengaging the front a few times to get my YJ to do what I want without having to muscle/bang it all around... Off for a sec, and then back on. Then when you want to upgrade the back you can.... Can you PM me with where you got you D44 for the rear of your YJ? Is it standard width or did you go full width? I am researching too, thanks.

[Andrew F]

lunchbox?? refering to lockrite, aussie, powertrax right?

Yes.

I just put my front Lock Right to the test this weekend and I could not believe the difference it made. It was a totally different Jeep with the locker. It was so awesome.