I bought an Aussi for my front HP D30 in December & decided to sell it (still in box) in January. I've decided to put an air locker in the front, just rather having the option of locking and unlocking when i want to. For the rear I've got an LSD. I don't DD my rig, but my wife does drive it sometimes and didn't want her to have any issues in snow or pavement. This setup is best for me....

 

I'm in the same boat, my fiance wil be driving my jeep and I don't want her to have issues, how do you like this setup off road

 

im sorry but i just dont see the point of an lsd for offroading. definitely helpful on road dd but it seems just as useless as open when offroad. i think after i get shocks and tires (and fix my check engine light) the next things on the list are a winch bumper, and a winch, and then saving for a rear air or e locker...

so i guess my next question is, eaton electric or arb air?

 

Front & rear axles & parts are in a pile in my garage now, still buying a couple more parts (locker / gears / compresser). Shooting for March / April to rebuild axles & do axle swaps. I'll let you know

- Don't disagree too much about the LSD, it was stock in my 8.25 when I tore it down so might as well use it. It's better than an open diff & does help a bit off road, Street handeling is great.

- Lockers.... Check out the vendor page, RWK Haus will quote you really good prices on gears & lockers. You'll get hundreds of opnions on what is better. I'm going with his Yukon air Zip locker & ARB compresser for the front. ARB lockers (may be a bit better) but you can't beat the price of the Yukon. (disclaimer: just my $ .02)

 

Well yeah I mean if you have one use it. I'm just sayin I wouldn't go outta my way to buy one lol.
Yukon is the same as the arb?

 

They are the same style of locker, but different brands. And I have an Aussie locker in my rear axle and I love it. Granted it's not my DD but it hardly makes a negative difference.

 

Sorry, but I've driven 4x4s for sometime now and so driving a 4x4 in snowy conditions isn't new to me. While using your brain with a rear auto locker works great driving on icy snow covered roads with an auto locker, in the front axle it doesn't always work if the front axle doesn't get enough traction, the auto locker will not differentiate for the corner. [ so you will not be able to turn ]

 

I agree. A little skill with a rear locker can do wonders.

 

X3. I've always locked the rear axle then the front. I think locking just the front is dumb there is a reason auto manufactures install locking rear diffs in their trucks and suv's and not the front unless it is on a rubicon or power wagon. Then it gets both

 

That's weird because I do it everyday. In 4wd locked front on snow. It turns just like normal. I'm fully able to turn in snow.

 

id agree... but i wouldnt put an autolocker in the rear of a dd. i guess ill just save for the selectable rear haha.

i know there are tons of opinions on which is better so id like to hear the preferences of air and electric... pros cons etc. which do you like better and why?

 

I'm thinking about putting an Aussie or spartan in my d30 since I have to pull the diff to do axle seals anyways. The only time I use 4wd in the snow is when it is deep and the truck has a hard time going though in 2wd and I think a locker would help in that situation.

 

i say do it

 

i think im gonna put one in the front but i guess the selectable for the rear would make more sense being a dd. when you get it done make sure to tell me how you like it!

 

As people have mentioned already, it depend on what conditions you plan on driving in. A locked front axle will help you in snowy situations where you can't get enough traction on the rear axle and you have enough traction on the front for the front wheels to be able to pull side ways. The down side is when you loose traction (as in an icy corner with out any snow on top, or the tires are spinning) the front wheels will not pull around a corner and will instead try to push straight ahead since they are spinning at the same rate; the inside wheel turns faster than it should and the outside wheel slower, both causing a straightening effect. This is why you have the same problem with really slippery mud.

Another option all together is a Detroit TrueTrac LSD. They aren't the normal clutch style LSD, they are a torsen style, meaning they're gear driven and actually transfer torque to the wheel with traction. Even if a wheel gets airborne the brakes can be used to put drag on that wheel and get torque to transfer to the wheel with traction. I have these in both axles of my Jeep as it's a DD and can speak from experience. Are they as good as full lockers off-road, no. Are they better than auto-lockers on-road for DD's, yes. Are they half or less the price of selectable lockers, yes.