Eaton E-Locker
Sponsoring Manufacturer
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,136
Likes: 4
From: Huntington Beach, CA
I have numerous friends that have run them and eventually all of them went to other lockers. I sincerely hope your experience is better than their's.
Thread Starter
JK Freak
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 796
Likes: 0
From: Halifax, Nova Scotia
I wouldnt even consider an Ected, I've heard many horror stories about them. Well I guess its back to the old drawing board, not feelin' the ox (cable operated). If I had of known that I was gonna be doing all of this I would have ordered a Rubicon from the get go lol, can't put a rubi locker in a Sahara d44 can you? BTW, could somebody please explain the difference between the Rubi 44 and the X, Sahara 44?
Thread Starter
JK Freak
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 796
Likes: 0
From: Halifax, Nova Scotia
why i wouldn't run an eaton... This is from my buddy's rig (and i'll be quoting him:
Yep it's ugly. First one I've seen posted anywhere on the internet that failed like this, And I've done my share of searching.
It appears like one of the balls in the ball-n-ramp locking system failed, I would say split in two. Not much of it left. You can see the score marks where it came off and gouged it's way to the adjacent ball. It tore up all the rest of the balls to the point that it wouldn't lock any more. I checked to see what was or wasn't working before I pulled it. The magnet worked fine, and I could see it engaging the locker. It actually felt like it was going to lock up fine, but it would start to slip as soon as you got any pressure on it. After I got it out an apart it was obvious what was hapening
Thoes are supposed to be balls that latch into the recesses in the spider gear. They are so egg shaped that they don't prodrude through the holes enough to engage the recess.
The case on the locker is trashed. So it is completely junk
ok now this is me talking. that was the first time it happened. he had it 1.5 years. a year later trying to get over a big rock it happened again...
i'll be staying far way from them myself.
Yep it's ugly. First one I've seen posted anywhere on the internet that failed like this, And I've done my share of searching.
It appears like one of the balls in the ball-n-ramp locking system failed, I would say split in two. Not much of it left. You can see the score marks where it came off and gouged it's way to the adjacent ball. It tore up all the rest of the balls to the point that it wouldn't lock any more. I checked to see what was or wasn't working before I pulled it. The magnet worked fine, and I could see it engaging the locker. It actually felt like it was going to lock up fine, but it would start to slip as soon as you got any pressure on it. After I got it out an apart it was obvious what was hapening
Thoes are supposed to be balls that latch into the recesses in the spider gear. They are so egg shaped that they don't prodrude through the holes enough to engage the recess.
The case on the locker is trashed. So it is completely junk
ok now this is me talking. that was the first time it happened. he had it 1.5 years. a year later trying to get over a big rock it happened again...
i'll be staying far way from them myself.
JK Newbie
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: American Fork, Utah
E-Locker
I put the e lockers in my 07 with 4.88 and never looked back they are awesome. And the only time i use them is Moab or Little Moab.
Had them for a year now never a problem.
Click on to climb click off to turn no tire churping or tire binding they are IMO the best of both worlds.
Had them for a year now never a problem.
Click on to climb click off to turn no tire churping or tire binding they are IMO the best of both worlds.
JK Newbie
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: South Jordan, Utah
Eaton E-Locker
Hey I just bought a eaton e locker for my rear non Rubi Dana 44. The problem I am having is my ring gear bolts are 1/2 inch and the e locker holes are 7/16 in. So I am just going to jump from my 4.10 to 4.88 the kit says it comes with new ring gear bolts. I will let you know how it works once I get my gears and locker installed. Heading to Moab this weekend to test it all out.
07 wrangler x 2 door, 2 1/2 in terraflex pucks, sway dis connects 285 70 17"s soon to be 35"s with my 4.88 and eaton e locker.
07 wrangler x 2 door, 2 1/2 in terraflex pucks, sway dis connects 285 70 17"s soon to be 35"s with my 4.88 and eaton e locker.
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 126
Likes: 0
From: DuPont, WA
I have seen so many problems with ox lockers. I would definitly never get one of those
Sponsoring Manufacturer
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,136
Likes: 4
From: Huntington Beach, CA
Hey I just bought a eaton e locker for my rear non Rubi Dana 44. The problem I am having is my ring gear bolts are 1/2 inch and the e locker holes are 7/16 in. So I am just going to jump from my 4.10 to 4.88 the kit says it comes with new ring gear bolts. I will let you know how it works once I get my gears and locker installed. Heading to Moab this weekend to test it all out.
07 wrangler x 2 door, 2 1/2 in terraflex pucks, sway dis connects 285 70 17"s soon to be 35"s with my 4.88 and eaton e locker.
07 wrangler x 2 door, 2 1/2 in terraflex pucks, sway dis connects 285 70 17"s soon to be 35"s with my 4.88 and eaton e locker.
Sponsoring Manufacturer
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,136
Likes: 4
From: Huntington Beach, CA
The 8.8 is the pin design. The first 3 pics shows the end of the pins recessed in their bores. The 4th pic shows the end of the side gear. The pins must slip into those elongated holes. As you can very clearly see, the ends of the pins are rounded. The rounded ends are caused by engaging the locker while moving. When the rounded ends wear to a certain point, they will no longer engage or fail to stay engaged. The 44 and 30/35 designs do not use this pin design. The collar system they use does not suffer from these issues. However, as I said earlier, the 44 version is very weak. MUCH weaker than an ARB.
The reason the 44 is weaker can be explained by looking at the above pics. The 4th pic shows the side gear. When the pin (or collar- depending on the model) locks the side gear. The differential no longer differentiates. It now acts like a spool. Torque flows through the pinion and the ring gear into the ring gear side side-gear. Power then goes to the axle on that side. The power is split at the side gear and is also sent through the locked differential pinion gears and then into the other side gear and axle. The problem with the Eaton 2 pinion design is that in the locked position the differential pinion gear contact area is very small and it is not 'timed'. 'Timed' means that the gears may lock in a position that doesn't provide optimum strength/contact. ARBs not only have 4 pinions which, obviously, double the potential contact area, they are also 'timed' to only lock in the most optimum position.
The weaker 2 pinion design frequently can't handle the torque loads of big tires and off road use and differential pinion gear failure results.
The reason the 44 is weaker can be explained by looking at the above pics. The 4th pic shows the side gear. When the pin (or collar- depending on the model) locks the side gear. The differential no longer differentiates. It now acts like a spool. Torque flows through the pinion and the ring gear into the ring gear side side-gear. Power then goes to the axle on that side. The power is split at the side gear and is also sent through the locked differential pinion gears and then into the other side gear and axle. The problem with the Eaton 2 pinion design is that in the locked position the differential pinion gear contact area is very small and it is not 'timed'. 'Timed' means that the gears may lock in a position that doesn't provide optimum strength/contact. ARBs not only have 4 pinions which, obviously, double the potential contact area, they are also 'timed' to only lock in the most optimum position.
The weaker 2 pinion design frequently can't handle the torque loads of big tires and off road use and differential pinion gear failure results.
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 176
Likes: 0
From: Sofia, Bulgaria
This is a very interesting topic.
I have already read in other posts that ARB or Eaton's E-Locker are valid option for a D30 in the front, and I was actually wondering what could be good for the rear ... same options plus the ECTED ... until I read this post ....
I have already read in other posts that ARB or Eaton's E-Locker are valid option for a D30 in the front, and I was actually wondering what could be good for the rear ... same options plus the ECTED ... until I read this post ....