Topic: Jeep Build. need advice first

[stan98tj]

while im here on the ship id like to use some of my spare time to organize some thoughts on my upcoming project. id like as much advice as you guys are willing to give.
here is what i am aiming for:
-33" tires
-increase the 2.5" RC lift to 3.25"
-regear (prob going with 4.56) got the 3spd auto and it is my DD and i do highway a lot
-front locker
-winch (not a mounted one. id like one i can pull out of the trunk and winch from the front bumper or rear)
 
TIRES: id like to save on weight, so i dont want to go with 33x12.5. i was thinking 10.5s but i wonder if anyone knows if any companies make 33x11.5s with an MT tread and are they good on the street (rain, snow etc) as well as the trail. what is more important, the width of the tire causing air drag? or the actual weight of the tire. EX: 33x10.5 that is more narrow then a 12.5, but what if it weighs more?

LOCKER: id like an electronic locker. i have a quadratec mag with me and they list an ected for $650 and they dont list any other brands. Are there cheaper electronic lockers out there? id like something that allows me full open diff when off and full lock when on. 

thats pretty much it guys...i appreciate whatever advice you can throw my way. now i have to go get ready for watch....foggy, rainy night...great.

[Jeffy]

I don't think you'll be saving much with 33x11.5's over 12.5's as you would with 10.5's.  Also 10.5's are probably going to be more common then 11.5's as even a 10.5 is a bit of an oddball tire size.  At least for the US.  You might check some metric sizes but really, most are going to be 16" and not 15".  Skinny's are pretty standard in the P-Metric's.

Lockers:  Cheap and electric locker are not mutually exclusive.  You get one or the other and with manual lockers it means they'll be expensive.  You're going to be limiting yourself a bit as there are only two Electric lockers.  The Ectric is Auburn's and E-Locker is Detroit's.  I don't think OX ever came out with an electric solenoid for theirs.  Keep in mind that the E-locker is a LSD when 'open' and locked when closed.  So if you are running it up front you will notice it.  While turning the Jeep will want to understeer.  With the Ectric, it's open or locked.  So as a front application, it's really the only choice.

Another locker to consider is the OX.  It's manual but uses a cable instead of pumps or solenoids.  Personally, I'd probably go with the ARB as it's pretty bulletproof.  It's been on the market for a long time and is known to be as strong as a Detroit without some of it's shortcomings.  Costs more but I think it's worth it.

[stan98tj]

as for the locker-i dont want to feel it in any way when it is off. i like the way the jeep handles on the street with open diffs, and even on the trail. i want the locker for those harder parts that come on the trail. so in the electric locker department that leaves me with the Ectric one? OX (as per quadratec) happens to be more expensive than the electric locker (somewhere in the 800s).  I know ARB is awesome..but id have to purchase the compressor as well and i think id be looking somewhere near 1k for all of it together.

[Jeffy]

as for the locker-i dont want to feel it in any way when it is off. i like the way the jeep handles on the street with open diffs, and even on the trail. i want the locker for those harder parts that come on the trail. so in the electric locker department that leaves me with the Ectric one? OX (as per quadratec) happens to be more expensive than the electric locker (somewhere in the 800s).  I know ARB is awesome..but id have to purchase the compressor as well and i think id be looking somewhere near 1k for all of it together.

Your only choice is the Ectric then.

[dwtaylorpdx]

2 ARB air lockers = 16 to 1800
1 Air compressor to run them 300
Installation 350 per axle = 700

Never getting stuck hardly ever $2700 (Priceless my A**)  

Dave

Note: If the installer has installed less than 20 or 30 just say no.......

[sharpxmen]

Auburn Ected and Eaton E-Locker.

Eaton E-Locker is open diff when not locked, with the newer versions they fixed some of the problems they had in the past(something with the locking pin)

Auburn Ected is LSD and increases the pressure on the disks when locked - they have both D30 and D35 versions but seems to be a consensus that they suck in front.

[Jeffy]

Whoops, I'm getting my lockers mixed up.  BTW: there were 3.  Detroit is owned by Eaton but was developed before the buy out. Then Eaton discontinued the Electrac.

Detroit Electrac Locker - Open/Locked
Eaton E-Locker - Open/Locked
Auburn Ected - LSD/Locked

[sharpxmen]

Whoops, I'm getting my lockers mixed up.  BTW: there were 3.  Detroit is owned by Eaton but was developed before the buy out. Then Eaton discontinued the Electrac.

Detroit Electrac Locker - Open/Locked
Eaton E-Locker - Open/Locked
Auburn Ected - LSD/Locked

i didn't know about Detroit

Auburn is theoretically still an LSD when "locked", the mechanism increases the pressure on the disks a lot, i'm not sure how that changes with wear (if it affects the locking ability or not). I bought one of these for the rear but i have yet to install it in my neverending axle project - it was quite cheap on sale compared to even the Eaton, then i found the Eaton on same for about $100 more than the Auburn - for that I would have probably got an eaton for the rear too, would be interesting to see how the Auburn is for driving - it might have some benefits.

[dwtaylorpdx]

Is that version of the Auburn rebuildable? Thier "cone" lsd did not used to be, when it wore out you had to toss them.

Just curious..

Dave

[sharpxmen]

Is that version of the Auburn rebuildable? Thier "cone" lsd did not used to be, when it wore out you had to toss them.

Just curious..

Dave

i don't know - i would assume it is rebuildable (i don't see why not) but i have not looked to see if there is a rebuild kit available - if there isn't one available then there's not much of a choice than to replace it.

[stan98tj]

so EATON is a true locker. open diff when open and full lock when locked? anyone know if they run under $600. i cant do an ebay search at the moment...internet capabilities are basic at best on board. ive been told by a few shops install of a locker would be free if they were regearing for me. i would have gone with OX or a mechanical one like that but they were in the $800 range. i want to stay under 600 and have it fully lock and fully open if i can.

[sharpxmen]

so EATON is a true locker. open diff when open and full lock when locked? anyone know if they run under $600. i cant do an ebay search at the moment...internet capabilities are basic at best on board. ive been told by a few shops install of a locker would be free if they were regearing for me. i would have gone with OX or a mechanical one like that but they were in the $800 range. i want to stay under 600 and have it fully lock and fully open if i can.

i don't think you would find them under $600, i think when i got mine on sale was close to 7 and they are reqular about $800+. But yes, Eaton E-Locker is open and fully locked when actuated

With OX you will also need the cable and that i think is another $75 or so, I think they come with the diff cover (you need that as that's how they actuate the locker using an lever on the cover) but if you go that route make sure you doublecheck as i think i saw them without a cover as well (replacement locker if you already had an OX installed and got damaged).

[jfrabat]

Whoops, I'm getting my lockers mixed up.  BTW: there were 3.  Detroit is owned by Eaton but was developed before the buy out. Then Eaton discontinued the Electrac.

Detroit Electrac Locker - Open/Locked
Eaton E-Locker - Open/Locked
Auburn Ected - LSD/Locked

From what I read, the Ected is LSD/LSD, but the differential changes.  It never really "locks", though (as in if you lift a wheel, one turn of the right wheel will not equal one turn of the left)...

2 ARB air lockers = 16 to 1800
1 Air compressor to run them 300
Installation 350 per axle = 700

Never getting stuck hardly ever $2700 (Priceless my A**) 

Never getting stuck?  You want pictures of me winching out of the mud with even with 2 ARB's?

[stan98tj]

Quadratec lists the Detroit lockers as well. i know they arent electronic but they are cheaper. what is the application there? do they fully lock? do i engage them or do they come on and off at will once im in 4x4? how will the jeep react in snowy conditions while in 4x4? i like the way the jeep drives in the snow while on the road as it is now..no sudden lurching etc.

[aw12345]

You want street manners and lockers then detroits, should not be on your list.
From a point of durability and ease of operation ARB's are your best bet. They are not cheap, but well worth the money. I personally would nit use anything else, an most anybody else that goes from some other locker to ARB's tends to agree with that