Don't get lockers
Thread Starter
Seasoned Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 254
Likes: 0
From: Co
Year: 1993
Model: Cherokee
Engine: I6
I don't get why lockers are so greatvi was going to buy some but I don't kno why everyone wants them. I'm pretty sure I completly understand how they work but don't understand why that helps.Thanks
CF Veteran
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 2,059
Likes: 1
From: Indianola IOWA
Year: 1992
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
hop on you tube and type in lockers. there is one that shows what an open can do, a limited slip can do, and a locker can do. think it was arbs comparision
Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 171
Likes: 0
From: omaha
Year: 1993
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 Liter H.O.
I am all about limited slip, the diff's I am getting are of LSD design, but also have a locker function, being that never off road and just want some extra traction in the snow, I never see myself using the locker portion of it.
CF Veteran
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,062
Likes: 0
From: Fort lewis, wa/ university place, wa
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
im not 100% but Im pretty sure that the lockers will help in the snow but you wouldnt need the 100% unless you wanna do the offroading
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 718
Likes: 0
From: Phillipsburg, NJ
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.ol renix
For most daily driving situations in the snow a good set of tires and standard 4wd is all you need. A LSD rear will help even more. Alot of people run locker on the street, but it's really not ideal. The best way to really understand why you might need a locker is to go out wheeling and watch carefully. Best case scenario is to go with a group that has trucks with open diffs and locked.
An example is when I had to cross this ditch or washout

You can see my passenger side tire is not touching the ground, the diff will transfer power to the wheel with the least amount of traction ie: the one off the ground, now I have 2wd at this point. At one point my rear driver was off the ground and I had no wheel drive I was sitting and spinning like a dork. When the pic was taken I had traction on both rear wheel so I made it, but before the pic was taken and the ditch was deeper it took a running start to get thru, which took a couple tries.
After I went a stock Rubicon went thru with front and reaer lockers walked up it like he was on a Sunday stroll.
There are many other situation where your gonna be sitting and spinning two wheels with the least grip and the other wheel are not moving but on solid ground, and you;ll be wishing you were locked.
An example is when I had to cross this ditch or washout

You can see my passenger side tire is not touching the ground, the diff will transfer power to the wheel with the least amount of traction ie: the one off the ground, now I have 2wd at this point. At one point my rear driver was off the ground and I had no wheel drive I was sitting and spinning like a dork. When the pic was taken I had traction on both rear wheel so I made it, but before the pic was taken and the ditch was deeper it took a running start to get thru, which took a couple tries.
After I went a stock Rubicon went thru with front and reaer lockers walked up it like he was on a Sunday stroll.
There are many other situation where your gonna be sitting and spinning two wheels with the least grip and the other wheel are not moving but on solid ground, and you;ll be wishing you were locked.
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Seasoned Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 349
Likes: 2
From: marlton,south jersey
Year: 91
Model: Cherokee
Engine: I6
Yes rubicons come with lockers factory,full time lockers suck and are harsh on gears etc,when i save up the cashim gonna invest in a arb for my rear
CF Veteran
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 8,172
Likes: 17
From: The Republic of TEXAS
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L HO
This video is a decent explanation of a locking diff vs LSD and open diffs. The lunchbox lockers (PowerTrax and others) are easy to install in a couple of hours without having to mess with bearings, ring and pinion settings/backlash, etc. No LSD clutches to burn up/replace. It's all about both wheels on the same axle turning at the same speed. When one wheel spins faster than the other, the diff locks and both wheels spin at the same speed regardless of road surface. One wheel can be in the air and they both will spin at the same speed when the diff locks. Can't say that about LSD or open diffs.
Last edited by djb383; Feb 28, 2010 at 04:58 PM.



