Topic: Which one should I choose?

[95yjman]

I'm finaly getting to work on my rear scout dana 44 and wanting to get it under the Jeep. Question is I need to regear it, what would be the best locker to go with? While it does see a lot of street time, I do take it to the badlands at least twice a year if not more. Plus it plays around in the mud up north here everynow and then. I was kinda thinking a True track. What do you guys think?

[VA_YJ]

I'm a big fan of the detroit locker.  The trutrac is really a limited slip, not a true locker.  The detroit locker is made by the same company, but it locks 100% and is one of the strongest units available.  The trutrac will have better street manners, and some people use them on the front as to have less impact on steering.  For the rear, I would look for something that locks up a little tighter, but it really depends on what you want (a street jeep with improved off road capability, or a hard core jeep that you can drive on the street with some ratcheting and chirping).

[Jesse-James]

I have a Detroit in the rear (not the EZ) and the road manners are actually pretty good. Chirping only happens if I want to and I can't hear the ratcheting. A week of getting used to it and you'll forget it's there. I would not trust a lunchbox in the rear of my rig.

[Jeffy]

The Detroit Softlocker is a great locker.  Almost bulletproof in it's design.  Street manors are pretty damn good.  You'll learn how to drive to keep it quiet.

Although, if I was going to get new axles and lockers, I'd go ARB.  About as bulletproof and gives you really the best of both worlds.

I currently run a Detroit Tru-Trac on the D30 and the Detroit Softlocker in the 44.  The only consideration to make is if you go on a trail that requires a locker, the Tru-Trac won't do.

[jcsanders79]

I'll be putting OX lockers in my D44 when I regear.

[Jesse-James]

I like everything about the OX except the cable. I'd rather try to keep the gear shift on a K-mart bike adjusted.

[aw12345]

Detroit makes tight turns in the dirt harder, some love them others aren't quite so happy with them. Especially up front. The later style ARB locker is a very well made and strong unit, as long as the airlines are routed well it's pretty wel trouble free. Has instant on and pretty much instant off, you can still go for the challenge of wheeling with open diffs which is actually helpfull in some situations

[jcsanders79]

I like everything about the OX except the cable. I'd rather try to keep the gear shift on a K-mart bike adjusted.

Most people running them don't have issues with the cable, unless it was installed wrong or routed poorly.  Even if you don't like the cable you can now get the OX lockers with an electric or air activator.

[Jesse-James]

Even if you don't like the cable you can now get the OX lockers with an electric....activator.

That would be nice.

[jfrabat]

When I had the same dilema, I decided to bite the bullet, spend the money and get the ARB's front and rear.  They are invisible while on the street, and lock up 100% when needed at the flick of a switch.  Of course, you need to spend the extra money on the compressor, which makes them expensive (they are the most expensive lockers by themselves without the compressor already), but I feel they also ae the best.  Plus, any problems with the air lines, you just cut them with a knife and splice them with quick connectors (takes all of 30 seconds).

[neale_rs]

On my last wheeling trip, a rock ground down the corner of the fill plug of the rear axle and there were scratch marks on the bottom bolts and other parts of the diff cover.  I thought to myself at the time, I'm glad I didn't get the OX (which I was seriously considering) because the cable would have gotten smashed the first time out.  The ARB places the air line on top of the diff where it is much safer.  Something to consider.

[aw12345]

Nothing wrong with detroits except for the 3 point turns on tight trails.
An ARB with a well routed airline is pretty much trouble free unslees its really cold out then they tend to cycle the compressor quite a bit but they still work
Other than that in my book the easiest locker to use instant on and almost instant off unless you really torqued it, then you just backup a couple of feet and it releases. Some friends have OX lockers and they work well also however a few of them in hind sight would have been happier with the ARB less hassle to turn it on and off. I guess he has a fairly hard time releasing the locker after some torque has been applied to it

[FourbangerYJ]

Another vote for Detroit. I have been on some real twisty trails. I did not have to do more multi-point turns than the ARB guy's.
If you play in big rocks alot and you need to do alot of tight turns IMO the Detroit steers better than the ARB. When the ARB is on it's like running a spool. The Detroit has a spring that let the tires slip at differant speeds to allow tighter turns when no power is applied yet you are still locked. Plus they are cheaper and have less to go wrong. Almost every trip I go on there is someone running an ARB that has trouble with something.

[Mr_Random]

Could an ARB run just fine on an OBA setup? I'm considering building one soon from factory components and a 10 gallon reservoir.

My vote is on a full-case locker (ARB, OX) in the front, as a lunchbox will always be somewhat visible offroad (unless you have a posi-locked vac disco, but that's weaksauce) and cause steering issues.

I can't imagine a lunchbox in the rear doing as much harm, but of course a full case locker is the best way to go (stronger, selectable, more reliable).

[FourbangerYJ]

Could an ARB run just fine on an OBA setup? I'm considering building one soon from factory components and a 10 gallon reservoir.

My vote is on a full-case locker (ARB, OX) in the front, as a lunchbox will always be somewhat visible offroad (unless you have a posi-locked vac disco, but that's weaksauce) and cause steering issues.

I can't imagine a lunchbox in the rear doing as much harm, but of course a full case locker is the best way to go (stronger, selectable, more reliable).

ARB's can be run off a OBA but you need to put a regulator on the line that feeds the ARB to match the PSI requirements of the ARB.

I ran a Lock-right in the rear for a few years. It was way noisier and noticeable than the Detroit.