Im getting ready to do gears. So this question is running through my head. Would a locker on a d30 just accelerate the chance of breaking my axles with 35's. Ive also thought about the rubi front axle too. Now is the time. Can you buy the e locker for my rear D44? Too many questions to think about. Are the ARB's the best lockers out there?

 

I am running 35's and ARB lockers on my TJ now and with a Dana 30. Granted, I have Alloy USA chromoly axle shafts but so far, I haven't had any problems with this setup.

 

I'm looking long and hard at the Aussie Locker for the D30.......it seems a perfect match between the front being the end most likely to slip in the first place, and therefore the end most likely to BENEFIT for a locker, and the fact that its only $249, instead of the $750 or so for a selectable locker, etc.

 

Most of the wheeling I've done in my YJ and TJ with ARBs, I've used the rear locker a WHOLE lot more than the front. This being said, I still like having a selectable locker in the front.

I had ARB in the front of my D30 TJ with 35s and never broke anything(including standard axle shafts/U-joints) The trick is using it only when you really need it and light on the throttle.

I'll probably be putting an ARB in the front of my D30 JK (if the extra $800 is there) as well this spring. As little as I used my front ARB with the TJ, I would feel almost as confident with only the rear locked though.

 

I would say no, just from experience. I had mine locked in my old TJ, ended up breaking alot of shafts/joints. Then went up to 60's and of course lost alot of money that was spent on the 30. A locker puts alot more pressure on your shafts/joints and you will break them more. I wouldnt lock a 30 again......save up for something bigger.

 

I can't argue that a locker increases chances of breaking, but a selectable locker like OX or ARB when used correctly in a Dana 30 will go a long way for a lot of people. The other argument given is that the price of keeping a couple of used spare shafts around in the chance of breaking an axle is a lot cheaper than upgrading everything. I've seen you guys in the southeast wheel though and Dana 30s don't stand a chance

 

Locked D30 and 33's are a good match. I think there are doubts in running 35s on Dana 30s, though many do it without incident.

However, I would not lock 35s on a D30 unless I was prepared (financially) for make adjustments later on if it failed.

 

I have the limited slip in the rear. How do they do offroad? I have not been offroad yet as we have 2+ feet of snow on the ground and would be sure to get stuck.

 

I SPECIFICALLY mentioned the Aussie Locker, BECAUSE it is not like the other lockers, .....in that is DOES allow the outer tire to turn faster (Diferentiate),


.....allowing less stress in turns, etc....it just ALSO makes the inside tire keep turning too, at ground speed, so you still get BOTH tires turning, but,

....instead of the wind up you get with a regular locker, where you essentially FORCE the inside tire and outside tire to make the same number of revolutions, but make the outside go further...which is what twists the shafts, etc to their breaking points....

You don't.



And its a $250 drive way mod....hard to beat.

 

Sure, that's all great stuff, but my response was directed toward the idea that you presented about the front axle being more likely to benefit from a locker. I see it differently from my experiences. Maybe that's not what you are saying?