Lift or lockers...can't decide.

[Craig]

Ok, here's the deal. Some bearing in my rearend is nearly shot. I have a ford 8.8" rearend sitting here with 3.73 gears and it's got to go in soon. I want to do a spring over lift but I also want lockers. The thing is, if I install the 8.8, I'll have to reargear the front to match. I figure while I've got it all apart, it would be a lot cheaper to install the ARB locker.
It would be a lot easier to do my spring over while I've got the 8.8 out of the vehicle. But....if I do the spring over, that means I need an SYE kit, cv driveshaft, larger tires and I would still have to regear the front to match the rear so I wouldn't be able to afford the locker. Or, I could just install the 8.8 and put off the spring over for a while. This way I could afford to regear the front and install ARB air lockers both front and rear. The problem with this is I would be creating more work because I would have to weld on spring mounts for a spring under, then later on down the road I would have to weld on new mounts for a spring over. So help me decide...spring over without lockers or spring under with lockers.

I also have a question about welding the axle....If I weld new spring mounts for a spring under, then later on weld on mounts for a spring over, will it damage, weaken or warp the axle in any way? I've been told it's very easy to damage an axle by welding to it. Thanks.

 

[jps4jeep]

Question about high lift jacks

I also have a question about welding the axle....If I weld new spring mounts for a spring under, then later on weld on mounts for a spring over, will it damage, weaken or warp the axle in any way? I've been told it's very easy to damage an axle by welding to it. Thanks.

Yes if you concentrate way too much heat on the same spot for way too long.

Another option would be to do a spring under, and get your locker. this will improve the capability off road. add some TJ flares and increase tire size by an inch and get just a little more clearence for now. All the while save your cash up. Next perform the SOA lift, cut off the old perches, grind smooth and reweld to have theaxle under the spring. also move the shock perches so they are on top of the axle. this will save some cash for a while cause you should be able to reuse the old shocks. get the stearing and driveline in order and some tires and done. one wicked killer rig!

 

[Bounty__Hunter]

Do the locker and regear, hold off on the SOA. It's not that much extra work to do more spring perches down the road.

Why the ARB in the rear? There's a lot of cheaper lockers that are more reliable.

 

[jeepdude832]

do the lift disconect the front drive shaft so you can run the 8.8 until you save money for the front no one will know but you that you are a temporary mall cruiser.

 

[Bounty__Hunter]

Then he won't be able to wheel, as opposed to doing the gears and locker first. Then he can use 4wd while he waits to do the SOA.

 

[Junkpile]

differential questions

It depends on what you'll be doing. My area is filled with mud,sand,and swamps and a lift/tires goes alot further than a locker/regear. It's all needed in the end, but a lift and bigger tires is going to be the more dramatic change in capability. It really isn't any better to have 4 little bitty car tires spinning helplessly in the mud, as opposed to just two.

If you want suggestions..... Ditch the air lockers and get something a little cheaper for the rear. Regear as neccessary. 2.5" SUA and a moderate body lift. Later on when you can invest in the driveline mods and you want to go big, put those 2.5" springs to use with a SOA conversion.

 

[redrooster]

Yeah, forget the Air locker and put in a Lock rite or similar and regear the front.
Perches are relatively cheap, so don't worry about changing them out later. When you weld to the axle tube, weld and inch or so then let it cool for a minute. You can weld an inch on one side then do an inch on the other and then back to the first.

 

[Craig]

Still can't decide but I think I'm leaning more towards lockers and holding off on the lift for now. I already have close to 3" of lift and my 31's fit no problem. I have been thinking about flares but I want the Bushwacker cut outs which I think would look a little odd with only 31's. The flares would stick out further than the tires so I think I'll wait till I do the lift for that. I'm not totally decided yet, who knows, tomorrow I'll probably want the lift instead.

 

[White]

lockers ! Jeeps ride bad enough without a lift. FYI Mike aka StinkyCheeseMan has a SOA and 31s. Looks Nice