Ryderbike1

Does anyone here know things about ARB lockers? I got a used RD100 for a Dana 30. According to ARB it should be used with 3.73 and up gears. I want to use my existing ratio of 3.55 and can’t figure out if there would be anything stopping me from using a ratio outside of the recommended range. Like it’s just a mechanical linkage of the two axles. Why does the ring and pinion ratio affect it?

Unless the ring gears for 3.73 and 3.55 are physically different sizes and won’t fit interchangeably around the locker. But as the open stock carrier seems to be fine with both ratios I don’t really see the problem. Someone please enlighten me to the mistake I’m not seeing

That Jeep Guy XJMJ

It's a width/thickness difference your working against. Off the top my head I'm not sure on the relationship- but if I remember right you can run a "thick gearset" for the shorter carrier (axle carriers have a break typically. It's usually around the 3.73/4.10 range. 3.73 and numerically higher call for a specific carrier and 3.55 and numerically lower call for a different carrier)

I'm not aware of the possibility to run a numerically lower gearset on a numerically higher specified carrier.

I would say if your absolutely set on using that ARB, spend the money and go to 3.73 gears. OR buy the correct ARB for your 3.55s.

XJlimitedx99

The issue you're seeing is the Dana 30 has a "carrier break" between 3.55's and 3.73's. What that means is you cannot use the same carrier for those gears. I.E., that ARB won't work with 3.55's.

When shopping for lockers/carriers, you'll see them advertised as "3.55 and down" or "3.73 and up". The correct ARB to use with 3.55 gears is the RD101.

00t444e

Won't work, you will never get the backlash set right with 3.55 gears on that carrier. Most Dana axles have a carrier break which means they require a different carrier for a range of gear ratios.

Ryderbike1

Thanks for all the info! Carrier break was the magic wording I needed to unlock everything. Can’t google something when you don’t know what words to search for. Looks like I’m upgrading to 3.73s now.

00t444e

Going from 3.73s to 3.55s is a pointless upgrade, go with 4.10s at least.