2001 TJ Front Differential

Yes, you have a D30 in the front. Although the diff is free to spin all the time, it isn't a problem with limited slip or automatic lockers as the propshaft can rotate freely.

Ahh.. Well thanks Dave. That helps!

Thanks Bill,

My buddy in Las Vegas just bought a 75 CJ5 with, get this, 34,000+ orig miles. He found it forsale in Prince, UT. He's got it home now and it's a winter project. Maybe I can get it from him.. LOL. And sell my TJ LOL.

Back to the drawing board. Lets see, tru track front & back.

Andy - OH, he paid under 3K for that CJ5. Pretty good shape to boot. I'm not jealous.

Contrary to what a certain non-TJ owner has told you, you absolutely... absolutely... cannot tell a locker or limited slip differential is in the front Dana 30 axle when you're in 2wd. Without manual hubs, I first had a limited slip differential in my front Dana 30 and it was totally transparent in 2wd, you could not tell it was there. Then, again without manual hubs, I installed a Powertrax locker in my front Dana 30. Again, in 2wd, I could not detect its presence. Finally, I installed Warn manual hubs on the front axle about six months ago and I run around with them unlocked. There is no difference in how my front locker feels between when the front hubs are locked vs. unlocked.

The reason for this is because when you're in 2wd, there is no torque being sent to the front locker and automatic lockers require torque to firmly lock them up. Yes automatic lockers are normally locked... but without torque to hold them FIRMLY locked as would happen in 4wd, they unlock so easily to go around corners etc. when the TJ is in 2wd that they don't bind at all like some people erroneously think they do. With manual hubs or without manual hubs.

Jerry

Hey Andy, Thinking is good, but not this time :-) ARB is not the answer to everything, especially for the front. Just take it out of four-wheel-drive! Front locker... gone (any brand), transparent!

-- JimG

80' CJ-7 258 CID 35" BFG MT on 15x10 Centerlines D44 Rear, Dana 30 Front. SOA 4.56 Gears, LockRight F&R Dana 300 w/4:1 & Currie twin sticks Warn X8000i w/ dual batteries

Hey Jerry, good explanation! Thanks.

I get conflicting information from even the companies that sell limited slip and lockers. I was trying to think of a good setup for front and back. I like manual hubs just for mileage, wear and flat towing like I do. I'm one of those that drives on -road long distances in the Jeep and then want it to take on aggressive trails off- road. Maybe an ARB in the rear and limited slip in the front.

Thanks

Andy

Yep, I understand now. Maybe it's I wanna a Rubicon Jeep syndrome that's come over me! LOL

four-wheel-drive!

Andy, I must not have explained the front axle that well... there's no benefit to installing a front limited slip differential up front over an automatic locker unless you wheel on off-camber (sloping to the side) icy or mud-covered trails. For most wheeling, a front-locker has significant benefits over a front limited slip differential. I've had both in my front axle and only installed the front LSD for a few years by erroneously thinking a front-mounted locker would be a bad decision for my TJ. The front-locker I have up front now may as well not even be there until I shift into 4wd.

Jerry

Jerry, OK.. Thanks again. I appreciate it.

absolutely...

I have a CJ with a front locker, and I have not unlocked my hubs in several years. Basically, the CJ with the hubs locked is the same as the TJ all the time. I have no steering issues at all, but at sea level within 20 miles of the ocean in Southern California, I have no weather related issues anyway for about 300 days a year. And when I do have weather related issues, it is either too damn hot to go outside, or it is raining. Of these two, the rain is a more severe problem, and it is not problem at all for the locker.

Ironically, when flat towing, you might want to consider leaving that front axle locked. The axle will turn the driveshaft, which in turn will turn the tcase, which in turn will throw oil up onto the output shaft bearings of the rear drive shaft and help to keep it lubircated. Flat towing a D300 tcase is particularly affected by the lack of oil on the rear output shaft. You don't have the D300 tcase, but the NP231 in your TJ has "locked" hubs all the time, and yo are getting ready to remove the locking stuff in favor of allowing you to unlock them. I am only suggesting that perhaps you want to think twice here ...

Andy, I have Detroit Truetrac LSDs in my TJ, front and rear, and they work great. They help a lot with traction and I never notice them on the street except, maybe, during a real tight turn on pavement the front tires tend to squeal just a little. I would not hesitate to recommend them for on and off road applications.

I am so glad I'm getting information from everybody, thank you. I saw that statement somewhere. Didn't think about too much but it had to do with manual hubs. Maybe Warn's web site. Anyway, I understand what you mean.

I'll get it right..

absolutely...

Hey Jim, thanks for the info. I remember you stating that in a post before.

Fun..

The oil pump in the 231is driven by the rear output shaft, so installing locking hubs on the front axle wouldn't adversely affect the oiling capability when flat towing....

• * * Matt Macchiarolo
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So you are saying you live in a paradise? I'm not planning to get manual hubs any time soon. I'm just toying with the idea of stuffing something into the front to make it a little better off road. Thanks for your reply.

Andy

Get yourself a locker for the front, it is the best traction device you will find.

Sorry to butt in, if you put a locker in the front, unless you install a manual hub kit I'd advise you to do an ARB or Electrac which you can disengage. Having driven only one TJ with a fully locked (Lock-Rite) front end on the street my experience is limited, but I was not impressed with the on-road characteristics.