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Locker, front or rear?

A

andreas970

NAXJA Forum User
Location
Holyoke, MA
I'm going to be getting a locker for my jeep sometime fairly soon.

91 with 30 front 35 rear.

My question is, since I'm doing only one axle, which would be the more useful one? This is not a DD, so I'm not concerned with onroad performance/noise.

I was thinking rear, if for no other reason than it would be easier, because I believe the 35 is a c-clip axle. (or am I wrong?)

Reasons would be helpful too.. :)

Thanks!
 
The rear will give more traction and be more road friendly...but... It depends on if you actually want to spend money on the d35 or not. I would do the rear, but upgrade the axle first.
 
definately go with rear locker, most of your weight will shift to the rear when climbing hills and yes it should be a d-35. be prepared to take some crap for puttin in a locker in a 35, especially a c-clip. i have the bolt in version of the 35 and have run a locker for 5 years and have been lucky i guess, i am careful how much skinny pedal to use and when. common advise would be use about anything but a 35, and for good reasons. 8.8, 9"ford, dana 44 or 60 would be a wiser choice. i started pouring money in mine before i knew any better.......my .02
 
definately go with the front locker..........read any article and it will tell ya so...I myself have run the same trails using only front and only rear locker. The front will do more for you that the rear... I am speaking from experience here not guessing.
 
xjnation said:
definately go with the front locker..........read any article and it will tell ya so...
Click to expand...

Actually, most places I've found online where this has been polled have leaned strongly towards rear.... tha'ts why I was leaning that way.... good to know, thanks!
 
I just put an aussie in the front of mine and I can't imagine the rear working better.

My web research indicated the front only would perform better in climbing situations. While I have not run a rear only set up, the increase in traction I have now while climbing is unreal, slippery root infested climbs that used to require several heavy throttle attempts are now idled up first try with no tire spin.

When driving on the street, the front locker is virtually invisable, if I have my windows down and the radio off I can here it click through parking lot type corners but it is barely noticable.

I had been planning on another for the rear but at this point I'm not sure I need it.
 
I would definetley go with the front and then start saving some money to upgrade the rear axle(44) before locking it.
 
I went through the same dillema recently. The 4x4 specialist back home who did the ARB install made a good point...the front axle is under much more weight in comparison to the rear axle....this makes sense of course when you consider the contents of rear cargo area versus the front engine compartment! Well, with that extra weight on the locked axle, there is a significant performance benefit. Ideally though, you'd do both axles, but between the two....it seems like the front is the logical choice.
 
i realy hope that everyone responding has selectables front and rear and has run the same trail with the same line with front locked the first time then the rear locked. or at least knows (not read on the net) of someone doing so.

when climbing the wait is shifted to the rear giving the tires in the rear more traction thus less need for a locker, the front is what needs the help when climbing the front is unweighted and has more of a chance to slip a tire.

few other things to consider it is prob better to have a locker in the front becuse of the inherent weakness of the d35 (running and sizable tire with a locker in a d35 is just asking for trouble not to mention most newer ones are c-clip and without spares you have to devise some way to keep you axle from walking out of the housing) in the d30 if you break a shaft you can replace it without opening up the pumpkin like you must in a c-clip axle. also you won't have the problem of loosing the tire when the shaft breaks. the one downside as i see it is wider turning radius.

so my vote is for the front
 
Agreed on the front for two reasons:

#1 - The above mentioned climbing - Lot's of situations having a front locker would pulled me right up and out of the obstacle. Whereas having only a rear required some throttle feathering to bump up and over.

#2 - Much quicker and easier to change a D30 shaft on the trail. No diff fluid, RTV, etc... Plus the Jeep can be usually be driven to flat ground with a busted D30, whereas you generally change it right where it broke on a D35.

:twocents:
 
I have seen very few situations where there is enough weight shift that the rear would be more bennificial and you still had a chance in hell of making it with one locker.

Front and don't waste the money on the 35.
 
Lincoln said:
I have seen very few situations where there is enough weight shift that the rear would be more bennificial and you still had a chance in hell of making it with one locker.

Front and don't waste the money on the 35.
Click to expand...

absolutly... period. Front or both. Dont waste money on the 35 first off.

I ran moab with just a rear, and wish I would have rather had a front. Climbing becomes SO much easier with a front.
 
Don't waste you time on the rear. The only time i could see a rear locker being better is, Going up a vertical face that was longer than the wheelbase of the jeep. Thats it. I have seen way to many broke d 35s to put a locker in one. The front is pretty beatable even with 33/ 35s. Either both or a front. And to whoever thinks a rear locker is not noticeable on the street must not have one?? The front you will never notice is there untill you are in 4 wheel. Other than clicking when you turn. If you plan on doing muxh of any upgrades, you will proble get rid of the d 35 anyways. The front will proble stay.
 
Front.:wave:
 
ipkyss said:
... And to whoever thinks a rear locker is not noticeable on the street must not have one?? The front you will never notice is there untill you are in 4 wheel. Other than clicking when you turn...
Click to expand...

So what's worst in snow? 4H Front only or 4H Rear only?
 
NorStar said:
So what's worst in snow? 4H Front only or 4H Rear only?
Click to expand...

4H rear only is much worse than the front. I tried locking one hub and I couldn't tell the difference between that and both hubs locked in. It is different to drive though. There is no coasting through corners. You have to scrub the speed then drive through them. I should say this is packed snow not fresh.

The rear always seemed to want to pass me even in 4x when I messed around with the rear locked only.
 
Lincoln said:
I have seen very few situations where there is enough weight shift that the rear would be more bennificial and you still had a chance in hell of making it with one locker.

Front and don't waste the money on the 35.
Click to expand...

Con-effing-cur.
 
andreas970 said:
Actually, most places I've found online where this has been polled have leaned strongly towards rear.... tha'ts why I was leaning that way.... good to know, thanks!
Click to expand...


Id suggest you stay away from those places
 
xjnation said:
definately go with the front locker..........read any article and it will tell ya so...I myself have run the same trails using only front and only rear locker. The front will do more for you that the rear... I am speaking from experience here not guessing.
Click to expand...
I agree. I wheeled with the front locked only for a good while then locking the rear, if I had to give up one it would be the rear.
 
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