Jump to content

Which lockers are you running?


Recommended Posts

On 4/7/2021 at 6:44 PM, zomeizter said:

Right on comrades, gonna grab some from rockauto, is the CV style ones not recommended or do they not fit?

Because no one else answered, I’ve got the ZJ CV axles in my ‘91. They’ve been in there a half-dozen years. Fit is just fine although you might want to knock the ABS tone wheels off.

 

In regards to the later shafts with bigger ujoints, I saw a comment on the facepage not long ago about the ujoints themselves being beefier but less material in the yoke to accommodate the bigger caps means it’s easier to damage the yokes if they fail.

This was actually the same justification that I used for going to CVs. I’ve had to replace more axle shafts than I have axle ujoints. It’s one thing if you catch a worn out joint with slop in the needle bearings, but the ujoints I’ve seen actually fail have cracked and blown apart, usually when a spinning wheel suddenly grabs traction, and the shaft yokes coming together usually just shred themselves when that happens. 
BBF77F14-38D6-423C-92EB-4117B1E5A108.jpeg.fca1980ec7a416e1330982383ff2e659.jpeg

CVs are generally stronger, especially when operating at high angles (full steering lock), and are more comfortable because of smoother power delivery. The major disadvantage is the vulnerability of the rubber boot, especially if where you drive brings them into contact with things; sticks, mud, snow and ice, etc. A secondary disadvantage is they’re less serviceable once they wear out, but the more I get into things the less I care about serviceability and the more I care about performance. The CV shafts are also cheaper to replace when the whole shaft fails, unless you’ve got good access to used parts.

For a daily driver or something that mostly sees road use, I would say the CV is the way to go. Off-road I still lean towards CVs, but now you’ve got more specific usage-case arguments.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

7 hours ago, gogmorgo said:

Because no one else answered, I’ve got the ZJ CV axles in my ‘91. They’ve been in there a half-dozen years. Fit is just fine although you might want to knock the ABS tone wheels off.

 

In regards to the later shafts with bigger ujoints, I saw a comment on the facepage not long ago about the ujoints themselves being beefier but less material in the yoke to accommodate the bigger caps means it’s easier to damage the yokes if they fail.

This was actually the same justification that I used for going to CVs. I’ve had to replace more axle shafts than I have axle ujoints. It’s one thing if you catch a worn out joint with slop in the needle bearings, but the ujoints I’ve seen actually fail have cracked and blown apart, usually when a spinning wheel suddenly grabs traction, and the shaft yokes coming together usually just shred themselves when that happens. 
BBF77F14-38D6-423C-92EB-4117B1E5A108.jpeg.fca1980ec7a416e1330982383ff2e659.jpeg

CVs are generally stronger, especially when operating at high angles (full steering lock), and are more comfortable because of smoother power delivery. The major disadvantage is the vulnerability of the rubber boot, especially if where you drive brings them into contact with things; sticks, mud, snow and ice, etc. A secondary disadvantage is they’re less serviceable once they wear out, but the more I get into things the less I care about serviceability and the more I care about performance. The CV shafts are also cheaper to replace when the whole shaft fails, unless you’ve got good access to used parts.

For a daily driver or something that mostly sees road use, I would say the CV is the way to go. Off-road I still lean towards CVs, but now you’ve got more specific usage-case arguments.

Thanks for the info on the CV shafts gog, I remember when I had a ZJ equipped with these, I gave that thing hell for years and never had to repair or replace them. Like I mentioned earlier, I've already ordered some moly shafts, not sure if they're the big joint ones or not but supposedly are guaranteed for life, so some peace of mind there I reckon... 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

22 hours ago, Pete M said:

day late, dollar short, but my 88 runs spools front and rear.  it is NOT advised.  :(  straight line traction is insane.  everything else sucks.  and I mean everything else.

Haha! I hear ya man, I have buddies who own trucks with spools (or Lincoln lockers) and daily drive them, and replace tires often without any complaints at all...F that! I am installing lunch box lockers in the 'manche, but it's purpose will be for fun off road use, and for pulling my heavy azz mower out of the mud hole that I always forget about :D

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I ran a '91 XJ with 5" of lift, 31s and front and rear LockRights for about 10 years. That thing was a beast off road. The traction was incredible and the auto made it real smooth to control. I could do stuff guys with bigger tires and better axles couldn't do. Probably because I could just leasurly cruze through things other people had to hit full throttle. As great as they were off road, the LockRights were miserable on the street. I didn't mind the clicking and banging, but the torque steer was horrible. Accelerate and it pulled one way, decelerate and it goes the other. It was real easy to do accidental lane changes if you weren't paying attention.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

Spent the weekend upgrading the D30 innards, deleted the CAD and replaced the worn ball joints...

 

Gear lube was milky, I reckon some water got in there who knows when.

image.png.34f352d2cdf1c08265a8b5421c9ba5ef.png

 

Ball joints off, cleaned the axle tubes and installed tube seals.

image.png.d64d8018d095bdab9a58e13d9a0adb0d.png

 

Home made lower ball joint insert spanner socket, worked like a charm.

image.png.89af01c60a902817c8fd746c0329f60e.png

 

Cleaned the housing and gears and installed the carrier with the lunch box locker.

image.png.fd7da28321915b5bc7a809655cddfda3.png

 

Installed shafts, ball joints and hubs. As you can see in the pic, the rotor shields were backwards, doh!

image.png.6617882fc507a41497103d7f7584f332.png

 

 

Covered up and filled with 75w140 Lucas synthetic lube.

image.png.3e389802c566b89934f1547ec698658e.png

 

 

CAD components removed, I got the 4x4 indicator light working with an XJ TC switch, had to shim it to get it right.

image.png.5ff7e8352a42ff73faa34eb3a56820fb.png

 

 

 

 

image.png

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'd like to chime in for a slightly related question if that's ok. I just installed new axles, D30 and 8.8. Both have a locker in them, not sure which they came that way. I have not had 4wd in this truck or ever had lockers. I don't hear the tick sounding from either axle. When I turn sharp every once in a while it'll make a semi loud clunk. Is that the locker? 

 

I hope so cause I'm worried what could be causing this

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 minutes ago, derf said:

It depends on the locker.  A picture of the differential with the cover off would help identify which locker it is.

I have to replace the axle seals soon so I will get a photo then and report back.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

8 hours ago, rylee144 said:

Finally got around to it. 

20210508_125247.jpg

20210508_130301.jpg

I can't tell what brand it is but that's a "lunchbox" locker.  It's a spring loaded automatic locker.

 

It will clunk as you go around corners.  That is normal.  Different brands sound different.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Dudes, I managed to get the Spartan locker in the 8.8, was kind of a pain in the butt but it's in. I thought I was gonna have to cut the spider gear cross shaft since the screw pin broke upon removal. My patience was tested removing the broken piece holding the cross shaft to the carrier, I used a 90 degree pick to turn the bastard until it came out. I also learned that you have to install the locker halves and the axle shafts in a certain order so that one can manage to get the C-clips on the axle shafts. Time to hit the woods!

image.png.5950d6defd328a6372115aa4af44ee6d.png

image.png.5248828bcce5a1ed146e33b245abd2d3.png

image.png.9891f73bbaaaf10cf25992b1891c55aa.png

 

Coat of black paint on the cover and filled with 75w140 synthetic gear oil to give it hell...

image.png.de9f67865edd33e6ca93a0b90c3fa80f.png

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share

×
×
  • Create New...