zlnk7

I've heard a few things. What I was looking for is something that allows me to use both tires at the same time when wheeling but also allows me to use the offset when on normal roads.

dwright98xj

ahhh, details.

dzeinert

I think you're looking for an ARB or Oxford selectable air locker $$$$

Lowrange2

Alright let me type a lot...

The most ideal solution for what you want would be a selectable locker. A selectable lock can be locked and unlocked via electricity, air or manual cable. These types of lockers are out of your price range. They vary from 800 on up towards $1500

The next best locker for your situation is an auto locker. You can get a full case locker or a lunch box locker. These types of lockers only lock when power is supplied to the axle via the drive shaft. In other words, as long as your foot is on the gas pedal the rear axle will be locked. If you let off the pedal before you round a corner the locker will unlock and nothing bad is going to happen. If you give it gas while rounding a corner you'll chirp the tires. This will lead to premature tire wear and put stress on the shafts and locker. You don't really want this but it works. There's thousands of XJ's on the street with auto lockers in the rear. My trail rig included (But it doesn't spend much time on the streets). These lockers can be found for around $250-700.

The third option is to install a spool, mini spool or weld the carrier. This option would be stupid for anything driven on the road. This style of locker is for Off-road only. Your wheels will be locked together 100% of the time and never spin separately. This will likely break stuff and wear your tires extremely fast. Don't do this. I won't even mention how much this costs.

Make sense? Any comments, questions or complaints?

SPOBI!

zlnk7

That was actually really helpful! So all in all don't do this? Any of those?

Big David

Get a lunch box locker. they cost less than $350, each.

Lowrange2

If it's strictly a road driven vehicle and you hit the trails twice a year then I'd be more concerned with general maintenance and finding parts for a 4wd swap for worrying with a locker in the rear.

I also wouldn't fool with any sort of limited slip. They are exactly what they say. They're limited and they slip.

If you're set on locking the rear then I'd go with a lunch box locker. They're easy to install and if you don't like it you can pull it out and sell it.

I suggest: http://lokka.com/site/

From what I understand they start at $180.

What rear axle do you have? If you're not sure you can take a picture of it and post here and we can tell you what it is.

McCaffrey

You guys know performance street cars often use the exact same lockers we use offroad.

Detroit locker is very popular with the street crowd.

zlnk7

I'm not sure I want to do a swap everyone tells me to do one. I just want my 2wd to be on and off roading. I just thought this was an idea guess not. Ill just have to find a way to give it more power.

Lowrange2

Yeah but they have the same consequences. There's nothing wrong with running it on the road as long as you're prepared for it. It's going to drive differently. As long as you're out of the gas taking fast turns then you're fine.

I'm thinking an old Mustang with a detroit and a 9 inch would be a lot of fun.

McCaffrey

The first one I learned of with a Detroit locker was a 1970 Hemi Cuda with a Dana 60. Yeah, pretty fun looking car.

I'm just not clear why everybody is knocking this guy's idea. I drive around all the time on the street with auto-lockers. In fact I bet many of us do. I've also seen my buddy "wheel" in 2WD because it wasn't difficult enough for him. Some stuff I thought for sure he couldn't make it over. 2WD with a locker is not optimal but works ok.

Big David

A guy in our club was 2wd for a while. He could go a lot of places guys with 4WD could, & he had a open rear diff.

Yes, he had to use the strap in some spots, but the moral of the story is it all depends on how good of a driver you are.

dwright98xj

I personally wasn't 'knocking'. I took it as he wanted them locked at all times from the original post. I thought about the auto-lockers, but didn't think they'd be all too practical for this application (steer car guy moved over to trucks now ), to say anything that he gets the thing off road, outside of it's capabilities and gets stuck somewhere.

So, if I seem to have "mis-informed", wasn't my intent. To which a couple of others behind me agreed to some of what I posted.

McCaffrey

Ah. I could be wrong too. I'm just used to people saying "locked" and everybody assumes they mean either an air-locker or auto-locker. I agree locked 100% of the time is not so great for the street.

Big David

Fixed.