Is LSD worth it?

[ShadowsPapa]

This should have a link or 3 to reference the other long thread from over a year ago where many here who actually off-road a fair amount were saying lockers weren't needed and they've gotten by for years without and so on.
But no one so far has searched that.
I'm not in that "lockers - necessary or not" thing because for me anything I do is great with LSD, but it was a fair amount of "back and forth" (putting it lightly at times) as to how "necessary" lockers are. I was actually amazed by the numbers who said "no".

So in this one, although it started out about LSD, now it's a back and forth on lockers being needed or not, so maybe time to find and bring that long old thread back to life.

(I was wrong - PS, not PM)

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[Wheelin98TJ]

This should have a link or 3 to reference the other long thread from over a year ago where many here who actually off-road a fair amount were saying lockers weren't needed and they've gotten by for years without and so on.
But no one so far has searched that.
I'm not in that "lockers - necessary or not" thing because for me anything I do is great with LSD, but it was a fair amount of "back and forth" (putting it lightly at times) as to how "necessary" lockers are. I was actually amazed by the numbers who said "no".

So in this one, although it started out about LSD, now it's a back and forth on lockers being needed or not, so maybe time to find and bring that long old thread back to life.

(I was wrong - PS, not PM)

You can wheel a FWD car if you really want to. I’ve seen them on the dunes many times. If it won’t make a hill, just back up and get a bigger head start.

A locker or lockers make wheeling so much more fun. The difference between a locked or open rear is like the difference between 2wd and 4wd.

Have you ever owned a rig with a locker or 2?

 

[bd100]

Remember, the comparison isn't locker vs limited slip, it's actually locker vs limited slip with automatic computer-controlled brake lock action.

 

[Bigb55]

Remember, the comparison isn't locker vs limited slip, it's actually locker vs limited slip with automatic computer-controlled brake lock action.

This. The brake actuated limited slip has come a long way. For on road traction it works quite well. For light off road it also works quite well.

With the brake actuated limited slip. A true LSD might be better off-road but doing the same thing on road.

With that in mind I think a electronic/air actuated locker is best for the newer jeeps.

Also I've been wheeling for 20 years, a LSD has worked as well as a full locker on 95% of off-road situations.

 

[Zachanadandy]

This. The brake actuated limited slip has come a long way. For on road traction it works quite well. For light off road it also works quite well.

With the brake actuated limited slip. A true LSD might be better off-road but doing the same thing on road.

With that in mind I think a electronic/air actuated locker is best for the newer jeeps.

Also I've been wheeling for 20 years, a LSD has worked as well as a full locker on 95% of off-road situations.

You all act like a JL with a locker doesn't have bld. In reality we all have limited slips from the factory. Some have even more limited slip in the rear. Some have actual lockers front and rear and still have bld when the lockers are off. Only someone who's never wheeled a modern JL with lockers would even try and argue that the limited slip is better in any off road situation. The op is upgrading to air lockers when regearing. Front and rear arbs are going to be better than keeping the factory limited slip in the rear period and he'll still have bld limited slips.

 

[SoK66]

It is more likely you benefit from the Jeep’s electronic Brake Lock Differential system than you do the LSD. The system senses slippage and engages the brakes on the spinning tire so the torque will go through the differential to the wheel on the opposite side of the axle. The system works really well.

To your question, if you are already set up with OBA and you are doing gears adding air lockers is a sound move. Adding e-lockers makes sense as well. Lockers just work, and work well.

 

[Rocksalt]

is LSD worth it? lol

 

[Rusty PW]

Power Wagons come with a gear driven LSD, plus electric locker in the rear. Best of both worlds. Wish Jeep would use that set up. The LSD in the PW is a stout unit. Tell you this. 4 wheeling, I start out unlocked until needed. There are times when the LSD won't cut it and lockers are the only way.

 

[Edub]

Well for what it's worth and all the great advice/conversations my comment sparked. I finally got them installed.

I realize this thread is bigger than my original post, but I thought I would share

I also had 5.13 gears installed and just because no one wants to spend that sort of money and not have anything visual to show for it, I also got the Diff covers to match.

I think at its root, my desire to get the lockers was a combination of curiosity and maybe a little Rubicon envy?

I had Elevation Jeeps in Houston do it and I'm very pleased with the install. very clean. we discussed beforehand and I suggested the mounting bracket that I wasn't using for the Compressor to mount the manifold. They loved the idea and went with it. the result is something easy to maintain and service if the need comes up. plus, it's up and out of the way.

 

[Redfour5]

I'm in a unique situation. I've scheduled a regear in the coming weeks. I already have onboard air, the switches, and budget ready to go. The goal/intent was always to get ARB lockers installed while doing the gears. Now that the day is coming up, I'm second guessing myself.

My question/concern is, is my LSD doing more than I suspect it is in day-to-day driving? Am I shooting myself in the foot by losing that functionality? I'm in the south and don't see any snow, but we do see a lot of rain.

would love to hear some input on this.

I do offroad/rock crawl moderately when the opportunity arises but its honestly used more as a daily more than anything. Sport S Max Tow

I know this is a bump, but I live in snow country. For snow an LSD is the minimum I'd have with a Jeep that has part time 4WD. IF you drive on highways and lots of rain, they are also helpful in some hydroplaning situations perhaps, but otherwise not a big deal. So Cal and Florida, souther coast, no real need... imho for LSD.

The best is the full time 4WD which used to be a 695 option but NOW is available ONLY on X versions of the Mojave and Rubicon as standard. In 2019, the first Sports and Sport S's had full time 4WD as standard. I have no idea why they stopped putting them on. It basically functions like AWD but with more robust components so... full time 4WD. Ram has this also. I have had all variations of the FCA 4WD systems and in Montana, I'd really recommend ALWAYS having as a minimum LSD. But if you can get it I'd go with full time 4WD. It's pretty much a requirement for my vehicles. If I lived in So Cal or Florida I wouldn't care. The basic part time 4WD would be fine.

You can essentially drive all the time with full time 4WD if you want, but it might impact your gas mileage a bit. In the winter here in MT, if I have clear roads, I stick to basic 2WD but as soon as we get our snow which never leaves till about late March, I pretty much put it in full time 4WD (selec trac) and go with that.

No binding on clear roads with it like you get in part time 4WD when you engage that. I hate that and I know its not the best thing putting that stress on the axle and drive components.

My question now is would a 24 Willy's or Mojave with the selectable rear locker provide any advantage in snow. Would the rear axle bind if engaged on dry pavement? Should you even do that. Heck you can drive fast on Sand with the rear locker, why not? It's a question...

 

[Jchap1987]

It’s not worth it bro. Drugs are bad

 

[Edub]

I know this is a bump, but I live in snow country. For snow an LSD is the minimum I'd have with a Jeep that has part time 4WD. IF you drive on highways and lots of rain, they are also helpful in some hydroplaning situations perhaps, but otherwise not a big deal. So Cal and Florida, souther coast, no real need... imho for LSD.

The best is the full time 4WD which used to be a 695 option but NOW is available ONLY on X versions of the Mojave and Rubicon as standard. In 2019, the first Sports and Sport S's had full time 4WD as standard. I have no idea why they stopped putting them on. It basically functions like AWD but with more robust components so... full time 4WD. Ram has this also. I have had all variations of the FCA 4WD systems and in Montana, I'd really recommend ALWAYS having as a minimum LSD. But if you can get it I'd go with full time 4WD. It's pretty much a requirement for my vehicles. If I lived in So Cal or Florida I wouldn't care. The basic part time 4WD would be fine.

You can essentially drive all the time with full time 4WD if you want, but it might impact your gas mileage a bit. In the winter here in MT, if I have clear roads, I stick to basic 2WD but as soon as we get our snow which never leaves till about late March, I pretty much put it in full time 4WD (selec trac) and go with that.

No binding on clear roads with it like you get in part time 4WD when you engage that. I hate that and I know its not the best thing putting that stress on the axle and drive components.

My question now is would a 24 Willy's or Mojave with the selectable rear locker provide any advantage in snow. Would the rear axle bind if engaged on dry pavement? Should you even do that. Heck you can drive fast on Sand with the rear locker, why not? It's a question...

thanks for the reply.

As you see, I did end up going with lockers front and rear. Honestly, I'm happy with it and I have yet to notice any difference in day-to-day driving.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

It’s not worth it bro. Drugs are bad

 

[Charles 236]

"He was at Berkley, he did too much LDS".

 

[Pismo61]

I should REPOST (I've posted it a couple of times here in the past) a study done by Popular Mechanics where they proved - and disproved - a lot about LSD vs open differentials.
The thing about the JT LSD is they are quite different from those of the past - no longer can you jack up one rear wheel and spin it to see if it's open diff or not.
Both of mine I can raise one rear wheel with it in neutral and turn it.
Can't do that with my cars or prior trucks. That means it's not going to slide sideways so easily on pure ice (again, referring to the PM testing which showed that they aren't as "bad" as the talk)
I've never had an issue with my JT LSD, even in 2 wheel drive on ice or snow. I've driven mine through 5 winters now (19/20, 20/21, 21/22, 22/23 and winter of 23/24) and never a bit of problem.
My driveway is sloped to the west for drainage (it's a fair hill up to the road so we had it sloped to dump water off before it goes down to the garage and house)
I've driven up my driveway with pure ice on it - no troubles going sideways. But again, it's a different animal.
These appear to take some higher torque before the wheels start to lock together. In the past it was a pretty tight spring pressure clamping the disk pack.
Even my Silverado with LSD didn't slide easily so they've apparently made changes in how much torque it takes to lock them. They aren't locked from the word go like in the past.

A couple of years back when I pulled the guy out of the "ditch" with my winch, I was on pure ice that whole stretch of road, with the typical road crown Iowa uses - no sliding.

I wonder if the addition of of BLD has something to do with that.

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