Differential Suggestions?

[1 Bad CJ5]

I am upgrading my axles and doing locking diffs as part of the upgrade. I have not ran locking diffs before and have been looking at the Eaton E-Lockers. The ARB are a little pricey, and I would need to get an air source as well as the diffs. I want a selectable locker rather than an automatic. I am not an extreme wheeler, but I hit some pretty rough trails. Any info you may feel will help me out I really appreciate. Thanks for reading.

 

[BajaEdition]

I run detroits so I do not really want to suggest a selectable however I would suggest a Limited slip for the front, here is why, you do not do a lot of extreme trails so locking the front is not really needed, a Limited slip would be transparent except when the front was engaged and getting a geared one takes regular diff oil, and would save a bit of money over all.

Just my 2 cents

 

[Jimbos76cj]

I dont have a brand for your but both of the ones that you mentioned seemed to get high regards. The added benefit of having air lockers is the air source can be used for other things, but it also leaves lines under your frame to catch on rocks and branches.

Like baja said you can cut some cost by putting a Limited slip in the front and running an selectable in the rear. Or put a automatic in the rear and a Limited slip in the front.

But since you seem to have already priced the selectable lockers out and havent been scared away by the sticker shock of it all, you probably have the cash to go with selectable's all the way around.. IF I had the cash I would go selectable's front and rear. Have you looked at OX lockers? they are cable actuated and supposedly tough as nails.

AMC 20 3.08 and up. 29 spline, and FREE Heavy Duty Diff Cover
Dana 30 3.73 and up, 27 spline, and FREE Heavy Duty Diff Cover

They will round out to about 2200 once you add in the cable and shifter but dont require power or air to engage em and they come with very stout diff covers which will save you another $300, if you look on ebay you can find the ox's about $100 cheaper. and if you brake a cable you can just pop the cover and replace the cable and not have to pay some one to pull apart the diff. and your looking at between 250-500 for a compressor if you go with an air locker. For that much I would see about getting a york OBA set up, that would give you plenty of air for your lockers and even more for filling tires and running air tools.

You can keep your eyes open for when 4 wheel parts has their 50% off install promotion and have them do the work then. And OX has a layaway program!

 

[GatorBate]

I'm running the OX lockers front and rear with the electric shifter and I love them. As mentioned above they are as tough as nails. They come with a manual shifter or you can get an electric or air shifter for them. Don't forget the one piece axles for your AMC20 in the rear. lockers will tear up those two piece axles.

I recently bought an ox for my front axle from Filthy Motorsports. No sales tax outside colo. and free shipping. saved about $65

 

[mtnwhlr]

If you drive it in the winter in the snow and ice then you should get a selectable locker otherwise you will have it locking and unlocking making the rear want to pass the front when the roads are bad. The automatic ones in a short wheel base in snow and ice are hard to deal with.

 

[Incommando]

You can totally live with a locker in the winter if you know how to drive and remember that it is back there. Although not in the mountains we do get an occasional flurry here and once in a while a touch of ice ( note sarcasm.) I have DD'd a Commando with a welded 44 all winter and a modded Super Bee with about 400 HP, a full spool, 4.30 gears, and L60-15 "performance" tires another winter and lived to talk about both. Sometimes you do what you have to do.

If you want selectables get selectables. I think you will find that for one reason or another they are more failure prone than the automatic lockers but the choice is yours as it is your wallet. A few years ago the Eatons were very failure prone. It has been at least a decade since I researched them and they may be much better now.

Another option is the Detroit Tru-trac.Although not a locker they are better than a traditional cone or clutch type Limited slip and they have a proven track record. Cheaper too....

 

[1 Bad CJ5]

Thanx for everyone's input, it has been really helpful. Some info I didnt put in the original post but is relevant is that I am upgrading my entire driveline with new axle shafts. Going to a one piece in the rear, and going from 27 spline in the front to 30 spline. Some of the diffs I have looked at do not make a differential that fits a Dana 30 with 30 splines. I will re evaluate (and re evaluate 15 times before and after I purchase), but everyone's info here has given me new points to look at when I am deciding. Thanx again!

 

[kenpoman2003]

I have the ox lockers front and rear with the selctable shift levers. have never had a problem with them. if u have 20 gal tank the clearence of the new cover and take is very close. I had to take the shims out of the springs to make the clearance