No aftermarket LSDs for non-Rubicon Gladiators?

[Silver20]

While looking to regear my Sport S (open 3.73s) to a 28-spline gear set, I wanted to add some combo of limited slip diffs or a locker and LSD to the truck. LSDs preferably, as I no longer wheel much and the fully-locking options are about double the price.

I’ve since found that the 4.56 or 4.88 gear sets I’d consider are 28 spline. There are no 28 spline limited slips that I can find that will fit, which amazes me! Not seeing much in terms of full e-lockers, either.

How am I struggling to find such a thing for any Jeep vehicle - especially one based on such a popular platform?!?

Am I just blind? Do I not know what I am looking for? Could it really be that there is simply no aftermarket/non-OEM options for lockers or limited-slip differentials for 28-spline Gladiators?

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[Camaroboi13]

Most likely nobody makes them. Reason is, nobody goes from a factory 32 spline down to a 28. Just doesn’t make much sense.

 

[Zachanadandy]

The cost of a regear alone nearly covers the cost of a Rubicon axle swap. If you're at on 4.56s the xr take offs are usually $4k or so. A regear locally with no added lockers or lsds or shaft or anything was $3k last time I did it. There's not a lot of aftermarket support for non-rubicon axles because it's much better to just swap them. You get gears, lockers, wider axles, better brakes, steel knuckles, stronger front housing, etc for less than building up the sport axles... and you can sell them for $1k easily. You can't even regear for that anymore. Scratch the xr comment, forgot which forum I was on. Even if your going to 37s, 4.10s are decent. Personally still wouldn't spend the money to regear and add lockers.

 

[JTenn]

I thought all JT's, all trim levels had 32 spline axles. Never heard of a 28 spline in these trucks. The Rubi/max tow has a longer axle but otherwise it's the same carrier.........or so I thought. Why would you purposely want to go down to a 28 spline? Honestly curious.

 

[Alpine Warthog]

Subscribed. I never thought about swapping in Rubi axles instead of doing a regear

 

[Silver20]

I thought all JT's, all trim levels had 32 spline axles. Never heard of a 28 spline in these trucks. The Rubi/max tow has a longer axle but otherwise it's the same carrier.........or so I thought. Why would you purposely want to go down to a 28 spline? Honestly curious.

They do come with 32 for non-Rubi/tow variants, but I am talking about after regearing. Most gears I see online have 28 spline. So, it’s not a want as much as it appears to be a necessity after regearing.

 

[Silver20]

The cost of a regear alone nearly covers the cost of a Rubicon axle swap. If you're at on 4.56s the xr take offs are usually $4k or so. A regear locally with no added lockers or lsds or shaft or anything was $3k last time I did it. There's not a lot of aftermarket support for non-rubicon axles because it's much better to just swap them. You get gears, lockers, wider axles, better brakes, steel knuckles, stronger front housing, etc for less than building up the sport axles... and you can sell them for $1k easily. You can't even regear for that anymore. Scratch the xr comment, forgot which forum I was on. Even if your going to 37s, 4.10s are decent. Personally still wouldn't spend the money to regear and add lockers.

Tracking that, thank you. The reasons I’d want a regear instead are:
1. Warranty/peace of mind would be nice. I’d be upset to get home and realize someone sold me something incompatible, but MORE because
2. Despite living in Houston, I am not seeing much in terms of axles on marketplace. It seems the ones on marketplace are rusted out, people are looking to get rich by selling them at ridiculous prices, or it’s some used axle-dealer asking $3,400 plus off-coming axle for a single axle. Not interested.

Any recommendations on other places to look would be appreciated!

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

When you say the gears are 28 spline, I assume you’re referring to the spline count on the pinion?

The axle shaft spline count doesn’t matter when it comes to the ring and pinion.

 

[D_JT]

I highly doubt they are 28 spline. My TJ with a factory D44 rear has 30 spline shafts, and the front D30 is a 27 spline. It wouldn't make sense for the JT to have smaller shafts than a TJ. Everything I'm reading sayings JT's have 32 spline regardless if its a Rubicon or not.

 

[Camaroboi13]

I highly doubt they are 28 spline. My TJ with a factory D44 rear has 30 spline shafts, and the front D30 is a 27 spline. It wouldn't make sense for the JT to have smaller shafts than a TJ. Everything I'm reading sayings JT's have 32 spline regardless if its a Rubicon or not.

I could be off on this, but I thought all Gladiators came with 44s front and rear? I thought only Wranglers still came with 30s up front?

 

[Silver20]

I highly doubt they are 28 spline. My TJ with a factory D44 rear has 30 spline shafts, and the front D30 is a 27 spline. It wouldn't make sense for the JT to have smaller shafts than a TJ. Everything I'm reading sayings JT's have 32 spline regardless if its a Rubicon or not.

Coming on just to say you doubt I am correct about the thread I started? That’s not very helpful of you. Maybe I was unclear when I said I am looking to regear. I would need lockers or LSDs that would work with the spline count of the incoming aftermarket ring/pinion.

I am talking regearing. Not what comes stock on the trucks. Yes, those would be 32 or 35, depending on if it’s tow/rubi/overland or not.

Feel free to look for yourself. Everything I’m seeing from Revolution, Yukon, and even Nitro are all 28 spline.

I could be wrong; I have not been looking long. But I’ve attached a screenshot here.

Thanks.

 

[Silver20]

When you say the gears are 28 spline, I assume you’re referring to the spline count on the pinion?

The axle shaft spline count doesn’t matter when it comes to the ring and pinion.

Correct. The reheated/aftermarket set all seem to come with 28. However, I am seeing nothing for LSDs that will work with Dana 44s that have 28 splines.

This surprises me, because I cannot be the first person to ever want to add a LSD to a regeared Gladiator.

 

[D_JT]

Coming on just to say you doubt I am correct about the thread I started? That’s not very helpful of you. Maybe I was unclear when I said I am looking to regear. I would need lockers or LSDs that would work with the spline count of the incoming aftermarket ring/pinion.

I am talking regearing. Not what comes stock on the trucks. Yes, those would be 32 or 35, depending on if it’s tow/rubi/overland or not.

Feel free to look for yourself. Everything I’m seeing from Revolution, Yukon, and even Nitro are all 28 spline.

I could be wrong; I have not been looking long. But I’ve attached a screenshot here.

Thanks.

People start threads that are incorrect all the time. Nothing new.
But anyways. I see what you are talking about. You are talking about the spline count on the pinion. Lockers or LDS's dont care about spline count on the pinion. They only care about the gear ratio and if they are compatible. 3.73 is typically the brake over. The carrier is either 3.55 and lower or 3.73 and up. So you should be looking for a LDS that will work with your gear ratio and axle spline count. Not pinion spline.

 

[D_JT]

I could be off on this, but I thought all Gladiators came with 44s front and rear? I thought only Wranglers still came with 30s up front?

All Gladiator's do come with D44's front and rear. I was referring to my TJ. Not JT, TJ. I was confused what the OP was questioning, which is why I pointed out the spline count on a TJ D44, thinking the OP was claiming a Gladiator D44 had a 27 spline axle shaft. I was not understanding. But now I do.

 

[kroo]

If I'm not mistaken the spine count on the ring and pinon is to match the driveshaft yoke and the spine count on the LSD is to match the axle shafts.

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