Rear Diffs on Liberty "sport"

KJ in CO · **Joined:** Thu Apr 09, 2009 4:06 pm **Posts:** 346

(Newbie here) Some liberties come with a limited slip or "trac loc" rear differential. I was at the dealer to get oil to change the diff lubricant and the parts employee told me by looking at my VIN whether or not I have trac loc. So, turns out that I DO NOT :shock:

. What should I do to help out my rear diff? I am thinking either swapping out the diff or putting an air locker system? What would be the best way to go? Are there other options or should I worry about it and do anything at all? [/i]

daspes · **Posted:** Thu Apr 09, 2009 9:25 pm

Not many options...

Detroit Tru-Trac
Powertrax No Slip
Aussie Locker
Detroit
ARB

djui5 · **Joined:** Tue Jun 17, 2008 1:38 am **Posts:** 536

Did you actually look on the axle itself? Look at your rear axle, there is a plate on it that says either "open" or "trac loc".

jeepetorp · **Posted:** Fri Apr 10, 2009 8:42 am

Or, if that plate is unreadeble, jack the rear axel, put the shift stick in N and turn the rear wheel by hand. If the other wheel turns the same way, you have the trac loc. If the other wheel turns the opposit way , you have the open diff.

Kugellager · **Posted:** Fri Apr 10, 2009 4:27 pm

KJ in CO wrote:

(Newbie here) Some liberties come with a limited slip or "trac loc" rear differential. I was at the dealer to get oil to change the diff lubricant and the parts employee told me by looking at my VIN whether or not I have trac loc. So, turns out that I DO NOT :shock:

. What should I do to help out my rear diff? I am thinking either swapping out the diff or putting an air locker system? What would be the best way to go? Are there other options or should I worry about it and do anything at all? [/i]

Mine is an 2005 6-speed sport and had open differentials. I don't think the basic sport came wth anything else in 2005 though.

I now have ARB air lockers in both the front and rear of my KJ. I like having the open differential option for every day use. Then when I go into the mountains (or really bad CO snow) I can pop one or both lockers in as I need them.

John
];')

RED_KJ_666 · **Posted:** Fri Apr 10, 2009 5:06 pm

My VIN decodes as No Trac-Loc and The Axle tag says it has Trak-Loc but mine was replaced due to an Accident. Stealership recently payed off the entire loan for me to avoid being Sued Free KJ OH YEAH BABY.

InCommando · **Posted:** Fri Apr 10, 2009 7:21 pm

Kugellager wrote:

KJ in CO wrote:

(Newbie here) Some liberties come with a limited slip or "trac loc" rear differential. I was at the dealer to get oil to change the diff lubricant and the parts employee told me by looking at my VIN whether or not I have trac loc. So, turns out that I DO NOT :shock:

. What should I do to help out my rear diff? I am thinking either swapping out the diff or putting an air locker system? What would be the best way to go? Are there other options or should I worry about it and do anything at all? [/i]

Mine is an 2005 6-speed sport and had open differentials. I don't think the basic sport came wth anything else in 2005 though.

I now have ARB air lockers in both the front and rear of my KJ. I like having the open differential option for every day use. Then when I go into the mountains (or really bad CO snow) I can pop one or both lockers in as I need them.

John
];')

Trac-loc was an option on any of the trim levels, even sport. Think of the different subgroups as trim levels instead of equipment levels and you will be pretty close.

Factory trac-locs have historically had a bad rep. Their bias levels are set pretty low & they don't last by most reports. Just take it as you have the easier-to-upgrade open carrier & slap an Aussie in it.

No KJ's had anything but an open front from the factory.

USAFCOP · **Posted:** Fri Apr 10, 2009 9:17 pm

I would go with ARB air locker. I have loved mine for the last 6yrs.

jsc7002 · **Posted:** Fri Apr 10, 2009 9:45 pm

For the front I highly recommend the Detroit TrueTrac, and for the rear the Detroit Locker if you go off-roading a good amount or if you dont mind changing your driving habits just a little, or if you have the money ARB is good.

djui5 · **Joined:** Tue Jun 17, 2008 1:38 am **Posts:** 536

USAFCOP wrote:

I would go with ARB air locker. I have loved mine for the last 6yrs.

Did you get the tank/compressor too? How much was the whole set up?

KJ in CO · **Joined:** Thu Apr 09, 2009 4:06 pm **Posts:** 346

Thanks for all the help. What is this "Aussie" you speak of? Ain't familiar with that term. Is it possible to put posi-trac in the rear axle of a kj? I have a 1983 cj5 that was handed down to me with posi front and rear diffs. Is that a a choice for the kj at all? Just wanna make sure I explore all options.

jsc7002 · **Posted:** Sat Apr 11, 2009 2:33 am

KJ in CO wrote:

Thanks for all the help. What is this "Aussie" you speak of? Ain't familiar with that term. Is it possible to put posi-trac in the rear axle of a kj? I have a 1983 cj5 that was handed down to me with posi front and rear diffs. Is that a a choice for the kj at all? Just wanna make sure I explore all options.

it is a lunchbox locker like powertrax and lockrite.

full carrier replacements are much stronger than lunchbox lockers

for the rear C8.25 you can do:
Detroit Locker (DL)- full carrier replacement
Detroit TrueTrac (DTT)- full carrier replacement
ARB- full carrier replacement
Aussie Locker
Powertrax No-Slip

front D30a:
DTT- full carrier replacement
ARB- full carrier replacement

InCommando · **Posted:** Sat Apr 11, 2009 5:37 am

Lunch box or "drop-in" lockers are popular because you do not have to mess with your gears at all and generally they can be installed by anyone who can do a brake job. And the whole job runs around $300 an axle.

Aussie lockers are widely considered the best of the drop-in lockers. www.offroadlockers.com

Full carrier lockers like the Detroit locker are nice because they give you a stronger case & internals. That being said, breaking the case on the 8.25 is pretty rare ( unheard of?) Most people do the full case swap like the Detroit Locker or ARB in conjunction with a gear swap.

Do you know what kind of Limited Slip Differential,or LSD, ( posi is actually a GM term ) the CJ5 had? The front, at least, was swapped in.

KJ in CO · **Joined:** Thu Apr 09, 2009 4:06 pm **Posts:** 346

Seems as though I do have an open rear end. I jacked the rear end up and the tires spun opposite ways. Knowing that, I also have to take into consideration that this is also my daily driver at the same time, my toy on the weekends. With that in mind, what is my best option for on and offroad usage? This is my first real 4x4 vehicle and have not had any experience with differentials, all the help you guys give me is greatly appreciated. Also, is there anyone in Denver Metro area that wants to take a run? A buddy and I ran SlaughterHouse Gulch 2 weeks ago(the same weekend I put my lift and tires on!)

USAFCOP · **Posted:** Sat Apr 11, 2009 8:04 pm

djui5 wrote:

USAFCOP wrote:

I would go with ARB air locker. I have loved mine for the last 6yrs.

Did you get the tank/compressor too? How much was the whole set up?

I really do not remember. ARB does not require a tank, the compressor has a small tank as part of the assembly.

JeepinJarhead03 · **Posted:** Mon Apr 13, 2009 12:03 am

Quote:

Do you know what kind of Limited Slip Differential,or LSD, ( posi is actually a GM term ) the CJ5 had? The front, at least, was swapped in.

Powr Lok's or Trak Locs if i recall correctly

i always confuse the trak loc and trac lok's one is a ford product that was in mustangs but I do want to say it's a different LSD than what came with our 8.25's but that's a question for someone who doesn't get the 2 letter differences between the fords and the jeep LSD's confused :lol:

MidnightLiberty · **Joined:** Mon Oct 08, 2007 6:42 pm **Posts:** 270

Edit :In my opinion here are the ideal options in order from left to right based of amount of traction provided: For the rear you can choose a Detroit True Trac, Detroit Locker, or ARB Air Locker. Front is DTT or ARB.

JeepinJarhead03 · **Posted:** Mon Apr 13, 2009 12:24 am

MidnightLiberty wrote:

For the rear you have a Detroit True Trac, ARB Air Locker, or Detroit Locker. Front is DTT or ARB.

someone had asked about CJ5's earlier in the thread if you were responding to my information

if not, ignore me

MidnightLiberty · **Joined:** Mon Oct 08, 2007 6:42 pm **Posts:** 270

I was referring to the best options for the Liberty.

JeepinJarhead03 · **Posted:** Mon Apr 13, 2009 12:56 am

my bad, didn't mean to interrupt

Rear Diffs on Liberty "sport"

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