Locker for the KJ, whats the most popular?

02 Renny · **Joined:** Thu Dec 01, 2005 5:11 pm **Posts:** 13

Okay, getting my Frankenlift, boulder bars and 245/75-16 MTR's April 20th, next I wanted to get a locker installed, my 2002 Renegade 4X4 has Trac-Loc but I have 81,000 miles and I can tell its pretty much worn out at this point. What locker is most popular for the KJ?

pixeldzn · **Posted:** Tue Apr 11, 2006 6:53 pm

powertrax (lunchbox locker) by far, unless you wanna move up in dollars and put in an arb air locker.

JJsTJ · **Posted:** Tue Apr 11, 2006 6:59 pm

Ditto Powertrax, but be warned that it is strange sucker and makes noises at strange times that might make you think your diff is going to come apart. My wifes KJ, "KuJo", has the Powertrax and it is fun to drive for sure. I will probably go w/ an ARB in my KJ once it gets the SFA treatment.

jason thompson · **Posted:** Tue Apr 11, 2006 7:31 pm

dont know about popular in KJ's but as far as tough and reliable for auto i would go detroit soft locker
for selectable i would go ARB i think its the only one offered for the 8 3/8" any way
i have an ARB in the front of my TJ and it rules all

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Tue Apr 11, 2006 7:34 pm

JJsKJ wrote:

Ditto Powertrax, but be warned that it is strange sucker and makes noises at strange times that might make you think your diff is going to come apart. My wifes KJ, "KuJo", has the Powertrax and it is fun to drive for sure. I will probably go w/ an ARB in my KJ once it gets the SFA treatment.

Ditto on the noise. I had heard that it was quite but when I got it in, I found out it does make alot of noise. Im afriad its not good on the rest of the powertrain to take that kind of beating, but man it makes a difference off road. Really the only time I hear it is when I start to turn and Im giving it just enough gas to where it stays locked in, then when I let off it will POP out. Also the tires will squeal if you stay hard in the gas when turning and pulling out from a stop, I think thats kinda cool though. :lol:

Also, I live on a big hill that has a turn about half way up and I find if I let off the gas right before I go into it then gas it out of it, it will unlock and I get no tire squeal. But if I give it to much gas before the turn it will stay locked in and squeall the entire way around the turn. I know this is going to kill my rear tires b/c our hill is concrete and it make nice black marks everytime I come up the hill. There is also the normal drivetrain CLUNK that is worsened by the powertrax. If you are very, VERY easy on the gas you will not get it, but in slow traffic its hard not to do it when you give it gas and let off.

TheChucklesStart · **Posted:** Tue Apr 11, 2006 7:40 pm

The Power trax is a great locker, but be warned, it doesn't like the manual tranny in the KJ. Works great for the Auto though.

Troysterr · **Posted:** Tue Apr 11, 2006 9:23 pm

In some previous posts, camper and others said the Powertrax is pretty difficult to install if you have Trak-Loc. If you're going to go through that much trouble anyway, there are some interesting gear-based LSDs available.

See my parts link below for more ideas.

the1jferg · **Posted:** Tue Apr 11, 2006 10:04 pm

Hey fella's, yall beat me to death when I said the No-slip made noise...Hypocrisy :lol:

Renny 02, If you are going to keep the KJ forever and money is no option, Get a pushbutton locker. If you do, you really should replace some parts (bearings & stuff) in there since you have 81K.

If you still want to keep it forever and spend only the money for a powertrax and can get used to it. Less parts replaced.

0311_DoC · **Posted:** Tue Apr 11, 2006 11:00 pm

I thought I read on here a while back, that you cant put a locker on a 06 because of that ESP thing. true or false ???? or what are my options?

camper · **Posted:** Tue Apr 11, 2006 11:58 pm

part no. 92-0382-2925...powertrax no-slip locker for the chrysler 8 1/4 inch - 29 spline axles with trac loc limited slip carrier....remember to specify the "no-slip" design....there's also a less refined design called a lock-rite....both are richmond gear products.....you want the "no-slip"

liberty no-slip

the clutch packs in the trac loc require a recess in the carrier behind the side gears....the clutch packs are spring loaded and mine were a challenge to remove....if you have the open (non limited slip) carrier, there's a different part no.....

I've had mine just over a year now and have driven it long distance interstate and off-road trails....it works great....it chirps a tire in a tight turn but it doesn't cause me any distress.....and it's affordable....

02 Renny · **Joined:** Thu Dec 01, 2005 5:11 pm **Posts:** 13

Thanks for that Steve...the Powertrax no-slip is sounding good for me. Wow this site is great for info. THANKS!!

LostRenegade · **Posted:** Wed Apr 12, 2006 9:41 pm

Yes, the Powertrax No-Slip is great and easy to install if you have the open diff. However, listen to the warning about sound. Mine makes a loud pop and sometimes jolts the KJ a bit. It's getting a little better, something must be wearing down. It scares my wife each time it happens. She thinks I hit something when it pops.

Tokyojoe · **Posted:** Wed Apr 12, 2006 10:33 pm

Boy, do I want the ARB!

0311_DoC · **Posted:** Wed Apr 12, 2006 10:51 pm

0311_DoC wrote:

I thought I read on here a while back, that you cant put a locker on a 06 because of that ESP thing. true or false ???? or what are my options?

Does anybody know the answer to my question?

oldhockeyvb · **Posted:** Thu Apr 13, 2006 12:13 am

I went to powertrax website but they don't say. They do list a phone number to call-
800-578-1020
Give them a call and they should be able to tell you

DaveKJ02 · **Posted:** Thu Apr 13, 2006 12:16 am

Tokyojoe wrote:

Boy, do I want the ARB!

Me too! That is my next buy....unless I cant resist a new bumper. Then again, once I'm locked, I'm sure I'll need a new bumper soon after anyway. :twisted:

When I first joined the board, I seem to remember a thread of somebody getting a group buy together but now I cant find the thread. I wonder what kind of deal they got? Maybe it was another board?

Anybody know what the install is like for the ARB? I can definately handle the OBA part, just dont know if the pumpkin is something I want to take on.

kickit_in4wheel · **Posted:** Thu Apr 13, 2006 1:25 am

I'm sure I'd be thrilled with a powertrax, but with as much highway driving as I do, I have decided to save up and wait as long as possible and then eventually go with the ARB air locker. Too bad I don't see this happening for like another year.

Rick

TheChucklesStart · **Posted:** Thu Apr 13, 2006 5:28 pm

When I had my ARB installed, both of the shops that said they could do it (a transmission shop and the off-road shop) both said that for them, it was an all day job.

Also, you have to be able to set the back-spacing. I think that required special tools and you need to know what this is and its spec. It seemed very daunting to me.

Dirty Silver KJ · **Posted:** Thu Apr 13, 2006 11:41 pm

0311_DoC wrote:

I thought I read on here a while back, that you cant put a locker on a 06 because of that ESP thing. true or false ???? or what are my options?

Does anybody know the answer to my question?

I can't say I've researched this but I see no reason a locker could not be installed with ESP as the ESP senses wheelspin and then applies brakes as needed to the individual wheels as required and also will use the engine management to reduce power if needed. When the rear diff is "locked" via ARB (or whatever) no wheelspin will occur on that axle so no corrections will be needed but the unlocked front will still benefit from the ESP. ESP is of course never fully deactivated only reduced allowing more slip when "switched off" or in 4WD LO. I do want to learn more about this system (have service manual on CD ordered), then I could give a more definitive answer. I am very impressed with the ESP driving offroad in my KJ and unless I get into a lot more serious situations I'm not sure a locked diff would be needed - time will tell. The ESP was a definite selling point for me though on my '06 KJ over a new still in stock '05 KJ (please, hope nobody takes this as a cut to '05s as I think all KJs are great and underappreciated by most people that don't own a KJ). I hope this helps and would also suggest a call to ARB or whatever manufacturer for a verification by their research people (not just a sales rep's opinion).

Mike

Locker for the KJ, whats the most popular?

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