So just as the title says, I have an XJ that is currently 2WD - I'm planning on keeping it 2wd for awhile, but I want to throw a locker in the rear whenever i up my gears. I know the difference between air lockers and auto lockers, and am leaning towards an auto locker, however, would this present problems with me daily driving this?

I'm a pizza delivery driver, and I usually drive quite a bit everyday. This XJ is more of a Weekend Warrior, so I'm just wondering if an auto locker would hurt me daily driving on the highway and stuff. I go 85-90 very consistently and i just feel like maybe an auto locker would hurt me in the long run.

Any ideas or recommendations are welcome!

 

I know your thinking autolocker, but have you though about a high bias lsd. It will help off-road greatly, but make road driving unnoticeable. Other may be able to give you more advice on an auto locker.

 

I'm on 31" tires with an auto locker (powertrax no-slip to be exact) and I do tons of driving hours at a time getting up to 85-90 with stock gears. Even hold 70-80 with a trailer. Can't even tell its there. If the motor and trans mounts are bad it will be more noticeable, but definitely can still be driven daily. My no-slip locker is marketed as the "quietest auto locker" because most ratchet but the no-slip doesn't. Also if you have a Dana 35 rear I would swap to a 29 spline 8.25 before doing anything to it because Dana 35s aren't very good.

 

I ran a Detroit locker in the rear of s TJ for years. It's a beast off road but has some real bad manners on the road, especially around town. I'd look into a trutrac or some other high bias limited slip differential

 

tjs have a shorter wheel base making it worse with a locker. Detroit lockers are also ratcheting lockers where as a no-slip does not ratchet.

 

I have an 8.25 rear stock, not sure which spline count? I know there are 27 or 29 or whatever but idk how to tell which I have. I will definitely look into the powertrax though, your situation seems rather close to mine. My mounts should both be good, I haven't checked, but mine's a 98 with no rust and only 100k miles, so i'm willing to bet they're fine.

 

if yours is a 1998 then it got 29 splines

 

I've heard (can someone varify this please?) that with an auto locker in the rear, your tire wear will be increased greatly? I know pizza delivery usually requires a lot of turning, city/suburbs/etc, not all straight highway driving. Not sure what the OP's position is (only job, pay, bigger tires?), but it may be worth considering.

 

that's a spool not a locker. If an auto locker is functioning correctly it unlocks around corners reducing tire wear.

 

I have a 99 zero rust, my locker was a little noisy and didn't unlock around every corner. Replaced the motor and trans mounts and it's silent now. Honestly sometimes I forget I have it till I get offroad.

 

I have ran/run Detroit Lockers and Spools on the road for many years in HP Cars/Trucks and now the XJ and the wife's Fox Body Mustang with a 572" BBC/my Wagon a spool in it. Spools are fine if you mostly have a race car or off road only 4x4 with limited street use, but an auto locker does not wear the tires as you would ever notice.


A LSD is just that a bit limited at times not like an auto locker but most new cars that offer anything do have them installed and they help. It all depends on how well you want it to work off road really.

 

Another vote for the Powertrax No-Slip

 

I disagree with the greatly statement.
Yes it'll wear more but honestly I haven't seen a big deal on that.

Just keep them rotated

 

I stand somewhat corrected. Now I know, and knowing is half the battle.