Hi All,
I'm looking to get a new Jeep and have never owned a 4X4 before.
In building my own at jeep.com I have options which I don't know what to do with:
Trac-LokŪ Limited Slip Rear Differential $300
Tru-LokŪ Electronic Locking Rear Differential $750
Electronic Front Sway Bar Disconnect $750
What are these things ?! I know this is probably a basic question.
I'm trying to keep the cost down and will probably do some light off-roading. Still, I'd like to build it right from the ground up!
Oh yea, and I'm not very handy in the garage

Thanks for any help.
John
In case you are interested, here's what I've picked and already at $25K MSRP:

2008 WRANGLER X 4-DOOR 4X4 C Pkg.
Freedom Top(TM) 3-Piece Modular Hard Top - Black
Stone White Clear Coat
Black Appearance Group by MOPAR
Black Fuel Filler Door
Black Tail Lamp Guards
Black Tubular Side Steps
Trailer Tow Group
3.73 Axle Ratio
6-Speed Manual Transmission Incl.
Command-TracŪ Shift-on-the-Fly 4WD System Incl.
Next Generation Dana 44 Heavy Duty Rear Axle Incl.
3.8-Liter V6 SMPI Engine Incl.
Air Conditioning Incl.
6 Speakers Incl.
AM/FM Stereo Radio w/In-Dash CD Plyr/MP3 Capability Incl.
P225/75R16 BSW On-/Off-Road Tires Incl.
16" Styled Steel Wheels Incl

The mods I'm thinking of doing rightaway are:
17" black wheels, Rhino coating of interior (remove the carpet) and that flex-a-trunk thingy) OH and if I work up my nerve some black zebra stripes

 

limited slip diff is just that it allows the rear differential to slip on road condiions but limits its slip ( a little) offroad.

a rear locker is a locker, when its locked, both rear tires turn at the same speed all of the time.
elect. sway bar disconnect is just an easy way to disconnect your sway bar to allow for increased articulation


personally, if your are not going to be doing much wheeling, you dont need either. The JK has a decent electronic system of keeping it going, its called brake lock differential.

I dont have either the limit slip or the locker.. when i wheel, I dont really have a problem with my open diffs, my problem is ground clearance.

and the sway bar, you can either buy disconnects for $99, or again, what I do is just take a wrench and unbolt the sway bar links, saves money.. If your like me, you wont wheel enough to warrant any of those options you are speaking of.

The only things I am sort of debating is a 2.5" lift and some taller tires, But I probably wont even do that

 

unfortunately those 4.10's are not available anymore. only on the Rubi.

 

I'd get the limited slip - it's awful cheap from the factory and if you ever wanted to upgrade it's going to cost a whole lot more than that to put one in (especially since you'll be paying labor if you're not mechanically inclined) - the electronic locker is overkill for the light wheeling - it's nice since it's only there when you want it to be, but the limited slip will help in snow traction, etc. (yeah the ESD helps out tremendously, but I'm still old school and like both rear tires to at least try and transfer power on their own without a computer...)

The 4.10's aren't available as a separate option last I looked - the best you can do is get the "tow package" and you're upgraded automatically to 3.73's (which you have)

I'd buy it with the LSD added, then look for someone selling/giving away their rubicon springs/shocks and then upgrade to some larger tires for those 16" rims when yours wear out - something along the lines of a 265/75R16's or a cookie cutter 235/85R16

 

Ok, in my most humble opinion, if you're planning to Rhino coat it, then you're planning to get dirty; which means you really should get:

Tru-LokŪ Electronic Locking Rear Differential $750
Electronic Front Sway Bar Disconnect $750
and the 4.10 Axle ratio (gears).

An X with the above can do just about any trail you can find... ask Toad and Bullfrog, they've completed trails in a stock X that Rubicons had trouble withh (I should know).

Get the upgrades, you won't be disappointed.

 

I do, but I have a couple of preteen boys who drity up the inside of vehicles pretty regularly. I love the idea of hosing it out every week!

Like most things, wish money was no object....

Thanks for all the replies and for not making fun of a newbie

 

We ALL have been a newbie, so no worries. Last thing to consider is this board: a lot of folks are upgrading their rigs and then selling or giving away things. Check out the For Sale and Freebie sections and you can upgrade your rig pretty cheap and pretty quick. After you get your Jeep, send me a PM, I think I have a couple of things in the garage you might like.

By the way, where in California are you?

 

I have a Rubicon which comes with the Electronic Front Sway Bar Disconnect. I don't think is worth the $750. Its a luxury item. You can get sway bar discounts for $100.
Chase

 

If I were you I would get a Tire Upgrade. At the very least get the "X-Package" 17" Wheels with the 255/70/R17's. The 225's look like bicycle tires, and off-raod or not, I thought it made my jeep look real, real weak.

But you can hit up the wanted and for sale boards after the fact. I bout a set of 5 Sahara Rims and tires that way!

As far as the rest goes, really, its up to you. Light off-roading probably dosent warrent anything other than the stock setup. Although I would recomend the 4:10's if you can get them. Ive been told they have better power, and thats always a plus, on or off road.

 

x2! The larger wheels/tires fill out the fender flares much better than the stock ones. When you see them side by side, it's quite the difference.