i have a 91 xj with a dana 30 out of a 97 xj i would like to just lock the front rear iv done the search, so if i have the 231 transfer case you wont notice the locker at all when in two wheel drive on the street?does it matter that my new front rear is out of a jeep without a 231 transfer case since i eliminated the troublesome vacum rear??

 

jeep never made a vacuum disconnect for the rear, but they did for the front dana 30. i would suggest a limited slip for the front if you plan on driving it on the street with the non disconnect axle, like a detroit tru-trac

 

to me...lock the rear and leave the front open....that's my setup. But you'll need to know your gear ratio and spline info for either front or rear locker replacement

What's your budget and have you ever driven a locked front end? (steers a little different)

IMO lockers are what ever you want to spend on them.....ARB's are awesome, but very pricey and, yes, are invisible until you switch it on (called selectable FYI)

hope this helps

 

I ran an Aussie in the front of my 30 for a couple of years and only thing I noticed was the clicking the ratchet lockers tend to make.

 

I like this but I wanted to add some food for thought If you use a "lunchbox" locker you could loose steering in some cases if it locks in while driving on the road.

 

ya i build mustangs and just got into this jeep thing i was thinking like a mini spool spool or something. i just thought i read somewhere that if you use the 231 tcase it was safe for two wheel drive on the street and you wouldnt really notice it, i dont understand what really the diffrence is since the tcase is spinning the front axle no matter if its a full time tcase or part time?And as for the back i have a couple of 8.8 rears laying around so im gunna do that swap.

 

First error is that 2wd the wheels spin the drive shaft, NOT the Trancfercase. In 2wd the front is disconnected AT the TC. The reason some say you don't notice the Autolocker in 2wd is that it is NOT being driven, thus able to ratchet easily. The diference between the 231 TC and the 242 is the full time function of the 242. The 242 has an open dif in the TC when in the FT position, an auto locker in the front causes the dif to remain locked when in FT position thus defeating the function. You don't want a spool in the front because then the wheel can't spin at different speeds when turning. Causes tire wear and reduce turning ability. An auto locker will release when no power is supplied to the wheel, it ratchet, alowing the wheel to turn at different speeds.

 

ok thank you and ya i keep saying rear meaning the front

 

you're thinking of the 231 with the CAD disconnect d30 from the earlier xj's (up to 91). when the t-case is in 2wd, the front axle is disconnected.

not so with the later 231's. there is no CAD axle disconnect and can cause a problem even in 2wd if it decides to lock up.

that's why most people will run a front locker with a CAD and posi-lok cable installed, so they can control the CAD manually.

with a non CAD and front locker, when in 4wd, you can not steer when accelerating, either on the road, or trail as it will lock up and no matter what you do, you will just go straight.

that being said, i have a front locker with a CAD and posi-lok cable. it can be a handful to say the least. let alone with the smaller u-joints, you will snap axle shafts an u-joints if you run tires larger than 31's. my front posi lock is always disconnected for that very reason. so with that theory, it's really pointless to run an auto locker in the front.

i'd say get a selectable like an OX or ARB, but no d30 is worth that much. lol.