Eaton e-locker and Full Detroit combo meal

[rockclimber]

Sorry, this seems ass backwards. I love my detroit in the 8.25. In the front, my lockrite binds a ton, and makes it hard to steer, and it is downright sketchy in snowy roads. 4hi with the locker tosses my steering wheel wherever it decides it wants to. The front autolocker is more of a hindrance for tight steering than a rear autolocker, because the locked up shafts seem to actually make steering wheel effort that much harder.



When I beef my 30 more, I will likely go selectable up front.

Re-read my post.

 

[831_xj]

Ya I turn 35s bound up no problems. Spartan up front

 

[blondejoncherokee]

I used to be able to turn my 35s locked up front - no issues at all in the rocks - with a 30 and a 4 bolt AGR box with currie steering. Now with ruffstuff steering, 37s, a 44, a 4 bolt j10 box, cheap auto zone pump, there is no more turning in the rocks.Nada. Zilch. I am actually going to a 4 bolt PSC box , lines, RAM , and pump within the next few months. so that should help a ton.

 

[rockclimber]

You will be extremely happy with the PSC stuff.

 

[blondejoncherokee]

Ya sick of half assin it . Figure it's the last steering setup at that point

 

[GordoSmasho]

Ill have to agree with rockclimber. I have not had any issues turning unless competely stuffed or walled. Lockrite up front, 35s, stock box, stock pump, and currie steering.

Now actually steering the vehicle is different than turning the wheels. Before i spooled the rear i had no problem manuvering tight turns and all on the trail. I had a pretty much open rear and with the lockrite front i found the front would very effectively pull the vehicle around sharp turns on the trail. Now that i have a spool out back it has a high tendency to push you in a straight line. When you have low traction up front the vehicle will not turn. It will just push you straight.

I would suspect that an auto locker in the rear would sometimes have this same effect in tight situations with less than optimal traction to the front end. Causing multiple point turns.

So not to say that either way is not doable. But as far as reliability and manuverability in mind i would say auto locker up front and a selectable rear.

 

[rockclimber]

Ill have to agree with rockclimber. I have not had any issues turning unless competely stuffed or walled. Lockrite up front, 35s, stock box, stock pump, and currie steering.

Now actually steering the vehicle is different than turning the wheels. Before i spooled the rear i had no problem manuvering tight turns and all on the trail. I had a pretty much open rear and with the lockrite front i found the front would very effectively pull the vehicle around sharp turns on the trail. Now that i have a spool out back it has a high tendency to push you in a straight line. When you have low traction up front the vehicle will not turn. It will just push you straight.

I would suspect that an auto locker in the rear would sometimes have this same effect in tight situations with less than optimal traction to the front end. Causing multiple point turns.

So not to say that either way is not doable. But as far as reliability and manuverability in mind i would say auto locker up front and a selectable rear.

:thumbup:




And to reiterate. If you can't steer simply because your front end is locked, you need to address your steering problems.

 

[Bryan C.]

Ill have to agree with rockclimber. I have not had any issues turning unless competely stuffed or walled. Lockrite up front, 35s, stock box, stock pump, and currie steering.

Now actually steering the vehicle is different than turning the wheels. Before i spooled the rear i had no problem manuvering tight turns and all on the trail. I had a pretty much open rear and with the lockrite front i found the front would very effectively pull the vehicle around sharp turns on the trail. Now that i have a spool out back it has a high tendency to push you in a straight line. When you have low traction up front the vehicle will not turn. It will just push you straight.

I would suspect that an auto locker in the rear would sometimes have this same effect in tight situations with less than optimal traction to the front end. Causing multiple point turns.

So not to say that either way is not doable. But as far as reliability and manuverability in mind i would say auto locker up front and a selectable rear.

I agree with everything here, well sorta. You are talking about a full spool that never unlocks. A detroit will unlock. So, if you are running a detroit simply backing up a small bit or putting the trans into neutral will usually allow the tires to turn at different speeds and ease the bind when you need to.

My ARB when locked is a spool, and it acts much different than the detroit.

 

[GordoSmasho]

Yes a full spool is going to be different than an auto locker. However when trying to move forward, an auto will lock when torque is applied, having the same effect as a spool and pushing you straight forward. With an autolocker you dont have a choice whether it locks or allows slipage. With a selectable you do. I would have liked very much to have an open rearend in the tighter sections on the rubicon unless i needed it, and then lock up the rear.

 

[Rob D]

Just my 2 cents worth. I currently run the E-Locker in my front 44. The only issue I have is it will sometimes take awhile to un-lock after I've used it. But it doesn't stay locked for a long time, it's just noticeable if you are trying to turn sharp right after you've dis-engaged the locker. Also, I think the 30 E-Locker has a stronger case than my 44 case, but not positive on that.
As far as the Detroit goes, I really liked the one I had in my d35 back when I still had that rear end. You just have to get used to the occasional unlocking on pavement that used to scare the crap out of me just about every time it did it(probably because it wasn't frequent enough to get used to). I would have kept a Detroit in my 44 but they don't make 35 spline Detroits for the 44's like the ARB does.

 

[Bryan C.]

Yes a full spool is going to be different than an auto locker. However when trying to move forward, an auto will lock when torque is applied, having the same effect as a spool and pushing you straight forward. With an autolocker you dont have a choice whether it locks or allows slipage. With a selectable you do. I would have liked very much to have an open rearend in the tighter sections on the rubicon unless i needed it, and then lock up the rear.

I'm not trying to defend the detroit as a great locker, selectable is the way to go. The best of both worlds, open and a spool. Just trying to throw out some real world experience with a detoit into the mix. I daily drove my rig for 30,000+ miles with the detroit, and hit many, many trails.

I do prefer my ARB over the detroit, but in my opinion a detroit is better than a spool.

 

[GordoSmasho]

Totally agree. Either way is do able. I love the traction im getting from having the rear end lincoln locked. Im a try it out for myself kind of guy and i will likely switch to a selectable zip locker when doing my 14bolt in the rear. And my 14front will likely be grizzly.

 

[blondejoncherokee]

Totally agree. Either way is do able. I love the traction im getting from having the rear end lincoln locked. Im a try it out for myself kind of guy and i will likely switch to a selectable zip locker when doing my 14bolt in the rear. And my 14front will likely be grizzly.

scrapping the d70 idea for the front? or using it for the outers ?

 

[CAJJ93XJ]

I love the traction im getting from having the rear end lincoln locked.

I'm not digging my spool anymore. once you get the wheel base stretched out, having a rear that unlocks becomes more necessary. so for sure go with a grizz or zip later

 

[GordoSmasho]

Think ill be using the massive knuckles from that 70 for a 14bolt conversion. It uses standard 60 stuff for the spindles brakes and hubs but the inner C's are massive in comparison.

 

[blondejoncherokee]

Autozone pump + rockauto reman j10 box + ARB locked = sucky steering.

Unlocked it steers so much better that I found myself taking some harder lines with the front unlocked just so I could steer on this last saturday since I needed steering more than traction.

If this ARB blows up ill be swapping in a grizzly until I can build a jana 54.

 

[Phil]

I have no differentials. Spooled front, welded rear, Atlas.

My power steering has been crappy for years. It died forever on Rainycon.

Before and after it died, I ran in front only when I was not in four wheel. It turned so much better than rear wheel.

If I bought a selectable locker, it would go in the rear.

Also, front hubs.

 

[blondejoncherokee]

Phil do you have hydro assist

 

[Phil]

No, no hydro assist. Regular 1994 XJ pump and box, high drag link cross over.

Steering sucked, but once the wheels turned, the locked front pulled the dead rear right around.

 

[rocknxj]

Im still waiting to grt the Grizzly installed up front. I hope to have the front axle back under the rig this weekend. Once that's done i will yank my 8.25 and add the rear locker. With all the advice i will feel bad if i dont go selectable. That adds another few hundred bucks....