Single or Double Lockers

[JTenn]

I have a 21 Willys with a LSD in the rear and an open diff up front. I will eventually install lockers as that is the one and only regret I have about buying a non Rubicon JT. My question for the masses is should I install 1 locker up front and leave the LSD as is or bite the bullet and double my cost and do them both together? If I double my cost how much more advantage will a true locker be over the LSD? As far as I can tell the LSD works fine. It clearly leaves 2 tire tracks in my gravel driveway. We went to Windrock over the weekend and I got humbled by stock Rubi Wranglers pulling through some horrendous mud pits. The main difference was thier lockers and my lack of lockers. Yup, I had to be winched out. Had a blast though.

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[redline61]

Depends on what you really do for wheeling. If you are in a nasty situation, where one of the rear wheels has nothing to bite into, it will just spin. A full locker has no replacement. That said, an lsd drives better, and unless you are in something nasty it is fine. IMO, if you are wheeling a Gladiator hard enough that a locker is truly needed, you are probably quickly approaching D60 time.

The front locker will also pull the majority of the traction as it has a lot of the weight. Personally, I would lock the front and leave the rear and I bet 99% of the time you will be fine. For that 1%, pull some line.

 

[hjdca]

I have a manual shift JTR. I run a lot of rocks and boulders. I normally lock the rear because the front is so hard to turn accurately when it is locked. However, whenever I see something nasty, where I am going straight, I always lock the front -- especially on waterfalls with a big incline and big boulders while going straight, you need that front locker. Soft stuff, like mud, the front locker is great even while turning.
Since you already have rear LSD, I think I would lock the front first. However, Might as well do them both at the same time and get it over with.

 

[JTenn]

Thanks for the replies. I have the same thought of leaving the LSD as is for now. I believe the biggest bang for the buck is up front. Unless I find a good sale then maybe I'll just get one for each axle.

 

[Timoleon]

Thinking about this one and I would spend the money on a decent winch. Lockers are nice, but there (adding lockers) may be more to it than just adding a winch and recovery gear.

I love the lockers on my Gladiator, and I am glad I have them, but if i was in your sitch; adding a winch would go a long way for a lot less.

 

[JTenn]

Thinking about this one and I would spend the money on a decent winch. Lockers are nice, but there (adding lockers) may be more to it than just adding a winch and recovery gear.

I love the lockers on my Gladiator, and I am glad I have them, but if i was in your sitch; adding a winch would go a long way for a lot less.

I have a winch and all the recovery gear. It all worked out great for me in the mud. I guess it's more about having the best chance of getting through or out of situations as they come up and a little about bragging rights to not get hung up to begin with.

 

[21RG]

Something to consider on the locker idea. If you have gearing at 3.73 you may want to change gears and add a locker or two. Change out the front gear means you have to change the rear, both front and rear have to match.

The carrier break is typically 4.10, if you decide to get larger tires you will want to change your gears. That means a new carrier/locker for the gear ratio numerically higher than 4.10.

As for a locker front or rear or both.... If you have decided on wheeling more and with people that have lockers then lockers are a good thing to have. It is not a "must" have but it will aid you in going where others go.

I would look at what your future goals are with the Willys. If you decide on keeping it and wheeling it then I would regear and add lockers front and rear with a lower gear ratio at the same time. If you decide on getting something that is factory like a Rubicon leave the Willys alone and enjoy it until you decide on trading out. You never get 100% of your money back on parts and especially labor.

Those are small tires or you have a moderate lift. If it is a lift then you are probably on your way to larger tires. Again, the gear ratio comes into play and then you might as well go back to the locker question.

After looking at the pics, the first post pics have different tires than the follow on post.

 

[JTenn]

I couldn't agree more on the re gear. I am considering doing that as well. But this is currently my DD and I have to ask myself at what point does it quit making sense to dump money into upgrades on a truck thats 95% on road 5% off. I'm not wheeling every weekend although I can see where that could become a thing for us. But I'm looking at buying a dedicated rig for that. Good eye on the tire size. Yeah that Pic was long before tire upgrades. Just showing the winch/bumper setup. Here's a better representation of current. Looking like a JT should!!

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

I prefer a rear locker if I can only have 1.

There are pros and cons for both.

Front locker will pull you over obstacles. But makes it harder to steer.

Rear locker will be more effective when you're climbing and the front is lifting. Also when you're on the throttle and weight transfers more to the rear.

 

[JT1]

Something to consider on the locker idea. If you have gearing at 3.73 you may want to change gears and add a locker or two. Change out the front gear means you have to change the rear, both front and rear have to match.

The carrier break is typically 4.10, if you decide to get larger tires you will want to change your gears. That means a new carrier/locker for the gear ratio numerically higher than 4.10.

As for a locker front or rear or both.... If you have decided on wheeling more and with people that have lockers then lockers are a good thing to have. It is not a "must" have but it will aid you in going where others go.

I would look at what your future goals are with the Willys. If you decide on keeping it and wheeling it then I would regear and add lockers front and rear with a lower gear ratio at the same time. If you decide on getting something that is factory like a Rubicon leave the Willys alone and enjoy it until you decide on trading out. You never get 100% of your money back on parts and especially labor.

Those are small tires or you have a moderate lift. If it is a lift then you are probably on your way to larger tires. Again, the gear ratio comes into play and then you might as well go back to the locker question.

After looking at the pics, the first post pics have different tires than the follow on post.

Thankfully these new advantek axles eliminated the biggest pain of the JK, there is no carrier break. I went from 3.73s to 5.13s, no new carrier needed.

 

[RCKLNDR]

If you’re not planning on regearing, I’d just do the front for now. This is the second Willys that I’ve had and the from locker/rear LSD combo has worked plenty fine for me on both.

 

[JTenn]

If you’re not planning on regearing, I’d just do the front for now. This is the second Willys that I’ve had and the from locker/rear LSD combo has worked plenty fine for me on both.

Thanks, That confirms my thoughts.

 

[Northridge4x4]

If you’re not planning on regearing, I’d just do the front for now. This is the second Willys that I’ve had and the from locker/rear LSD combo has worked plenty fine for me on both.

We would echo what @RCKLNDR said. If you are not planning on regearing, just do the front locker for now.

The OE LSDs in the rear aren't horrible and having a locker up front will help make climbing up on obstacles easier. Eventually that rear LSD will wear enough that it'll need replacing and you can stuff in a rear locker at that time (or when you are tired of not having a real locker in the rear ?).

For a driver operated JT front locker (rear locker is same), you have a couple choices:

Eaton ELocker:
https://www.northridge4x4.com/part/lockers/14234-1-eaton-d44-elocker-differential

ARB Air Locker:
https://www.northridge4x4.com/part/lockers/rd245-arb-rear-air-locker-m220-32-spline

For the ARB Air Locker, you'll also need an on board air source. Their twin compressor with the Grimm UTH bracket is our most popular:
https://www.northridge4x4.com/part/...kg-arb-compressor-w-grimm-offroad-bracket-kit

Their Medium compressor will also work just fine:
https://www.northridge4x4.com/part/compressors/ckma12-arb-12v-compact-air-compressor

 

[JTenn]

We would echo what @RCKLNDR said. If you are not planning on regearing, just do the front locker for now.

The OE LSDs in the rear aren't horrible and having a locker up front will help make climbing up on obstacles easier. Eventually that rear LSD will wear enough that it'll need replacing and you can stuff in a rear locker at that time (or when you are tired of not having a real locker in the rear ?).

For a driver operated JT front locker (rear locker is same), you have a couple choices:

Eaton ELocker:
https://www.northridge4x4.com/part/lockers/14234-1-eaton-d44-elocker-differential

ARB Air Locker:
https://www.northridge4x4.com/part/lockers/rd245-arb-rear-air-locker-m220-32-spline

For the ARB Air Locker, you'll also need an on board air source. Their twin compressor with the Grimm UTH bracket is our most popular:
https://www.northridge4x4.com/part/...kg-arb-compressor-w-grimm-offroad-bracket-kit

Their Medium compressor will also work just fine:
https://www.northridge4x4.com/part/compressors/ckma12-arb-12v-compact-air-compressor

Great info and thanks for the links.

 

[21RG]

I couldn't agree more on the re gear. I am considering doing that as well. But this is currently my DD and I have to ask myself at what point does it quit making sense to dump money into upgrades on a truck thats 95% on road 5% off.

Great point and I would stop where you are and start looking for the second vehicle. You can find a decently modded vehicle with lockers front and rear for a decent price. Prices on vehicles are coming down.

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