Where do I look to find out what diff ratio I have for the rear diff? I have a 99' 4x4 with the 8.25. I am guessing I have a 3.07 ratio?

 

if you have a 5 speed then 3.07
if you have an auto then 3.55

there "should" also be a tag on the diff cover that has the ratio stamped in it

 

Yep, I have the AW4 tranny. The tag is pretty corroded, I tried to look at it. I am going to replace or rebuild my diff want to keep it stock, but add a locker.

 

Do more research, lockers are very touchy.

Snow-No

Mud-Yes

Ice-Hell No

Climbing-Yes

 

It depends what locker. Selectable lockers are good for all conditions, and Detroit soft lockers are good for almost all conditions. ( I wouldn't run them in the front other than that they're great. )

 

Screws with your steering in the front, and I agree with you. But I have lockers on my lifted sport, and I think im gonna switch them out cause they are terrible in the winter months.

 

I ran Detroit lockers and had no problem at all with them in the winter. That said you have to run the right tires and you need to have them sipped. Sipping makes all the difference, every set of tires, except for the motorcycle, I've had in the last 15 years I've had sipped. They have better traction in the snow and ice and they run cooler in the summer so they last longer. If you're running a D or E rated tire on something as lite as a Cherokee you probably wont like it with lockers because it can't flex enough for traction.

 

Not talking about tires, lockers, if you start slipping on one side your gonna fishtail cause the other tire is going to be spinning at the same speed.

Almost all tires have Siping. Not sipping, my tires are not a juice box.

 

Don't know what to tell you, but I do know that I've ran lockers in all kinds of snow and never had a problem. And I'm not talking about factory siped tires, I'm talking about having the tires siped at the tire shop. It makes a huge difference.

 

Oh yea I know that about siping, we do it in our shop for $10 a tire on center blocks, because outer block siping is known to cause increased tire wear and chunks being ripped off by rocks.

As far as lockers and snow though, my statement stands as fact.

 

So now you guys have me thinking just stay stock on my diff when I rebuild it. I don't do any offroading right now since I am in FL, when I move back to MA in February, I will of course deal with snow. I drove it in the snow and it was great stock. In the spring I will do some trail riding. I was going to get an auto locker for it. Nothing crazy. I think I will just stay stock.

 

Just because you say your statement is a fact that doesn't make it anymore of a FACT than my statement that I haven't had a problem running lockers in my rig for years. I didn't mean to start an argument about this. I was just stating my thought on the use of lockers on snow. If you don't think I'm right feel free to do what ever you want.

 

Read up on why lockers are not recommended for snow/ice.

Rear- http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f9/wh...d-snow-632109/

https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/aussie-locker-476/

http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f11/h...s-snow-824012/

Front- http://www.jk-forum.com/showthread.p...n-snow-and-ice

 

Here's my experience and $0.02 FWIW....any traction enhanced diff is by far and away superior to an open diff, regardless of road conditions. Any traction enhanced diff will provide power to both wheels (same axle), an open diff won't. Any traction enhanced diff will cause both wheels to slip/spin on slick surfaces. A fishtail is the end result with any traction enhanced diff when both wheels/tires loose traction as a result of too much right foot for the driving conditions.

Slick road conditions and SFB never go together.

 

I think I will keep it OEM. Now... Should I rebuild the rear diff(has some play in it, and rear seal is leaking at the yoke, seal?) which I have never done, OR should I just find a JY one in good shape?