I will be putting it in the front D30 of a 1995 XJ, 4.0, Auto, 231tc for now and running open 8.25 rear. I will likely only lift 2-3" and go to 31" tires. I will not be "crawling" just to crawl or challenging extreme stuff, just looking for a little more traction on moderate trails in decent conditions. Not interested in snow, ice, mud, etc. Some sandy areas here in the desert but never terribly deep.

I here all types of varying experience across all brands. So is there a difference in the noise factor or driving characteristics driving on pavement in 2wd with one brand over another? Or all they all basically the same when set up properly. I read Powertrax no-slip are quieter than others. Of all the info I've read I don't see issues with breakage with any of them.

So go with the budget $250 ish or is another $100-$150 more for something else worth it. I want to keep it as "normal" as a DD as possible.

 

Also, can someone tell me if I need to remove the carrier and unbolt the ring gear to get the cross pin out on a 95?

 

I run a powetrax no slip, absolutely a great thing! I hear/feel nothing in 2wd.

 

Same here with the PowerTrax No-Slip. OP, why would you want to have a locked front with open rear? Isn't the reverse more standard?

 

I have had Spartan lockers in both of my axles for 5 years. They are quiet, work great on and off road and haven't given me any trouble at all. I use 85w140 gear oil to keep them quiet. On the Dana 30 you have to remove the carrier and unbolt the ring gear to get the cross pin out, on the 8.25 you can do it with the carrier still in. If you are only locking one axle I highly reccomend you do the rear not the front.

 

As far as doing the front vs rear I plan on a selectable in the rear with a different axle down the road but that's not in the budget right now, well, because I just bought a Jeep, lol. For now, as this will occasionally be a dd/commuter for the wife in cases when I may be working on or servicing her truck, I want it to be as tame as possible, not locked in the rear all the time. That's why I'm considering the PowerTrax up front if it has less noticeable noise in 2wd. That way I'm not fielding questions about clicking noises and such.

Also I have read a hundred threads on the pro's and con's of front vs rear and it seems to be split on which is best. But I'm always lookin for good input on the subject!

 

You don't even notice a lunchbox locker in the rear other than the extra traction you get. I let other people drive my Jeep and they don't even notice it. It also does far better on wet and slick roads than it did with an open differential. I wouldn't want a selectable locker in the rear because they are worthless on the street.

 

X2 on the Spartan, been running them in both axles for years with zero issues.

As far as front or rear, it is a toss up...and that reflects what you've read already. It boils down to preference IMO. Many go rear, some say front...I say wheel it without and make a judgment call where you will need it more.

On selectable, I will say this...I wish I could have put selectable lockers in from the get go. Budget didn't allow for it, and I was impatient. I also had already geared my axles previously, and didn't want to do it again. I wish I would have done everything at once. That said, it is what it is and I've been happy with my choice, but could have been happier.

Selectables give you control over exactly when you engage, so engage whichever one you need, or both, when you need it offroad. I've never needed a locker on the street, so...whatever. I really just like the idea of having more control of the situation offroad, and have had times where having that choice would have helped.

 

So since I posted this I have found out (1 1/2 years later) that I have a LS in the rear, The clutches were fried so it was basically an open diff. Now that I have a working LS in the rear I'm even more interested in an auto locker up front. I have an axle seal starting to leak up front so it all has to come apart anyway. Will not be a DD anymore, just for trails and getting to them.

Back to the original question, which one?

I'm interested in the TORQ locker due to the stronger design but it's $100 more.

Will one be more quiet, break easier or have better manners if:

The biggest tire I will ever run is 33".
I won't be thrashing.
I won't be doing any crazy rock crawling.
I'm just interested in moderate trails and having the capability when I need it.

In the grand scheme of things $100 isn't much but what I'm learning is when I open things up it snowballs. I'm guessing I will find worn u-joints, maybe hub bearings, steering components and I already know I have brake issues so I'd like to save a dollar wherever possible.

 

I would go with a Spartan only around $200 dollars easy install and comes with a new center pin. Use 85w140 gear oil and it will be quiet, for the rear I had the same issue as you do, I was unfortunate enough to have a factory limited slip so I had to pull it out and install an open carrier so I could run a Spartan locker in it. The Torq locker isn't really stronger that's just a marketing scheme, the small pins in the locker see very little force it is the center pin and teeth on the locker that transfer torque to the rear tires and those are no different on a Torq locker than on any other brand. I have used Lock Rights, Spartans, and Aussie lockers and have never had a problem with any of them, but a Spartan is the best deal in my opinion.