Locker, front or rear?

[808CJ7]

Hey forum, I finally got my 44 ready to instal in my cj. I'm looking to instal a locker, lunch box type. My question is I only have funds for one right now. What do you guys think is more effective, front or rear? Thanks guys

[RudeDog]

Deffinetly the rear.

[TLCJ5]

Rear.....front will have adverse effects on steering when in 4wd.

[blackcj]

Absolutely the rear. I have a Detroit in the rear of my amc 20 for over 12 years. Never looked back. Whatever you choose will better then a open diff.

[808CJ7]

Looks like its unanimous. Thanks, rear it is.

[AlwayswrenchN]

I'm going against the grain on this one.

FRONT first:
1) in soft terrain the front will help pull you through. A non locked front will tend to push snow and mud.
2.) having the front will help your jeep pull over a obsticle
3.) there is a lot of weight directly over the front axle for improved traction.
4.) you won't have any road manners change unless you are in 4x4.

With all that being said you will lose a little turning radius in 4x4 but not that big a deal especially if you plan to lock both ends later anyway. If you don't have hubs or if you have the disconnect style axle your front driveline will turn all the time.

As for lunch box style lockers I highly recommend the Aussie Locker I have had two sets of them (both stock axles and now front HP44). Very durable, excellent street manners, easy to install and affordable. My front is going on three years running 38" tires in the rocks. If you go that route Northridge 4x4 has good prices and customer services.

[808CJ7]

Thanks for the info. I've heard the Aussie is probably the best as far as "lunchbox lockers" go. I do have locking hubs, so I'm not to concerned about drivability. I haven't ordered it yet, so I'm still open to suggestions. Thanks again.

[tow_hook]

both have pros and cons, only you can decide what will work better. as for brand, i've been very happy with power trax ( in the rear ) and a aussie in the front. i really wish i got cromos before gettign the front locker. i've been threw 2 shafts in 3 runs with it. if your cj has the 260 style joints then i'd go rear locker, untill ya go the cromos..

[808CJ7]

Put a Spartan locker in my Dana 44. Pretty easy, only took about 2 hours. There's a ditch in my back yard that I had trouble crossing in 4 wheel drive, now I can cross it in 2 wheel drive. Next ill order up some heavy duty axles and a locker for the front.

[RudeDog]

I'd recomend you test drive someones 4x4 with a locked front end 4 low making turns left and right in tight area's or trails. Pay attention, feel the steering resistance. It is tuffer to turn it and in tight area's kind of anoying. Also try a muddy inclined road. With both locked it drifts (pozzi's) sideways, (hard to steer). Their is a time and place for the front to be locked, but not constantly. Personally I'd recommend a locker you can turn off and on... My last rock trip I played with it on and off and was happy I could turn mine off and on. The majority of the time I only had the rear locked. Just my opinion.. Not trying to squish any toes..

[808CJ7]

Point well taken. I've ridden in my buddies Tj, his was locked front and back. and I noticed what your talking about, it does want to plow straight ahead. and sharp turns on hard surfaces, forget about it. So it looks like I'll have to save up more coin for a selectable locker.

[Saddle Tramp]

I have Lockrights front and back. The lunch box lockers, although cheap, are squirrely on asphalt causing your jeep to hop, skip, and jump down the road to the point that they can be dangerous. In fact, to turn I have to be off the power or the jeep will just keep going in a straight line regardless how much the wheel is turned. The issues with lunchbox lockers are great enough that I want to at least take my rear one out and replace it with an electric selectable. Leaving (or installing) a lunchbox up front is not really all that bad as with lockable hubs the locker doesn’t come into play on the street. So if you drive the jeep much on the street and can only afford one lunchbox at this time, put it up front. (But I live in mud and sand country.)

[Bounty__Hunter]

Lock the rear first, as most of your weight transfer is to the rear when offroad. Doesn't matter that the heavy engine is over the front end, when you climb all that weight and need for traction is transferred to the rear.

[RockOn93]

I totally agree with Alwayswrenchn.

I put an Aussie in the front axle before I addressed the rear. It was and still is invisible on the street but it greatly increased my off road capability. I had more street mannerism changes when I installed the rear locker.

[808CJ7]

Ok so I've had my rear locker in for a couple of days now and I have experienced the the drivability issues, but to me it isn't that bad. I just have to be careful with the throttle around corners. I also got to do some mud bogging yesterday with my brother in law who has a lifted Toyota, same size tires as me but with open diffs. I noticed when he was driving forward in the mud all four tires were spinning but when he lost forward momentum and tried to back out, only one front and one back were spinning and he was stuck. When I was in the same situation, I could still easily back out. This got me thinking, when I'm backing up, the locker is actually in the front now. I was on to something lol. On muddy hill climbs, the rear locker pushes you to the top, but a front locker will help pull you over the crest when the weight is shifted forward. So with that being said, I'll be getting a selectable locker for the front. In my opinion fully locked is the only way to go.