Understanding Lockers
 

I am trying to understand about lockers and such.

If I were to buy air lockers, does that replace the entire differential? Does the locker have to be a certain gear ratio if it does replace the whole thing, and if so is it because the size of the axle? Does the transfer case have anything to do with what type of lockers I would need? If I had a Dana 30 axle, is that the axle and the differential or just the axle?

The air lockers replace the entire carrier. Transfer case plays no role. I the biggest set of gears you can put in a dana 30 is 4.88. Differential and axle are the same thing

What do you mean by replaces the carrier? How/where would I find different gears to change from 3.73 to 4.10?

you can find new gears anywhere .. google 4.10 gears and you should get lots of choices and it replaces the carrier in your pumpkin..

Ok I am looking at this diagram:

http://broncograveyard.com/dia/6/d30dia.jpg

So the entire axle assembly is what is the Dana 30?

If I were to get an air locker it would change out just the differential and not the pinion and ring gear?

And the Dana 44 has a bigger housing to hold bigger gears and a stronger axle shaft?

So even if I put 4.10 gears in a Dana 30, they still wouldn't be as strong as a Dana 44 gears?

okay yes that entire assembly is a D30
it wouldnt change the ring and pinion thats where you buy 4.10s
yes D44 is better and stronger and if you can get one i would and no even if you put 4.10s in a D30 it isnt stronger then the D44

Ok so what I have been seeing is that air lockers are quite a bit more expensive then others. What would be best for best price? I live in southern Louisiana so the most that I would be doing would be mudding, not any rock crawling or anything like that.

is it going to be a daily driver? if it isnt then there is a easy way to lockem without lockers just weld the spider gears up but get someone who knows how to weld really good and have them do it

Yeah it would be a daily driver.

This is what I found on Rustys Offroad

ARB AIR LOCKERS
Air Locker locking differentials allow you to tackle the toughest terrain. The world’s premier traction aid, ARB Air Lockers keep you moving in all conditions.


POWERTRAX / LOCKRIGHT LOCKERS
The POWERTRAX LOCK-RIGHT Locker is the original locking differential that could be easily installed in existing case assemblies without any special tools or setup equipment. It has been widely used in demanding off-road applications around the world requiring extreme traction output and high-strength.


DETROIT LOCKERS
The legendary Detroit Locker began the revolution in performance differentials and still leads the industry today as an Eaton brand. The Detroit Locker is the most durable and dependable locking differential available.

First... we don't know what kind of Jeep or transfer case you have. It does make a difference in certain situations...

If you have one of the full-time cases (NP229 or NP 242) in the Cherokee or (NP249 or NP247) in the Grand Cherokee, than any type of full-time front locker would cause you to lose your full-time capability.

Some lockers replace the entire carrier.. like an ARB, a Detroit, or a spool. Others replace just the side gears and spider gears. Like Lock-Rite,Aussie and Detroit EZ-Locker. In all of these cases you reuse your Ring and Pinion gears.

A 'Lincoln-Locker' or welding the spider gears, is unsuitable for a daily driven rig on the street. With that type of situation your rear axle shafts turn at the same speed at all times and you get wheel hop when turning corners.