Lock-Right locker likes and dislikes

I am trying to decide if I want to install a Lock-Rite in my Dana 44 with 19 splined axle 1968 CJ5. Any comments about driving in rain or ice? Or any general likes or dislikes.

 

Nothing to dislike, some steering quirks but I would be reeeeal careful on ice and snow..

 

I had never driven a vehicle with lockers before I put a lockright in the front and rear 6 months ago.
I don't drive it on the road much, but it has been fine on wet pavement. It will want to swap ends quick if you give it gas in a muddy or loose gravel turn. Other than that, I don't have any complaints.

 

Personally I would not even consider driving a Jeep with lockers unless it was off road only and I don't do off road only vehicles.

I have had on road vehicles with lockers and the drive really bad in all conditions IMO. I find the dangerous during new rain and any kind of freezing or snow

 

I am on my third vehicle with lockers.
First was a Dodge Durango awd with a rear locker. Never had any issues with driving on ice, snow, gravel, dirt, sand, water... Etc. On or off road it drove great.
Second was my 72 cj-5. locked both ends. Again never had any problems no matter what the road conditions were.
Now I have an 06 wrangler unlimited. its locked in the front with a rear limited slip. I have had zero issues with it as well. I plan to get the rear locked in the next year.

 

You never had any issues driving in ice with a locker in the front? Really? That is a first for sure. How heavy are Durango's? They don't look real heavy but maybe it is a factor

 

Mines locked front and rear its scary on icey roads but managable if you know how to drive it. Just dont let off the gas to fast or apply it to fast.

 

My Ram is locked in back and it can get interesting on slick roads, if as mentioned get on or off the gas too fast.......the back side likes to go toward the guard rails. but if you know how to drive it it's not that bad,

 

go for it. the added traction offroad is worth the quirks

 

I drove the Wrangler to work this morning over 20 miles of ice covered roads. I did not have any problems.

The Durango weighed in at about 5k lbs.

 

Wow, 5k I had no idea, yeah that would probably do it

 

I started out in a Suzuki Sammy with a Lock-Right in the rear. I had 33's on it and it rains in Florida all the time. I know it is not snow and ice but it is wet roads. It was very predictable. It would load and unload going around corners. I could actually feel the outside tire start binding, then an audible "bang" and it would unlock and the rear end would swerve out a little. No big deal. At times in the rain it would not unload, instead it would stay locked and the outside tire would scrub a little.

One word of warning, if you were in a turn and on the gas, it would not unlock. If the street was slick, the rear end could break loose and it would slide out from under you. Again, very predictable. And it was fun in parking lots with no other cars around.

I'd recommend them. My current build has a Detroit Locker in the front and a welded rear.

 

I like it when people turn around because the bang was so loud.

 

Lol on the comment and avatar

 

What I don’t like about the lunch box lockers is they introduce about a 1/4” play at the yoke. I don’t feel the play with my Detroit as I do with my Spartan. Although the free play has to be there to unlock on turns I can still feel it on straight line takeoffs and when the clutch is engaged. I’m thinking you wouldn’t feel it as much with an automatic transmission.

 

Are the lockers available for the early Dana 44's and Dana 27's full time or can they be electronically/air engaged like modern lockers? Would'nt the ability to disengage them prevent all these problems being reported?

 

Guess I'll throw my .02 in here. I live in snow country and I had a Lock Right in the rear of my Jeep for about 8 years. It was downright scary on snow covered streets. the rear end always wanted to pass the front on any kind of curve. Maybe if you are running studded snow tires it would not be as bad. Offroad, that's another story. No complaints regarding offroad in the snow with a locker. If you plan on driving your Jeep on roads in the snow at normal residential speeds, save your money and buy a selectable locker. Personally, I wouldn't even want a limited slip in the rear for an on road snow vehicle.

 

I've got the factory Eaton G80 locking diff in both my 1 ton GMC Savanna van, and my 1/2 ton 4wd Silverado. Driving around in the snow is no big deal at all, it locks up when needed, never feels unsafe.

I don't have a lock right, and never have. But it seems the lockup would be similar between the two? If I have no complaints about the lockers in my trucks, would I still feel fine with my CJ5 if I threw a lock right in it?

 

John, I have the factory Crap-loc in my XJ. It's a hand full in the snow in 2-wheel drive but is fine when in 4-wheel drive. Did the locker pretty much act the same? I have a feeling the CJ will be staying at home in the snow since it has an Aussie locker in the rear. Can't counter steer as fast with Ross steering as you can with Saginaw R).

 

I'd guess that your trucks wheelbase is around twice what a CJ is and that could have a big impact on drive-ability in the snow.