Curiosity

So I'm getting ready to start saving for my next project and I'm 99% sure I want to get an ARB locker for my X's rear d44. Now for my questions:

1) I have 3.73 gears right now, but plan on upgrading to 5.13's when I've got the $ to upgrade my front axle... will I be able to use the same ARB locker on my 3.73 geared rear axle and on my 5.13 geared rear axle, or will I need to buy a whole new locker when I regear?

2) Can I install this myself or do I need to pay somebody big $ to do it??? How much do you think would be fair if I have it installed at the 4x4 shop? (I can do simple things like installing a lift kit, but have little experience messing in a diff... but I'm willing to give it a shot w/ some instruction).

3) Do I need any other parts other than an ARB compressor and locker??? such as new diff housing, bearings, ect.

Thanks!

Sethmark

The ARB for the JK 44 is for all gears so you're good.

ARBs are VERY reliable if installed correctly. They are a disaster if installed poorly. While gears aren't exactly a black science, there are some specialty tools that help substantially (case spreader, dial indicators, setup bearings). Can you do it? Beats me. Should you try? I would probably air on the side of caution on this one. Do it wrong and you can sieze the axle at speed and do some serious damage.

A good shop should charge about $300+ for an ARB install. Its fairly time consuming, especially with the axle in the car.

seer1

Wait and do it all at once. If not, you'll be paying double the labor for the same job.

Sethmark

Good advice. You don't really want to pay somebody multiple times to do diff work.

Curiosity

Looks like I might be waiting a while. I don't feel comfortable locking the front diff of a d30 on 35's, especially w/ 5.13's installed on a 27 spline axle. Eventually I'll have a d60 up front w/ 5.13's, but that's $5K down the road. I'm thinking about just locking the rear until I can afford the work on the front and just paying the labor on the rear twice just so I can use the locker for the time being. The way I see it I'm paying the price of the install labor to use the locker until I've raised enough capital to finance the rest of my mods. These muddy trails in TN are brutal w/ 2 open diffs.

Curiosity

Yeah, red clay all over the place here. I love playing on the rocks and plan on taking it out west once a year or so... that's what has me afraid to lock the d30 right now. Its always a pain to break something in a place that's that far away from home. A locked rear will still take you almost anywhere you need to go.

Sethmark

Don't be afraid of the 30, just treat it with respect. Its been serving moderately built TJ owners well since 1996. I personally beat the crap out of my locked 30 for nearly 3 years before dropping a 60 in. That was about 20 trips over rubicon, a few trips to the hammers, and 2 trips to Moab.

Never gave me a lick of trouble. But when I went up to 38s the 60s were mandatory and proved to be a ton of fun when I dropped back down to 35s.

Curiosity

what kind of gear ratio did you run in the d30? I'm just as concerned about the 35's + 5.13 ring/pinion + locker being too much for the 27 splines on the d30 as I am the axle shafts. I've thought about putting in a 30 spline d30, but nobody makes one right now for the JK to my knowledge. There might be a fab company who can make me one, but that is my only option for now.

Sethmark

4.56 with a full detroit carrier.

5.13s are pretty deep. I'd need to see a spec on tooth engagement to give you any idea if its a bad idea.... but if Superior or Motive offer them, chances are good they're fine. They aren't going to risk a bunch of failures if the gearset doesn't have ample engagement.

That's not to say they can't be broken, but that they'll most likely tolerate a reasonable amount of abuse.

captjay

id like to throw my 2cents in. if u do the job sperate for the gears and lockers, also remember some seals and bearings, etc can not be reused or should not be reused, so u would have to buy some parts twice, gear oil twice, labor cost twice, add it all up and u could possibly have paid for new axles and some depending on ur location, but hey its ur money, u might want to do a cost comparison to see what the diference would be, might surprise u how much. . along with the gears, there are install kits u should get that have bearings, seals, etc. as for the lockers, IMO, save up for the stainless lines and get those installed when locker is installed. the compresor depending on where u want it, u will need some type of braket for under hood app. my guy just fabd one up for me. i would spend the $25 i think, and get the daystar rocker switch panel, very clean install instead of cutting up your lower dash. i did gears and lockers front and rear at the same time. i hjave the arb frnt and rear and love em, but when it comes to mud, lockers are useless if u do not have traction. think about it. ias bad as i wanted the gears and lockers, i saved for 6 more months so i could buy and install all at one time. the gears just sat there staring at me for 6 months, it sucked but was worth it to me. take what u want out of this, but who couldnt use an xtra $600-$1000 these days.