I am coming along with my build and need some advice. I am looking to lock the front and rear axles. (I have the Sahara with Limited slip rear) I have read some benefits to selectable lockers over automatic lockers and I have to agree. However, are there any benefits to using an automatic in the rear and a selectable locker up front. I read this idea and seemed to make sense. This is a daily driver rig. Any suggestions?

 

What's the advantage of selectables that you found?

 

Selectable are alot better for street driving less stress on things and alot safer in the rain and snow/ice. Non selectable cheap more reliable. On a dd I would go selectable for sure.

 

You're in Florida? Unless you spend time up north somewhere during the winters, you should be ok with auto lockers. (for those of us that live in snow country, it's a different story). Look at a detroit for the rear, and a lunchbox for up front. Or since you have a 30, you might look at a truetrac for the front for a bit less stress on that d30.

Just my opinion, but I don't see the sense in dropping a thousand dollar selectable into a d30. If you have the spare change and think it's strong enough, look at the eaton e-locker for the front. Strong design and no air source or lines. If you choose selectables for both front and rear, then a pair of arb's is hard to beat.

Decisions, decisions...

And if you haven't read through it yet, there is some good info here.
http://project-jk.com/jeep-jk-tech/d...ts-lockers-101

 

good plan, go for it.

by having a good selectable up front, you can lock in and out quickly. it's a good advantage when on tough obstacles - you can release it and have better steering control, flip it back on and get full traction.

 

Since this is your Dd, you HAVE to drive one jeep with auto locker rear before you buy one like this. It will change the way you drive.
If the idea is not this one, ok, buy and be happy...

 

Here's the thing...

an automatic locker is a compromise. It SHOULD lock up when you need it to be locked. It will hopefully not be locked when you don't want it to be locked...but the bottom line is that a mechanical device is deciding when to lock and unlock your differential. While most of the time this is okay, please understand that with a selectable locker, your differential will always be in the condition (locked or unlocked) that you have chosen based on reading the trail ahead and your experience. There is a reason that people who have the available funds choose one of two options - either selectable lockers or a spool (if it's a trail-only rig).

I'm not saying that yer hoozawhatzit is gonna fall off if you put a lunchbox locker in your Jeep....I'm just saying that "do it right, do it once" is a piece of advice that I've learned is valuable.

 

I'd go Eaton locker in the back - its a limited slip in the "OFF" position and fully locked in the "ON" position. Quiet on the streets, yet aggressive at the flip of a switch. But if your going to dump $1000 into the front end, why not just buy a used dana44 of a rubicon for the front. That way u have beefy parts, plus a factory locker. May cost about $500 more, but it's worth it when u consider less breakage on a trail. Good luck with what ever route u take. :-)

 

I think the upgrade to the 44 front is the best idea. I live in Fl but I plan on wheeling out west and anywhere I can get too. It sounds like it is best for the selectable to be up front. I think that is the most common and best thinking. However it seems like the one negative to the automatic locker in the rear is in the wet or snow. I guess you will have to worry about your rear end getting in front of you. But this is not to unlike a Limited slip however just not as immediate. ON the trail is their and advantage to the autolocker or the selectable. Or again is it just what you are use too.

Thanks for the answers this has been very helpful

 

I haven't had a chance to wheel in snow, only drive on ice (when I go snowboarding), and I've never had the rear get ahead of me. So I can't help with that question. But when it comes to what benefits of selectable over limited slip on a dry trail... Might not be the only (or correct answer) but what I figure is with the locker u climb slowly at a constant speed. But with limited slip, sometimes u have to sorta 'bump' over an obstacle. I would imagine that puts a little wear on the internals specially if ur spinning the loose tire then it grabs suddenly. ... Idk.., just my thought. Might be wrong.