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Lock-Right locker likes and dislikes

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by noahlon, Jan 15, 2013.

  1. Jan 15, 2013
    noahlon

    noahlon Old Fart

    Pine Ridge, AR
    Joined:
    Dec 22, 2010
    Messages:
    206
    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.
     
  2. Jan 15, 2013
    Jeepenstein

    Jeepenstein Me like Jeep..

    North Central FL
    Joined:
    Jun 15, 2003
    Messages:
    2,132
    Nothing to dislike, some steering quirks but I would be reeeeal careful on ice and snow..
     
  3. Jan 15, 2013
    cayenne

    cayenne Member

    central Texas
    Joined:
    Dec 24, 2006
    Messages:
    276
    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.
     
  4. Jan 15, 2013
    Bob-The-CJ

    Bob-The-CJ Member

    Italy, Texas
    Joined:
    Nov 6, 2012
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    386
    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
     
  5. Jan 15, 2013
    hudsonhawk

    hudsonhawk Well-Known Member

    North Texas...
    Joined:
    Feb 4, 2005
    Messages:
    1,937
    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.
     
  6. Jan 15, 2013
    Bob-The-CJ

    Bob-The-CJ Member

    Italy, Texas
    Joined:
    Nov 6, 2012
    Messages:
    386
    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
     
  7. Jan 15, 2013
    chuck123wapati

    chuck123wapati Member

    wyoming
    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2008
    Messages:
    761
    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.
     
  8. Jan 15, 2013
    jasonjp62

    jasonjp62 Member

    Pennsboro WV.
    Joined:
    Aug 15, 2009
    Messages:
    799
    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,
     
  9. Jan 15, 2013
    jeep2003

    jeep2003 Well-Known Member

    Upstate NY
    Joined:
    May 30, 2006
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    1,918
    go for it. the added traction offroad is worth the quirks
     
  10. Jan 15, 2013
    hudsonhawk

    hudsonhawk Well-Known Member

    North Texas...
    Joined:
    Feb 4, 2005
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    1,937
    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.
     
  11. Jan 15, 2013
    Bob-The-CJ

    Bob-The-CJ Member

    Italy, Texas
    Joined:
    Nov 6, 2012
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    386
    Wow, 5k I had no idea, yeah that would probably do it
     
  12. Jan 15, 2013
    aallison

    aallison 74 cj6, 76 cj5. Has anyone seen my screwdriver?

    Green Cove...
    Joined:
    Nov 24, 2006
    Messages:
    1,929
    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.
     
  13. Jan 15, 2013
    cj6/442

    cj6/442 Sponsor

    Fallbrook, Calif
    Joined:
    Feb 6, 2008
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    2,734
    I like it when people turn around because the bang was so loud.
     
  14. Jan 15, 2013
    Jamco6000

    Jamco6000 Member

    Baton Rouge, LA
    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2012
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    211
    Lol on the comment and avatar
     
  15. Jan 17, 2013
    Chuck

    Chuck Sponsor

    Southshore Ma
    Joined:
    Sep 19, 2004
    Messages:
    1,463
    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.
     
  16. Jan 17, 2013
    IA2003

    IA2003 Member

    Ewa Beach, HI
    Joined:
    Mar 17, 2011
    Messages:
    84
    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?
     
  17. Jan 17, 2013
    Posimoto

    Posimoto Hopeless JEEP Addict

    Minden, Nevada
    Joined:
    Aug 7, 2003
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    4,538
    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.
     
  18. Jan 17, 2013
    Eaallred

    Eaallred Member

    West Valley City, UT
    Joined:
    Oct 9, 2008
    Messages:
    188
    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?
     
  19. Jan 17, 2013
    Smokeater

    Smokeater Sponsor

    Browns Summit, NC
    Joined:
    Jun 1, 2009
    Messages:
    125
    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).
     
  20. Jan 18, 2013
    Posimoto

    Posimoto Hopeless JEEP Addict

    Minden, Nevada
    Joined:
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    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.
     
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