4hi vs 4lo

[sgtsandman]

@00t444e of the ones you have, is there a preference? Also I totally don't understand about the front, I mean, if you have lockers of any type, you're putting both front/back, right? Are you saying you can run ratcheting in the rear and lockable (selectable) in the front? And why do you not like running open diff in the back on the street? Yes pls post vid. And sorry if I am dense about what you said.

It seems like you wouldn't put lockers in just the rear or just the front, or are you saying because of the front/rear being bound together by the xfr case that you can only put them rear? That seems counter intuitive but what do I know, nothing.

I got a lot of reading to do and I keep asking the sometimes idiotic questions. The thing to be careful is whatever manufacturer you read theirs is always the best so that's typical ad hype I ignore.

This is a deep rabbit hole and I have a feeling it's going be a long time before I even determine what to do let alone do it.

If you are only going to put a locker in just one axle, it is better to put it in the rear one. If I remember correctly, you are asking questions for the 1997. So putting a locker in the front is a viable option. The TTB axles can take it. Axle bind is more of a problem in the front because the need to turn adding more stress but it has been and can be done. The Dana 35 SLA axles on the other hand, tend to break half shafts if a locker is put them them. I wouldn't put more than a gear driven limited slip in an SLA unless you plan on bringing spare half shafts and the tools to swap the broken one out for a new one.

Driveline bind is a thing but way less of a thing on a trail, dirt road, or gravel road. As long as the tires can slip, bind isn't a problem. Hard packed dirt can be like being on a paved road sometimes. So, one can't ever say it would never be a problem.

 

[Curious Hound]

@00t444e of the ones you have, is there a preference? Also I totally don't understand about the front, I mean, if you have lockers of any type, you're putting both front/back, right? Are you saying you can run ratcheting in the rear and lockable (selectable) in the front? And why do you not like running open diff in the back on the street? Yes pls post vid. And sorry if I am dense about what you said.

It seems like you wouldn't put lockers in just the rear or just the front, or are you saying because of the front/rear being bound together by the xfr case that you can only put them rear? That seems counter intuitive but what do I know, nothing.

I got a lot of reading to do and I keep asking the sometimes idiotic questions. The thing to be careful is whatever manufacturer you read theirs is always the best so that's typical ad hype I ignore.

This is a deep rabbit hole and I have a feeling it's going be a long time before I even determine what to do let alone do it.

Exactly what @00t444e sais. You can have any combination of lockers, LSD or open front or rear, independently of each other. Only the gearing has to match.

One more thing I'll add. Sometimes, when on the trail, having both diffs locked can make steering difficult. The lovked rear tries to push the vehicle straight. I will sometimes minimize that by disengaging one front hub. It seems to help some. And I still have positive 3-wheel drive because the front locker engages and sends power to the side where the hub is still engaged. That saves some stress on the front axle u-joints when making tight turns, which is common on offroad trails that I drive.