Convince me to get a locker
01-14-2013, 08:37 AM
#11
JK Super Freak
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Well...the pros and cons are simple really, better traction off road, some handling quirks on road if it isn't a selectable locker. Selectables give you the best of both worlds.
I re-geared my JK and kept the factory limited slip. When that wore out and I had to rebuild the rear I didn't want to throw in another junk factory L/S so I went with a grizzly locker. Ideally I would of loved to of put in an ARB airlocker but it wasn't in the cards at the time. So I went with the grizzly which was comparable in price to the factory L/S but basically bullet proof.
Now my opinion. It works awesome. It does truly function as it is supposed to and gives you an advantage if you are offroad. You can lift a rear tire and still pull through without having to spin at a higher RPM to engage a limited slip or losing traction all together like with an open diff.
On the negative side, I have a manual trans, so the diff is noisy. You do hear it engage and disengage frequently. Now from what I understand it is much quieter with an auto trans because there is always tension in the drivetrain. But there are pros and cons there as well. While the manual may be noisy you can disengage it when needed such as while manuevering in tight parking lots which with an auto will cause some chirping and slippage.
To me, if you aren't offroading don't bother with a locker. If you are then consider it. Personally if you have the money to put a selectable in then do it, you get best of both worlds. If not then either you stay with your factory L/S which will fail eventually or go with a mechanical.
Hope this helps. Just so you know. My JK is a daily driver and any of the noise the locker makes while noticable you do gets used to it and eventually you don't even notice it.
I re-geared my JK and kept the factory limited slip. When that wore out and I had to rebuild the rear I didn't want to throw in another junk factory L/S so I went with a grizzly locker. Ideally I would of loved to of put in an ARB airlocker but it wasn't in the cards at the time. So I went with the grizzly which was comparable in price to the factory L/S but basically bullet proof.
Now my opinion. It works awesome. It does truly function as it is supposed to and gives you an advantage if you are offroad. You can lift a rear tire and still pull through without having to spin at a higher RPM to engage a limited slip or losing traction all together like with an open diff.
On the negative side, I have a manual trans, so the diff is noisy. You do hear it engage and disengage frequently. Now from what I understand it is much quieter with an auto trans because there is always tension in the drivetrain. But there are pros and cons there as well. While the manual may be noisy you can disengage it when needed such as while manuevering in tight parking lots which with an auto will cause some chirping and slippage.
To me, if you aren't offroading don't bother with a locker. If you are then consider it. Personally if you have the money to put a selectable in then do it, you get best of both worlds. If not then either you stay with your factory L/S which will fail eventually or go with a mechanical.
Hope this helps. Just so you know. My JK is a daily driver and any of the noise the locker makes while noticable you do gets used to it and eventually you don't even notice it.
01-14-2013, 08:40 AM
#12
JK Super Freak
Here are my observation on lockers. I wheel about once a month. Mostly rock climbing. I go with my club that has some very experienced wheelers unlike myself who is still somewhat new to the scene. My Rubi goes over things that others can't without winching. Sometimes driver skill can help but there have been many obstacles where people need a tug to get up if they don't have lockers.
One of the biggest things I've noticed about lockers vs non-lockers is that lockers "appear" to make wheeling safer in most conditions (not always but most of the time). Lockers allow you to stay on your intended line more often than not and let's you crawl over things where others need to "bounce" over them. Gunning it and boucning over an obstacle can lead to more breakage and possible other bad things if you happen to slide off your intended line.
I usually run without my lockers on but if I am coming to an obstacle that I know is a bit more technical, I will engage them to be safer. Yes, there are times when lockers and some bouncing ar required (so no getting compltely away from the breakage or danger) but those circumstances are usually the ones where rigs without lockers have no chance without help.
And to add to why getting them is a good idea, if you do something like an ARB setup, you get on board air which is nice to have when airing up or (if you do the setup right) run air tools/small welders for repairs on/off the trail. So you get lockers and accessories
One of the biggest things I've noticed about lockers vs non-lockers is that lockers "appear" to make wheeling safer in most conditions (not always but most of the time). Lockers allow you to stay on your intended line more often than not and let's you crawl over things where others need to "bounce" over them. Gunning it and boucning over an obstacle can lead to more breakage and possible other bad things if you happen to slide off your intended line.
I usually run without my lockers on but if I am coming to an obstacle that I know is a bit more technical, I will engage them to be safer. Yes, there are times when lockers and some bouncing ar required (so no getting compltely away from the breakage or danger) but those circumstances are usually the ones where rigs without lockers have no chance without help.
And to add to why getting them is a good idea, if you do something like an ARB setup, you get on board air which is nice to have when airing up or (if you do the setup right) run air tools/small welders for repairs on/off the trail. So you get lockers and accessories
01-14-2013, 08:56 AM
#13
JK Super Freak
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Well...the pros and cons are simple really, better traction off road, some handling quirks on road if it isn't a selectable locker. Selectables give you the best of both worlds.
I re-geared my JK and kept the factory limited slip. When that wore out and I had to rebuild the rear I didn't want to throw in another junk factory L/S so I went with a grizzly locker. Ideally I would of loved to of put in an ARB airlocker but it wasn't in the cards at the time. So I went with the grizzly which was comparable in price to the factory L/S but basically bullet proof.
Now my opinion. It works awesome. It does truly function as it is supposed to and gives you an advantage if you are offroad. You can lift a rear tire and still pull through without having to spin at a higher RPM to engage a limited slip or losing traction all together like with an open diff.
On the negative side, I have a manual trans, so the diff is noisy. You do hear it engage and disengage frequently. Now from what I understand it is much quieter with an auto trans because there is always tension in the drivetrain. But there are pros and cons there as well. While the manual may be noisy you can disengage it when needed such as while manuevering in tight parking lots which with an auto will cause some chirping and slippage.
To me, if you aren't offroading don't bother with a locker. If you are then consider it. Personally if you have the money to put a selectable in then do it, you get best of both worlds. If not then either you stay with your factory L/S which will fail eventually or go with a mechanical.
Hope this helps. Just so you know. My JK is a daily driver and any of the noise the locker makes while noticable you do gets used to it and eventually you don't even notice it.
I re-geared my JK and kept the factory limited slip. When that wore out and I had to rebuild the rear I didn't want to throw in another junk factory L/S so I went with a grizzly locker. Ideally I would of loved to of put in an ARB airlocker but it wasn't in the cards at the time. So I went with the grizzly which was comparable in price to the factory L/S but basically bullet proof.
Now my opinion. It works awesome. It does truly function as it is supposed to and gives you an advantage if you are offroad. You can lift a rear tire and still pull through without having to spin at a higher RPM to engage a limited slip or losing traction all together like with an open diff.
On the negative side, I have a manual trans, so the diff is noisy. You do hear it engage and disengage frequently. Now from what I understand it is much quieter with an auto trans because there is always tension in the drivetrain. But there are pros and cons there as well. While the manual may be noisy you can disengage it when needed such as while manuevering in tight parking lots which with an auto will cause some chirping and slippage.
To me, if you aren't offroading don't bother with a locker. If you are then consider it. Personally if you have the money to put a selectable in then do it, you get best of both worlds. If not then either you stay with your factory L/S which will fail eventually or go with a mechanical.
Hope this helps. Just so you know. My JK is a daily driver and any of the noise the locker makes while noticable you do gets used to it and eventually you don't even notice it.
01-14-2013, 09:03 AM
#14
JK Super Freak
SUPERCHIPS FLASHPAQ fixes this, i think. it allows for any combination. 2wd lockers, 4 wd high lockers, etc. check out some threads.
01-14-2013, 10:15 AM
#15
JK Newbie
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The stock rubicon electronic locker is a real locker, not a "wanna-be-thing", and should not be confused with ESP. Lockers don't work by applying breaks like esp does. They ensure that the power from your 4wd is distributed evenly between the tires that are connected to the axle that is locked. Otherwise, all your 4wd power takes the path of least resistance and goes to the tire that is up in the air or spinning in the mud, which pretty much renders 4wd worthless at that moment.
01-14-2013, 11:23 AM
#17
JK Super Freak
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Tread lightly becomes more of a reality.
Without lockers, as mentioned above, you'll spin tires more and have to "bump" over obstacles.
on a side note, a 4:1 t-case also helps you tread more lightly.
Many times I wouldn't want to get out and pull the winch cable. Also, winching is more dangerous than simply using your lockers.
Without lockers, as mentioned above, you'll spin tires more and have to "bump" over obstacles.
on a side note, a 4:1 t-case also helps you tread more lightly.
Many times I wouldn't want to get out and pull the winch cable. Also, winching is more dangerous than simply using your lockers.
01-14-2013, 11:42 AM
#18
JK Newbie
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your convincing me slightly I mean I know that jeeps have that electronic "locker" wanna be thing where if one tire is off like ESP it put the brake on that tire to allow some power to the other but if that truly works idk. What I do like is the idea I know I'm locked and it's going to work
That being said, I run open diffs and wish I had lockers. But, I also don't have the extra $1k lying around to afford one. If you are doing some serious off roading, you will see the advantage, if not then don't. You can get through quite a few trails without a locker by using a winch and tow straps. But, I wouldn't call that approach an equivalent substitution.
01-14-2013, 11:50 AM
#19
JK Super Freak
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I don't regret it, it is noisy sometimes and it will unlock sometimes at the most awkward of times and it feels almost like something snapped. I've found that you get used to it and it becomes just one of those things you do when you drive your jeep. The offroad traction is nice though...
