Choices on lockers

I am planning on building a full float conversion for my D44. Integral to this is inner 30 spline axles. The outer is another thread altogether. I would like the pro's and cons of lunch box lockers, positraction type, lever, air, or electric locking differentials.

Price is a concern, but i want to be able to drive this thing on the road too. Thats really where its going to be most of the time. Another option is 30 spline spiders and keeping it open, but I don't think that works with the original spiders in the original case. I don't think they swap ...That would then entail purchasing the correct case, setting up gears and its still an open differential and why bother really?

What i throw in this does not need to be the most robust amazing thing ever. Whats your experience?

Thanks

 

I have ox air lockers in my '46. Never let me down! I love them.

 

When it comes down to $$$, and street manners, its tough to beat the Powr Lok.

 

On a short wheel base rig a selectable locker would be best. That being said, I have only ever used automatic lockers in the rear axle in all my Jeep, be them lunch box lockers or a full case Detroit. I do have an ARB in the front of my CJ5. If you were in sunny SoCal, I would not worry as much.

 

If on the road most of the time a selectable wins hands down. Do you encounter snow and ice? If so selectable. If not, then less an issue. I like ARB's but I'm very familiar with installing them. OX are nice and good units but routing the cable and mounting the shifter "can" be an issue. I don't like how low the actuator enters the cover either. Not a fan of the limited slip/locker combo as there has been strength issues with those. They may have changed that but I've seen several broken.
I like the Lock-Rights in the '59-5 but they are getting replaced with ARB's when the new axles go under it.

 

you're telling me what I expected. Selectable are more than twice the cost of a lunchbox locker, but its mostly on the road and i want to drive it around without issues. Its probably not going to see snow and ice because i have no top.... yet.

so, best selectable locker then? which ones are the best for the price? like i said, it does NOT need to be the most robust, just reliable.

 

I can tell you I have put my lockrites front and back to the test and I have not had any issues since I installed them 10 yrs ago.... super dependable of me ......

 

I'm still trying to figure out why you need a locker in the DC area but I've never been there.
My 3B has a Power Lock in the rear. You can hardly drive it in 2WD on ice or snow. Again, I've done many trails in 2WD that others have had to go to 4X4.
A couple of years ago I set up a couple of friends Jeeps up with Eaton Electric Lockers, front and rear. Pretty impresive what they can do.
The Terra Low gears in one of helped a bit as well.
If you have the $. go for the selectable locker.

 

Eaton's E-locker is what I am looking at for the rear of my little Jeep.

 

I don't at all. Thats the problem really. The idea is to install the full float conversion to flat tow my jeep to the places where i MIGHT need it. In order to to do that I need new axles. New axles can be had from herms or I can make my own. If I stay with the 19 spline or whatever is in there, I need 19 spline or whatever long side axles from a station wagon or some other ancient axle. Availabillty and price are an issue, but not with 30 spline axles.

The choice is to buy a new case and buy 30 spline spiders and still have an open differential or pass go completely and buy the locking differential to accept the 30 spline axleshafts. The idea to save money was to install a lunchbox locker directly into the 19 spline case and be done. I would probably be unhappy with the driving characteristics of that on the road.

There is nothing wrong with my present D44 axle. I happen to have an extra one and like to make cool stuff. In my idea this falls directly under cool stuff. I could invest that money not in axle parts but intelligently into beer or something, but this is longer lasting and my family will enjoy it more when I'm smiling standing up as apposed to smiling face down in the front yard passed out. that would also mean that i would have to take up residence under a nearby overpass and wouldn't need an open body jeep anymore.

so, elocker, ox locker, arb.... im not going to spend a grand on the locking differential though.

 

Im looking real hard at the ox locker for the reasons you state.

 

I run ARB's in pretty much everything. My CJ-6 will even be getting them by this summer hopefully.

 

what about the air supply? not the band... is it a PITA? do you really need on board air?

OR IS ON BOARD AIR SOMETHING I NOW MUST HAVE?

 

ARB's work from air pressure so you would need some sort of OBA. Both the ARB or Elocker will require you to drill a hole in the diff housing to run a tube or wire. OX lock, you have to figure out how to run the cable(s). There is really no easy solution.
It might be why I'm still running a Powerlock in my 3B.

 

I have factory selectable e-lockers - front, rear, center in my Landcruiser 80 series and they are extremely helpful - when you need them, which is seldom. In my '47 2A I have a D41 FF internal selectable hubs and a Lock Right, which is pretty good for trail use. They are a bit noisy on the road - occasional 'pop' noise. They are cheap and easy to install.

 

My neighbor had a Lock Right in the rear of his CJ7. It drove him nuts. Sometimes some strange steering and the noises...
I think he pulled the cover off twice to check for broken parts. That is why he went to the Elockers.
The Lock Right is still setting on a shelf in his garage. He won't even give it away unless it is going to be used off road only.

 

This is what i see myself doing. i would rather bite the bullet and buy what i want right out the gate. Elocker or Ox locker? ARB is expensive even without the air compressor. not that OBA is a bad idea... just that ARB is at least 200 bucks more than OX locker.

 

Of your 3 choices, all would work well. All would be about the same to install. I haven't checked prices in a few years. But I suspect the OX is a bit higher. The ARB, It is nice to have OBA but it probably can be done cheaper.
As has been said, a stock Jeep can get around pretty well.
Good luck with your project.

 

I had a d25 and d41 with open differentials in my first 2A. I never needed more. This really isn't about needing the locker, its more about the FF idea and flat towing. If i am going to go through the effort of doing the conversion, why spend money on a new case to accept 30 spline axles into the spiders to replace the 19 spline ones? I would still have to set up gears and buy stuff, or I could spend a couple hundred bucks more and forget about it forever until i need a locker that one time.

I could buy the 19 spline axles from herm for 440 bucks plus shipping and just be done with it... but wheres the fun in that?