I was hoping for some technical advise on a alternative Front Locker system for my 2010 Rubicon. My original locker failed recently and I refuse to go back to the OEM setup. Since my vehicle has a 32 Spline Axle, I know there's more required then just buying Lockers. My Rubi is my daily driver but I do occasionally take her off road. Looking for the BEST Lockers that will give me no headaches and guaranteed to work when needed.

Here's a pic for all my Rubicon friends out there with stock lockers. My dealer's service manager had the nerve to say that the failure was due to my 35" tires. Obviously the denied my warranty claim
[IMG][/IMG]

 

I have the same problem. Mine is in the rear that it failed. Jeep voided my whole warranty and I only had 2,500 miles on my 2010 Rubi. He said the solenoid would not engage the locker but he could manually slide it over and make it lock. He said my mechanic must have hit it when he was doing the gears. He also told me they cannot fix it, they have to replace the whole locker assembly and it was going to be $2,000+.

When the front locker brakes I will already have the air compressor installed.

Here is what I am doing because I am running 37" tires and need heavy duty axle shafts.

D44 JK RUBICON 35 SPL ARB AIR LOCKER
AIR LOCKER AIR ACTIVATION SYSTEM (COMPACT DESIGN)
12 VOLT COMPRESSOR KIT (HIGH OUTPUT)
35 SPL CTL AXLE SHAFT, 24.5-34", 5X5, D44, JK
SET10 AXLE BRG & SEAL KIT, MOST FLANGED D44 & M20
1/2"-20 THREAD-IN WHEEL STUDS FOR HD AXLES, ALSO GM 14T 4.10 R/G BOLTS
BEARING (D44)
BEARING RACE D44 CARRIER

$1,500 + labor

Chido

 

as much as it hurts to say this, in all fairness, some lockers are not designed to handle 35's, but the stock locker from what i hear is not that great to start with.

you probably will get a lot of differing opinions for this one. each brand and type of locker has its strengths and drawbacks.

i have arb air lockers front and rear. very happy with them. selectable so i don't have to worry about locking up on the road. they have pulled my 37's for couple years now. arb is very strong. it takes air pressure to engage and release of pressure to disengage. so you will have to have an air supply of some type.

now for some drawbacks to air lockers, if your air lines are not routed well, you have a potential for snagging on the trail, rocks, etc... the plastic lines are durable but can break, but there are repair kits for that. i replaced the air lines with braided stainless steel. but if you break a ss line, that's more difficult to repair. the locker has o-rings and seals that can over time blow out, but that should not prevent you from making it off the trail.

even with these cons, i personally am very happy wth arb's. my first problem happened couple weeks ago with the o-ring or seal blowing out. but no biggie, i can still drive the jeep with that messed up. some other lockers, if it messes up, it might be locked in until you tear it apart.

sorry can't help with other types, i have only had arb

 

maybe this will help

this is a post from Dynatrac:

https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/show...28-best-locker

post #9 might help explain a few things

 

Your in Florida, no snow, put a lockright or aussie in the front like I did.

 

If it is your front locker it is 30 spline not 32, your rear axle is 32 spline. An arb is a good upgrade, or get an x model rear open carrier and stuff it with an aussie or lockrite as mk suggested and install it in the front.

 

Try another dealer. And then another...



?? My understanding was that a 35spline ARB with new 35spline axles was the ONLY option for 'Rubicon' axles ? Does putting lunchboxes in your non-rubi axles apply to the OP in his rubi axles? If these options are available, is there some re-working that needs to be done?

 

I am truly appreciating everyones feedback

 

I know you'd have to change the axle shafts, maybe go to a 30ct. Dynatrac knows better the way that front 44 is set up though. I looked at Richmond, all they have is 30 ct for 44's
Prolly be too much trouble, think the ring gear is thicker too on the jk 44, uggh, disregard my post.

 

The JK Rubi housing will only accept a 35 sp ARB (without a ton of mods). None of the std D44 carriers will fit so a lunch box locker or the other options aren't going to work. This is why we build 2 versions of our ProRock 44 center section- one for factory Tru Loc and another for conventional diffs.


In reading the OPs specs, I don't see where a gear change was done. If that is the case, I'd look for another dealer and hope your rig hasn't been flagged for warranty denial.

If a gear change HAS been done, the denial is deserved. The installation of a Rubi locker is much more complex than a STD D44. We see them very frequently damaged during install and I've seen many on this board with problems due to poor install. To blame the dealer for problems if you've done gears isn't fair to the dealer as there is no way to know what may have happened during install.