OX Locker....

Yup, I installed an OX locker in the CJ5 today/DANA 44.. Had a few issues, but they are resolved.. OX makes a very nice unit.. Tried it out tonite for a while at my test area.. All I can say is I didn't wanna come home. I'm a kid with a new toy..

 

Cool. Looking at one for my D30.

 

Awesome!...i've wanted one for a while....if money was no issue i'd have them front and rear.

 

How difficult was it to get the cables right? I've heard great things about them with the "BUT", getting the cables just right is a PITA.

 

I installed one in the front of mine. The only thing that I did different was I eliminated the spring in the shift lever. I now use a solid piece instead. I found that the spring which had to overcome all 5 or 6 springs in the differential wasn't really quick enough all of the time.

Basically. The main engagement teeth in the locker are very wide. I noticed that if the teeth are not lined up when you engage the locker, and you are going basically straight, you may stay un-locked for some time. You need front wheel speed differentation to get the teeth to line up, and the locker to engage. Meaning you need to turn your wheels and to move or spin a tire to engage the locker. If you rely in the spring to push you in, you never really know when it engages, and it may take some driving distance. If you are the type of driver who is going to engage it through-out a long tough section of trail, then that is probably OK. But I am the type of driver who prefers not to have it engaged for ease of steering, and aslo longevity of axle parts. So I may be about a foot away from the obstacle when I engage it because I just tried it unsuccessfully without the locker. I want to know that it is engaged.....So, I now pull back on the shift lever as I am moving and I can feel the teeth engage. I try to give myself a little distance to get the locker engaged, and I try to get wheel speed differentation. It goes in, I know it is in, and when I am passed the obstacle. I disengage it.

Actually, this is the way that OX originally designed the locker. However people did not understand how to apply pressure untill the lever goes all the way in. It is not a real crisp feel because of the cable. Almost sort of mushy, but you can tell when it goes in. I can understand why people did not like it. But I prefer it. Once you feel how it engages by hand, you will have less confidence in the little spring.

 

Everyone all together now...

PULL THE LEVER!!!

 

So far the cable hasn't been a problem.. At least as far as I know.. I am still playing with ti, so who knows.. Seems to go in every time..

 

I'm a big fan of the OX locker. I can understand the complaint that guys have for running the cable on daily drivers, but for a jeep there is nothing better.

 

They also just came out with an air actuated cylinder to engage the locker. But that also means having to run air lines to the axle and needing OBA for the system.

 

Thats exactly why I went with OX.. I did not want to hassle with air..