McGXJ

Hey all, I believe this is the right place for a question like this...

I have a 99 XJ, 4.5" RE short arm, running 32s on a D30 front and C8.25 rear.

1. Would like to gear up to 4.56-I am thinking in the future I might go taller and bigger on rubber, thats why I wasn't thinking 4.10. I was looking at Yukon and AlloyUSA. Is one better than other or is there better brand?

2. I was looking at locking both axles. I live in MD and we get snow here and there. Looking at Aussie (great price), ARB, and OX. Suggestions?

Thanks for helping a Newbie!

Atmos

you need to do some more research on lockers

4.56 is a good ratio for 33's-35's with auto trans. 4.88's have pros and cons as well
yukon is top quality. also very expensive. there are other budget option gears.

lockers:
aussie- that's a lunchbox. it's gonna make noise. bad for snow. cheap and easy way to lock an axle. I'm running it up front
ARB- over rated and over priced IMO. plus you have to deal with air lines and a compressor
Eaton E locker. good stuff top quality selectable battery power locker
Detroit/ Zip Locker- auto lockers. they lock up when you hit the gas. Detroit is what I'm running in the rear. I've never heard of one breaking. zip locker is made by yukon and wouldve been my second choice. plus full case lockers are much stronger than lunch boxes

there's ton's more info. we need to know your budget, terrain, etc.

Atmos

anyone feel free to correct or add to my info. I was just giving him a short overview

CrawlnCoupe

both gearsets should be just fine, i'd install the one you can find thats cheaper. as far as lockers, personally i'd run a spartan in the rear and a ox or e locker in the front. if you plan on 35's, this might not be be a bad time to upgrade the d30 to 30 spline alloy shafts and some ox or atleast spicer 5-760 u joints.

Lowrange2

If you can afford it... Go with a selectable. I prefer the E-locker as well.

Lowrange2

Yeah, that's backwards. Have you ever run a lunch box locker in the front?

CrawlnCoupe

Backwards how? And yes I currently have a Spartan in the front and don't care for it. I spend 90% of my time on the trail in 2wd so I'm not fighting my locker. So I'm making the switch to the e locker soon. My rear lunchbox however is amazing and suits me just fine

Lowrange2

Interesting. My opinion is completely opposite.

In 2wd any lunchbox locker I've ever had was completely silent up front. In 4wd it was always predictable and wasn't difficult to fight.

On the other hand, Any lunch box locker I've ever had in the back SUCKED! Not very predictable. I'd rather have a selectable in the rear and a lunch box locker up front. In 2wd they'd both be invisible and on the trail they'd both be spot on.

Now, after all that spill... I run full carrier detroits front and rear. I intend to go with a selectable in the rear sooner or later.

Atmos

x2 lowrange I wouldnt lunchbox the rear either

McGXJ

Ok…thanks for everyone’s input…I think I have it narrowed down from reading on here, JF, and some other ones…
NOW:
99 XJ D30/C8.25
4.5” SA / 32” GY MTR
ADDING:
JCR Front winch w/ Smitty X20 12000 winch (will eventually go synthetic)
JCR Rear tire swing
JCR Skids (TCase / Gas Tank)
All above Line-X’d
Superior 4.56 Gears (after 32s wear out going to 33s) ***Want more power/get up and go on road and off, not too worried about MPG, otherwise would have bought a Civic***
Front upgrade to RCV 30 spline CV Joint Axle shafts(http://www.rcvperformance.com/product-details-axles.aspx?sku=CVJ30-30T)
ARB Lockers front and rear (with the bigger Compressor that can inflate tires too)

How’s that sound?

CrawlnCoupe

expensive, should be a badass rig. not sure on the cv shafts, never heard anything about them

McGXJ

Thanks for the input...I got a few more months overseas, so I am going to buy month by month and install when I get home. Still going to be a pretty penny haha.

Atmos

RCV's are just gonna be way overkill. chromos will work fine but if you're going to invest that much I say just swap two different axles
seriously consider those Eaton E-lockers and just get on board air separately. either way look into upgrading your alternator and wires
and go synthetic cable right from the start
and get some 35" meats and a crawl box!

McGXJ

Got it, can our XJs do D44 (F) and D60 (R), or does it have to be a Ford 8.8?

nowhres

Doesn't by any means HAVE to be an 8.8