[azlenny]

Hello everyone! First timer here so please bear with me. My question is: I just bought a 2000 TJ Sport I have a dana 30 pulling and a dana 35 pushing, what i want to know is will these axles hold up and has anyone installed lockers on there jeep with the same set-up if so how happy are you with them. I want to install lockers on front and rear my set up is 2000 sport with 31x10.5 bfg's on mickey thompsons a 2 " pro comp lift with mx6 shocks and a quick disconnect up front. Please remember wife does not want to put alot of money into a new axle so any help with the axles I have would be greatly helpful.

 

[4Jeepn]

1st welcome to the forum. If your not going to change gears, then I would just lock the dana 30 as the dana 35 does not like lockers and bigger tires. have seen then break with 31's and a locker. Thus, for around 200-250ish you can get a drop in locker for the front dana 30, lock-rights are fairly decent, which some times you can install yourself,but a for a shop to do it.. ball park 250-300. This will make a major difference in your traction off road. On road you will not know its there, unless you make a very tight turn then it will click loudly which is normal. If you drive in snow, in 4wd the front end will tend pull you left or right. If you want something with more control get an ARB air locker which can be turned on and off with a button, these are around 700 plus plus you need a compressor, so its a lot more$$. Hope that helps.

 

[jeeperman]

There are a few ways to go with this... If you are looking for the cheapest way periord, you could weld the spider gears in the rear, but it will be horrible driving on the road around town... If you are looking for an inexpensive, but practical solution, you could do a Lock-Rite or similar "lunch box" automatic locker. These lockers just replace the spider gears inside the differential and can be done in an afternoon by anyone that can follow directions and has turned a wrench before. The first time I even SAW the spider gears in my differential was when I pulled the cover to install my locker. If you are a qualified mechanic you can go to the "full carrier" lockers (Detroit Locker, ARB, etc.) but it sounds like you are on a budget, so I won't talk about those.

As far as whether it will hold up or not, it really depends on you, the driver. I had a Lock-Rite in a YJ with a 35c rear axle and 32" tires for 2 years and didn't have any problems with it. At the end of the 2 years I did have a bent axle shaft, but I think that was more due to the 32" tires than the locker. I didn't do any rock crawling with that Jeep, just mild trails and some mud and snow.

If I were you, I would go with some sort of "lunch box" locker (see above) and start saving for some new Superior axle shafts for your rear axle. If you are only going to run 31" tires, you should never have any problems with this setup as long as you run the Jeep.

Good luck with your decision!

 

[1BLKJP]

I echo the locker in the front. It will pull you over most things and save the rearend from having to be completely locked up. I personally wouldn't ever lock a 35. If you really want something find someone that might be getting rid of a trac-loc out of a 35. They don't seem to do much damage to the axle and will help you when you need that extra grip.

Mainly with that axle refrain from any wheel hopping on the trail. That's what will kill it for you.

 

[azlenny]

thanx for the info i now have some what of a direction to go now. one more question if i buy 4.56 gears for the 30 will a dana 44 bolt right up with the 4.56 gears in bolth. once again thank you for the help.

 

[4Jeepn]

As long as both the axles have the same gear ratio all will be fine. and a Tj dana 44 will bolt in just fine.

 

[RatPatrol]

Im currently running 30 and a 35 and well the front (d30) works well with a locker like Air or Electric locker not so much with a hard locker like a detroit or powertrac. the rear well... im running a detroit with 38in swampers and have pretty much cleaned out the city of tucson, az of spare axle shafts. but I ran 33s for awhile with very few problems. So you shouldnt have to much problems

 

[97TJAC]

these "lunch box" u guys are talkn about
is this the same as an Aussie Locker...
or is Aussie just a name brand?

i myself was thinking of doing some sort of lock up front on a budget and i was told to think about the Aussie Locker

thanks guys

 

[4Jeepn]

these "lunch box" u guys are talkn about
is this the same as an Aussie Locker...
or is Aussie just a name brand?

i myself was thinking of doing some sort of lock up front on a budget and i was told to think about the Aussie Locker

thanks guys

Lunch box locker's are any that replace the spider gears only.. such as the aussie, lock-right, etc, vs say a detroit which replaces the whole carrier.