Locker

[Micah]

Well I called Bob today and ordered my locker for the front. That guy has some awsome deals.

[gmbtj]

great!!! im guessing either a powertrax or aussie locker.

[Micah]

yeah its a lock-right.

[Paul E]

Micah, you putting in front or back?

[Don]

Front

[Paul E]

How much will it really help though if you are on an incline and your weight is in the back? I agree that for blackhole gulley it would have helped him a lot more, but how much do you REALLY gain by having it in front (and not the rear)?

[Micah]

Well the rear is a dana 35 soooooo it wont be getting a locker anytime soon without a super 35 kit or axle replacement.

[mawardjr]

I've got a locked 35 and I don't lose sleep at night.
I feel like the 35 will survive being locked depending on how you drive it and the type of terrain you run.

With our trails at turkey bay (dirt, loose rock/shale), it is more likely that you'll lose traction before the axle will break. I also don't lay the throttle down on the stuff I do and try not to bounce the jeep up stuff. Plus, dave found some cheap spare 35 shafts to take just in case of breakage.

Now running Moab or similiar rock terrain I could see the 35 exploding rather easily. Especially if your weight has been transferred to one rear tire and your trying to claw your way out.

Just my .02 worth of limited experience.

[Tomster]

Seems to me that there are about as many people who think locking the front only is the better way to go rather than locking the back only as there are who would say the opposite.

I'm sure a Dana 35 is not as "delicate" as most people think. Most of the Jeeps you will see on the trails at Turkey Bay will have Dana 35 rear ends.

Like Mike says, driving techniques and being careful about what kind of things you attempt to do are big factors in keeping your Dana 35 happy.

I have seen only one Dana 35 snap an axle shaft in all of the wheelin' I have done. In that case, the tire was in a crack in the bottom of Buttpucker Gulch and could not turn. That Jeep had 35" tires and was locked in the rear. The owner knew the risk he was taking with that set up and carried spare shafts.

Tom

[Wraith]

Lockers seem like they would take a lot of the fun out of 4 wheelin. My friend doesnt like going with us cause he never has to put it into 4 wheel drive with his air lockers on there. He just burns up everything with 2 wheel.

[mawardjr]

I would disagree on the "taking the fun out".

Wheeling stock, I had to push the jeep through some of the tougher spots and by doing so it seemed like I never got to "enjoy" the obstacle.

Now, I don't have to worry so much about blazing thru it, just to get thru it. I can take my time, keep my speed down and enjoy crawling thru it.

[Tomster]

Mike's right. The things you used to do before getting the locker are still fun with the locker, and having a locker or lockers will allow you to do some stuff that you shouldn't even attempt without a locker.

[mawardjr]

[ QUOTE ]
Mike's right. The things you used to do before getting the locker are still fun with the locker, and having a locker or lockers will allow you to do some stuff that you shouldn't even attempt without a locker.

[/ QUOTE ]

Preach it Tom!!!

[Tomster]

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[Micah]

Well since you are all into having a locker feel free to stop by when I get it and help me install the thing.

P.S. really!

[mawardjr]

Sounds like wrenching party in the making.

Pulling the front hubs off was the worst part, at least on mine it was. Air tools makes the install easier and you'll need a vise or a second pair of hands to tighten the ring gear back down. Other than that it is a fairly easy and straight forward install.

[Micah]

Well I have never done anything like this. I have rebuilt sbc'c but I mean come on who hasnt, thats a joke. I am just afraid of putting the general outa commission for awhile if I screw it all up.
Anyone is invited to come help. I will be about 20 miles from TB when I do it so we can go test it out when it's done.

[gmbtj]

will gladly stop by. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif i know alot of good write-ups online that might be of some help too. I myself have lots of tools so when i lock mine, i am definitely doing it myself.

[Dave Taylor]

You will do much better on the trail by locking the rear than the front (because of uphill weight transfer)

Too many times there isn't enough weight on the front for the lockers to help alot anyway; and that is when you really need both rears pushing!

[Micah]

I will eventually lock the rear but I cant see putting any money into the axle if I am going to upgrade it.

[Micah]

Well it got here today and I am going to try to install iton Monday. That will give me two days to get it all done. I hope thats enough time. Bob didnt send me a sticker though.

[Paul E]

[ QUOTE ]
Bob didnt send me a sticker though.

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, heck, there goes that 15 HP increase you were expecting... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hee.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/brows.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hee.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/brows.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Micah]

lol yeah I know man I was robbed

[scrambled]

[ QUOTE ]

I feel like the 35 will survive being locked depending on how you drive it and the type of terrain you run.



[/ QUOTE ]

That is a very true statement /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tu.gif. I mean I have seen Dana 60 stuff break like twigs under the wrong sitiuation. It is the age old question of what to upgrade and when. If we all have unlimited funds it wouldn't really matter so we have to choose them carefully. If you have a Automatic and are easy on the throttle then you should be okay for a little while. I on the other hand run a 4-speed and I make up for lack of driving skill by laying on the skinny go pedal /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif. I am ramblin so I will leave you with this; with your new locker you will wonder what you ever did without one.

[bigblacktj]

I think the front was the best choice only having a 35 in rear. But I must say I think a rear locker is more important than a front. The rear is all the pushing power the front is just that extra help on pulling you over the top. This of a front wheel drive trying to go up a hill compared to a rear wheel drive going up a hill. That rear wheels push you up the hill its is harder to pull than push I guess you could say it that case. But considering that he only has a dana 35 rear I think the front is the only way he could go even though I dont think it is as helpful as a rear locker.

[Micah]

Well eventually I will lock the rear but not till I upgrade.

[pirate_over50]

[ QUOTE ]
Lockers seem like they would take a lot of the fun out of 4 wheelin. My friend doesnt like going with us cause he never has to put it into 4 wheel drive with his air lockers on there. He just burns up everything with 2 wheel.

[/ QUOTE ] /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gifSounds like a guy that ran with me one day at TB. He found us on the main trail and ask if he could follow. Then proceeded to tell us that he ran everything in 2 wheel drive. Well yea you can, if you only run the main trail. Didn't take me long to find him something that he actually had to pull the lever back and put it in 4 low. And I think he ran the rest of the trail that way too. Never boast about your rig unless you can back it up. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Dave Taylor]

[ QUOTE ]

Lockers seem like they would take a lot of the fun out of 4 wheelin. My friend doesnt like going with us cause he never has to put it into 4 wheel drive

[/ QUOTE ]

If your friend never put's it in 4WD, then he is ridding on baby Hummer-H2 Trails; not 'Oh My God' Jeep trails.

One of the great fun aspects of Offroading is going places that are leave you with the 'Oh my God, I can't believe I was able to climb that' feeling. You can't get that feeling out of easy trails; or out of 2WD trails.

Just plain period.

Lockers don't take the fun out of Jeepin, they put more fun into it because they allow you to go places that it just doesn't make sense that a vehicle should be able to go. Were talking Donkey and Goat-type trails.

You find that with lockers; you make different decisions on trailclimbs.

It isn't so much; 'Can I make it' anymore; but rather...

1) Will I pick the right line
2) Will I apply the right amount of throttle

IMO, and I have been Jeepin since the early 1970s, Lockers are the best upgrade(with exception to winch); by far, if you enjoy offroading and running difficult trails that normal 4WD vehicles would not attempt. Better than bigger tire, better than bigger engines, better than bigger lifts...Lockers are the 'milk and honey' of the promised OHV land.

[Dennis]

[ QUOTE ]
Better than bigger tires, better than bigger engines, better than bigger lifts...Lockers are the 'milk and honey' of the promised OHV land.

[/ QUOTE ]

Wow, take me to the promised land! Unlike bigger tires and bigger lifts, lockers don't have any downside in street driving. Well, at least manual lockers don't.

I've heard that a locker also mean you don't have to bother with sway bar disconnects. It makes sense because you don't have to worry so much about keeping tires on the ground for traction. Do you think that is true?

[gmbtj]

no, you still need the extra flex, but a locker will help when they are still connected though.

[Dave Taylor]

[ QUOTE ]

lockers don't have any downside in street driving. Well, at least manual lockers don't.

[/ QUOTE ]

After about 2 weeks, autolockers won't have a downside on street driving either; you just have to get used to them; and learn not to gun it when doing 90 degree turns.

The only true downside with autolockers, some would say, is ice. I would disagree though. If you drive the correct way in ice, little throttle, low rpm, "slowwwwly", and you respect turns "greatlyyyy" then lockers should be no more problems than unlocked....ice itself, needs alot of respect; and will be slick in any situation. Besides, if it is really bad slick-ice; and nothing is going; at least with lockers; you can drop-off into the ditch; and chug right along (minus any tire-punctures) where all other open-diffed rigs would also get stuck in the ditch.


[ QUOTE ]

I've heard that a locker also mean you don't have to bother with sway bar disconnects. It makes sense because you don't have to worry so much about keeping tires on the ground for traction. Do you think that is true?

[/ QUOTE ]

I see your point here, but it is not true. If you are locked, and you keep your swaybar connected; you are just gonna have more times where you have a wheel or two up in the air, and spinning in the air...ala no traction from that tire.

With swaybars discoed, you are more likely to always have all 4 tires on the ground; therefore always having true 4WD.

[IndyXJ]

When I regear, I will lock the rear as well and debating the auto vs. manual locker and it's all based on $ and wondering if I want to worry about air hoses, electric connections, etc. It's not my DD which helps, but never driven my own rig with a locker, only others.
Friend had a Detroit in his and it was noisy. I heard they are somehow making them quieter.