x91evo

Currently 170,000 miles plan on doing a full overhaul on the xjs axles. Need this car to last me!
As of now, OME 2" HD springs all around with 1.5" Teraflwx BB and bilsteins all around on 31s. Pretty common stuff here.
Its 2wd, just bought a hp dana 30 and working on deciding a locker.

Majority of its life is on the road yes.
But I am getting more and more into recreational offroading!
But not getting stuck..
Dont have alot of $$ and looking for the best option without going air/electric lockers.
So onward with the questions haha

Hp Dana 30
Should I opt for something like a Truetrac? Something LSD?
I have a problem wasting $ on something that will not help me when I need the full out locker. Especially when the Spartan locker is a lot less than the Truetrac and will probably help me more where I need it.

-When not enguaged in 4wd - would turning/driving with a full out locker in the front end be that complicated?
I dont mind chirping tires, But I do mine not being able to turn.

Dana 35
Recently found out I have the pos Dana 35 and not the 8.25
Should I invest my time into the swap before wasting money on the 35?
I am thinking for my use of my xj the Dana 35 would be alright, But I hear alot of bad about running these with larger tires and lockers.

Also same question as with the Dana 30,
-Would a full out locker be impossible to DD with in the rear end?

One more newb question,
-If I did opt to full lock the front, or rear end would this affect my gas mileage at all?
Hate to ask a question about gas mileage when this obviously isnt the most fuel efficent car, but being my DD and working a low wage job its important!

Any suggestions or tips you can give me would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks -Ross

Atmos

if you do rocks you will regret an LSD. get the spartan or even an aussie for the front. you will not be able to feel it when 4x4 is disengaged (street driving)

dana 35. fine to use if it's what you've got. but putting a single dollar into it is retarded to put it blunt. it's a worthless axle and 8.25's are aplentiful
d30 seems to be pretty stout. people beat on it and replace parts as needed on 35" tires

I would highly recommend a full case locker in the rear over a ratcheting/lunchbox locker. I don't even notice my detroit is there anymore and at first I often worried that it was broken or not engaging when I first had it installed. the auto locker is very smooth with my automatic trans

yes full lock rear will affect gas and tire wear. but it's worth it. just rotate the tires around as needed. it wont be awful


now for my question. are you in the middle of a 4x4 transmission swap?

Atmos

also what year is that dana 30 out of

x91evo

That makes sense perfect sense to me,
I am just afraid of rebuilding the 8.25.
I heard it gets pretty complicated and I have 0 experience with diff builds.

I am looking for an AW4 currently, and np231s are a dime a dozen around me so waiting for a good deal.
My xj is a 2000.
D30 is from another 2000 with 3.55s.
and Im thinking to opt for the 8.25 that was in the rear of it also.

Before reading this I was originally thinking of using a truetrac in the front,
along with a full locker in the rear.

But now I am starting to think the opposite,
(if a full locker in the front would really not affect me out of 4wd)
just to help me out on a DD basis.

Atmos

some axle work you cannot do yourself. you can follow instructions for a spartan and install it easily enough. a full locker will have to be set by a gear shop. gear installations will also have to be done by a shop if you ever think about those.

bummer about that D30. 00-01 xj's have a weaker low pinion dana 30. if it's not to late, try to find a high pinion dana 30 (95-99 are best)
DEFINITELY get the 8.25. 97-01 are all good choices that definitely have 29 spline shafts

a full locker for the front is pretty pricey. I personally would opt for the cheaper option. its not a worthy axle. but you will not feel a front locker when in 2wd. except maybe on a tight uturn. some people who have to DD through snow opt for an LSD front because lockers handle differently in the snow when in 4x4 (none here so I cant tell you for sure how it is)

pick up some axles with matching gears and do your 4x4 conversion. do some more research and make some locker decisions later

x91evo

Must of been a 99 then because it is a high pinion forsure ha, which I really got just to avoid a high driveshaft angle.
Yea so far all my axle choices have 3.55s So I should be good for now with gearing.




Thats what Im trying to do with this thread!!
Anybody out there have a locker or a LSD on a DD?
How do you like them, any regrets?

If selectable is the only real option for confortable daily driving maybe I will save up.

x91evo

pretty much found what I was looking for in here for anyone looking for similar info-

https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f67/au...7/#post1426890

BNJeepsta

Lock the front and lsd the rear. From my experience, that's the best set up for a dd. Unless you drive a lot of highways in the snow.

dirt bound

My 96 has a detriot in the rear...it chirps the tires when turning and jsyn a locked rear is horrible on snow covered roads.

darkcherokee

depending what tire size your running a dana35 is fine. I have a dana35 with a lock right and 31's and it wont break. I do notice the chirps here and there driving on the road, but you learn to drive differently so you don't kill your tires.

Tom95YJ

Bad advice there really bad advice. I've destroyed 3 D35's 2 locked with 33's and one unlocked with 31's. I would never recommend anyone puts money in that pos

BNJeepsta

X2 I run a d35, but that's only bc it hasn't broken yet. I have an 8.8 waiting for it. Although ive had good luck with mine, I wouldn't recommend anyone to put money into a d35

schirm

Selectable lockers are not the only option although they are certainly not a bad option. Lunchbox lockers arnt bad in the front for DDs at all. I had the same concerns before I bought mine but I really can't notice the front locker when I'm in 2wd. True tracs arnt bad either. If you are gonna keep the D35 then don't put an expensive locker in it. throw a spartan or Aussie in it. You should be able to get a used 8.25 29 spline for pretty cheap. Check your local auto part recycling place. I bought one for $300 with a 6 month warranty

x91evo

Oh wow reading that makes me want to go pick up the 8.25 I found today haha

Thats pretty much what I am afraid of, wasting money on something that wont be worth it.

But yea thats what I am going with,
Spartan in the front and open diff (until I can afford the LSD for the rear.)

Thanks for the replies everyone