I know this topic has been brought up plenty of times before but I want to get everyone's personal experiences and what have you about the topic.

I have a 99 XJ. NP231.

Front - D30 4.56s aussie locker

Rear - D44 4.56s aussie locker

Haven't ever driven in the snow with lockers yet so I'm a total newbie. I was contemplating pulling the front aussie out and putting just plain old spider gears back in so I could turn better in the snow. Thoughts on this?

I guess I could just romp it in 2WD until I feel slippage and then put it into 4x4 until I get moving again then go back to 2.

I have to also replace my T-case (mine literally ripped out and bounced down the highway.) I have a 231 with a SYE already on it but I was thinking about buying a HNT for my spare 242 and running that instead to get full time 4wd.

So many options! Haha.

 

Ripped out and bounced down the freeway........

One has to ask, HOW???

 

I'm front locked and rear open with a 231. I have driven in snow quite a bit in northern Utah. It does fine in 4hi on streets and even better in 4lo in the deep stuff. I also have driven on wet pavement/slushy with no issues at all. I think it's fine locked but others say no. It's really user preference.

 

I guess I could just romp it in 2WD until I feel slippage and then put it into 4x4 until I get moving again then go back to 2.

you really have to ask how the t case fell out and bounced down the highway?

i'm sure you don't mean it how it sounds but it does sound bad haha

 

No seriously, exactly how it sounds. Watched my T-case bounce down the highway in my rear view mirror.

I'm pretty sure my centering ball in the double cardian broke off, caused the flange that goes to the t-case to lock up in an upright position and when this happened the torqued just transferred through the t-case and twisted the thing out.

Was the loudest noise i've ever heard. Was doing about ~80MPH when the thing decided it wanted to go no more.

Gatchmo, you ever feel any binding or bouncing when cornering or anything like that? I'm worried about that slow bounce feeling you get if you use 4lo on pavement when trying to turn.

 

[QUOTE=HudsonN;2690217]No seriously, exactly how it sounds. Watched my T-case bounce down the highway in my rear view mirror.

I'm pretty sure my centering ball in the double cardian broke off, caused the flange that goes to the t-case to lock up in an upright position and when this happened the torqued just transferred through the t-case and twisted the thing out.

Was the loudest noise i've ever heard. Was doing about ~80MPH when the thing decided it wanted to go no more.

Gatchmo, you ever feel any binding or bouncing when cornering or anything like that? I'm worried about that slow bounce feeling you get if you use 4lo on pavement when trying to turn.




HudsonN, that's a bummer man. I reckon your tail section was probably loose too.
Bird

 

holy $hit you were not kidding about it blowing up ><

i've grown up driving in the snow. I'm all about the limited slip lockers when it comes to snow, front and back. as far has having front locked, i say pull em out and put in the stock spider gears. but this is my personal opinion, as i have never driven a fully locked front axel i wouldn't know how it would handle. but it makes me think that if you can turn fine now on pavement you shouldn't have any issues with it in the snow. cars drive around in the snow/slush without issues (most of the time lol). its all about being cautious. and Gatchmo5710 is right, 4hi while on the streets and highway, 4low when you get into deep stuff/go off road. snow is the opposite of mud, you want to crawl to stay on top of the snow, not dig a hole and have to dig yourself out lol. also if you decide to go off road, take a buddy to pull you out or a shovel so you can dig yourself out. also air down the tires, think of them as snow shoes, the bigger they are the more likely you are to stay on top of the snow and not dig a hole and not to mention the better traction you will get. anyways thats my 2 cents, make of it what you will!

 

your the winner for best TCase carnage. Nicely done!

 

i've always been a fan of a seletable locker up front. having the front locked when turning on the trail sometimes makes it not turn good. so just imagine in the snow trying to turn and just goin straight...oops haha

 

Depends if the snow is dry powder type or wet slush kinda snow,Just go slow tell you get use to how it handles in snow.Keep a shovel and kitty litter in the jeep just in case you get stuck.