I recently inquired about Aussie lockers for the JK (Dana 44 rear) with the manufacturer. I received the following response:

"We are trying to get one from our local Jeep dealer to send to Australia to
evaluate the issues in designing an Aussie for this new diff. We have the
Next Gen Dana 30 and as soon as we get the Next Gen Dana 44 they will go to
Australia for review. We are assuming you have one of these diffs, so if
you want to help us, please send us our VIN number so our Jeep dealer can
cross reference the information against what they have on record from Dana.
They are concerned that there are a lot of posi Next Gen Dana 44 diffs out
there and they will order and get a posi we dont want so they will end up
eating restocking costs."

Can someone help me understand this? I don't really follow the logic on the whole VIN number thing and the restocking issue. I notice from looking at their product offerings that there are models where they make a front but no rear. And from the somewhat cryptic response it seems like the JK may fall victim to that as well. I've seen lots of good things here about the Aussie lockers from previous owners in other models and from folks that have installed the front Dana 30 one in the JK. It seems like a good product, but I'd rather have a front/rear set that matches than just an Aussie front, and an air or electric in the rear.

 

The aussie Locker is a great locker.

And they are trying to get a bunch of diff. VIN numbers to check everything over and find out how many diff. applications there is that they need to make.

David

 

I spoke with them several months ago also about one for the rear. "Mr. Bill" said they would likely start engineering for one sometime in 2008, depending if there was enough demand. I don't think at that time they had any idea how popular the JK would be.

 

They are great, but slow for new applications it might be awhile.

 

The question seemed to center on the idea that the D44's might have posi...IE: LSD....rather than be std open Diffed D44's.

Is it possible that the Aussie Locker would be different for the LSD/posi diff than the open diff D44?

 

So, if you have the LSD rear, you still can get a locker put in? I thought that you needed an open diff, or a completely new carrier, etc..... Just when I think I'm starting to understand what's available.....

 

So, would it cause problems to install a front locker (since they already make that one), and wait on the rear locker for a year or so until it comes out?

 

No, it would be easy to get a front locker, as they already have that one...and then just lock the rear when the option becomes available, from them, or who over comes to market with something that works for you.