Front axle swap from Mojave to Rubicon

[bigrittie]

Looking to swap my M210 front drivetrain in my Mojave to a M210 out of a Rubicon.
What the process?
Is it worth it to get front locker?

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[ShadowsPapa]

Looking to swap my M210 front drivetrain in my Mojave to a M210 out of a Rubicon.
What the process?
Is it worth it to get front locker?

The title says from Mojave to Rubicon but your message says from Rubicon to Mojave.
May want to fix the subject/title line - if you are looking for a locker, then you want to swap from Rubicon TO Mojave.
But - there are other, perhaps easier ways to get a "locker" up there if you really think you need one.

The opinions here run both ways - some say they don't need them, others insist they can't live without the front locker.

How do you use your JT - that's the biggest question.

I have a Mojave and have no intention of getting a front locker - at least not as of this week, anyway.

 

[Muddyape]

I replaced both my 44’s at 25,000 miles for Fusion 60’s on my ‘21 JTR and I think aside from sourcing the axle (keeping your cast iron knuckles of course) you could do it easy enough. Just run a separate switch/relay to the front. My 60’s came with wiring harnesses to run the e-lockers independent of the factory harness, but I used z-auto dongles to keep oem locker activation. Threw the harnesses in with the factory 44’s so that I get around to selling them someone could get locked 44’s.

 

[1Badazraptor]

No, you have BLD on the Mojave.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I'll put it this way - my Mojave in all likelihood could not have pulled the Amazon big, heavy, Ford delivery van up our icy driveway a week or so ago, while I had to engage BOTH lockers on my wife's JLU to make it up, pulling that van on the snow pack and ice.
It was struggling with only the rear locker engaged. I flipped the switch up, to engage both, and after a few feet I heard the right front tire squeal on pavement meaning - that was the only tire pulling us up the ice and snow.
The best BLD would have done is apply brakes to the left front wheel, preventing it from spinning on the ice, but then it would have been a drag, not helping at all.
After pulling that big van up an icy 120' driveway, and hearing that RF tire squeal, and having stopped moving before I engage the front locker too, I now have more mixed feelings and think under extreme, unusual conditions like that, it was likely needed.
I could have winched it with my JT Mojave, but then it would have likely been dragged down the hill on the snow pack and ice instead of pulling the big Ford delivery van up.

Just guessing in a way, I suppose - no proof.

 

[froril]

Depending on use case. If you don’t off-road, you don’t need one. If you rock crawl or get yourself into situations where you have a front wheel off the ground with the sway bar disconnected, having a locker is nice.

A winch may be more useful than a front locker if you don’t have one.

If I was doing the work for myself, “I have all the tools to set up gears,” it’s roughly 1600 for an Eaton E-locker or 1300 for ARB plus whatever compressor and compressor mount for the ARB. vs 2000 for a used Rubicon axle that has had an unknown history.

If I determined that I needed a front locker, I’d install or have a locker installed in the Mojave axle. The Mojave axle comes with iron knuckles vs the aluminum on the 4.10 geared v6 Rubicon axle.

If money is no object 1 tons and Lockers with 40s. Unfortunately I’m thinking of building a set and I’m never going be able to retire at this point.

 

[Janster]

If you have to ask whether (or not) it’s worth having a front locker….. you probably will never need one. Those who are into serious rock crawling…they know….. how beneficial they are.

There are better and less expensive options to put a front locker in your current D44. I’m guessing….swapping a Rubicon axle into a Mojave would be more work than its worth (engagement, electrical, computer, etc).

 

[Sweetums]

Why swap axles? Just have a local shop quote you how much adding an Eaton locker would be for the front.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Why swap axles? Just have a local shop quote you how much adding an Eaton locker would be for the front.

Yeah, keep that Mojave axle

 

[Mr Miami]

I think a lot has to do with what/where you are off-roading. Personally, my biggest challenge is mud and the lockers or front locker or gym locker or whatever locker is not an issue. I am far more concerned with a good, reliable winch if needed.

I'll read up on using the lockers on my JTR and press some of the buttons but like I said, a lot depends on what type of off-roading you do.

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