I am trying to understand why a person would want to do a Warn locking hub conversion to a front Dana 30, as opposed to a locker, LSD, or other traction device...

I have searched and read, however it's like drinking from a fire hose... the more I read the more confused I get.... HELP!!!! If someone understands the difference and can articulate/compare them, you would REALLY be helping me out. Pros/Cons to both... etc...

I so have a basic understanding of how the lockers/lsd/etc operate within the diff and the Warn hubs operate at the wheel/hub/axle... but that's about it.

I want to get an ARB air locker for my 8.25 rear, but not sure what I am going to do with the front yet. I am running a 5.5 RE lift, will be running 33's, and it will be a weekend rock/mud/combo toy that I will semi-DD when the wife has the "civilized" vehicle and the weather isn't good for the Harley....

Thanks a bunch in advance guys...

 

Locking hubs are a different animal from a differential locker. With the Dana 30, the wheels are connected to the axles and the differential at all times (with the exception of some older, pre-92 cherokees I believe, someone correct me if I am wrong). This means that when you are driving in 2wd, the front wheels will be spinning the shafts and gears and your front driveshaft. Warn lockout hubs allow you to disconnect the wheels from the axles, so that they are not always spinning while driving around in 2wd. They can be convenient if you have a "locker" in the front axle so the wheels don't bind up on turns.

 

Thanks for the info so far!

So, the Warn hubs can be used with or without a traction device if I am understanding you correctly? So what is the point of having them? Are you saying that having them will allow me to have a locker up front without the dreaded wheel hop/chirp? Why not use an LSD then?....

I know I am dense on this, bear with me guys....

 

Even without them you won't notice a locker up front when in 2wd. I run locking hubs because I tend to break a good bit and I can disconnect the axle from the wheel instead of having to pull the axle right then. Some claim it'll help with gas mileage but most agree it isn't a noticeable difference and not worth the 4-500 bucks it cost to convert a D30. My axle came with them and my only other option is drive slugs and I like the ability to disconnect.

 

How so? If the front wheels are going (being pushed by rear wheels in 2hi), wouldn't they be reliant on the differential to spin at different speeds?

 

Yes but auto lockers rely on torque and if there isn't any they will ratchet in a turn. I've run lunchbox lockers for over 10 years in the front and driven on the street and you don't notice them. My buddy has a Detroit in his front D30 and it'll turn on a dime in 2wd.

 

It depends on the locker. Of course if its a selectable one then its an open diff when not engaged. If you put a lunchbox locker in the front then they function as an open diff when power is not supplied via the front drive shaft. Some other lockers require hub conversions for front axle applications such as spools but most do not.

 

Good points...thanks guys I should know this by now lol sorry to jack the thread, didn't mean to do that. Back to the topic of hubs, I know I would like the option for lockout hubs on my D30, but it is just too expensive

 

I'm about to do this because my front driveshaft drives me crazy at freeway speeds. It's very a expensive mod, but I can't stand taking out the front driveshaft on long trips, then having to put it back on when I get where I'm going. So for me, the two benefits of the warn locking hubs are disconnecting front driveshaft from axle and serviceable hubs (bearings). Plus, if you break an axle, your not totally screwed. ( & My gas mileage has noticeably improved without the front DS in)

 

Considering the cost of gas, any improvement helps.

Having the ability to completely disengage the front wheels is a plus.

The downside, obviously it's the price. This seems to bother XJ owners more than anything else.

 

Not to thread jack but on the same topic. With locking hubs, when they are unlocked does the spider gears and such still rotate or do they just sit there and dry out, figure of speech

 

They do not rotate.

 

So is that bad for them and the oil on there. Like it can break down. Least when the ds is removed on the d 30, everything is still being lubed

 

No. The gear oil still going to get splashed around just from the movement of the vehicle.

Won't hurt anything at all. Manual hubs have been around for a long time and are a well-proven design.

 

How much of a MPGs increase could locking hubs really give?