Two questions here.  I just do real easy wheeling...no rockcrawling...only when I'm riding with someone else.  I have a '94 YJ.  But I'd like to upgrade my Jeep to give it a little better offroad capability just in case.  The first issue is whether to add a locker in the rear.  I've heard that adding the famous Detroit in a Dana 35 is just asking to break an axle.  Is there something "milder"?  I was looking at the Detroit Truetrac which is really a limited slip but am unsure if that would give much more performance over my OEM Trak-Lok.

Second question...the front axle.  I was considering adding a Posi-Lok just to increase reliability but then several people mentioned installing TJ front axles.  It sounds like this causes the front driveshft to turn all the time...I don't know if this is a big deal or not (apparently not for TJs).  I also seem to recall someone mentioning having trouble with the seals in doing the YJ to TJ front axle conversion.  Anyone out there have an opinion as to the best way to go?  Again my goal is reliability but obviously I don't want anything weaker than stock, either.

Thanks for your help,

Rob  

rob i have a 94 yj and i would recomend the posi loc kit it has worked for me on this and other trucks as well as for your locker lol well i use the lincon locker in the front non in the rear welding up the spiders isent the best thing but it works very well for just weekend playing and it was cheap i tried the axel swap but was able to make it work the seal surface is a diferant size and causes leaks

ron  

I would avoid welding the spiders if you can. Just about anything is better than the stock LS so yea the Trutrac would be a good choice. Any gear type limited slip is going to be a really good choice.

Depending on your budget and needs you may consider an Aussie Locker. Its a full automatic locker that drops into your carrier. They back it with an unconditional any tire any motor guarantee and they stand behind it... just a thought.  

I agree with the editor. Go with the trutracs. You can always put in a front hub conversion from warn to avoid the consant spinning from a posi(or locker in the front). But I ran my YJ across country years ago with a detroit ez locker in the front dana 30 with no problems. I really never had problems with my front axle(I did upgrade the shafts and U-joints although). I did end up breaking my rear d35 running a full detroit superior gear locker about 3 years ago. But I think that was because the housing just started to give way. Stay below 33 inch tires on the stock axles and you will be ok. You go bigger, expect breakage. good luck  

Ok...thanks for your advice guys.  Just to be sure...it is okay to  run something like a TrueTrac Limited slip in the YJ Dana 30 with the axle disconnect.  What exactly is the issue?  I've read reports of people with TJs running them and they're very happy with its performance.  What is the difference between the TJ and YJ (how does the TJ get around eliminating the axle disconnect so stuff like front lockers and limited slips don't seem to be an issue?).  The only reason I ask is that I remember reading somewhere (but naturally forget where) that the TrueTrac wasn't recommended for the YJ Dana 30 with the axle disconnect (but they do sell them for the YJ).  Obviously locking hubs would solve the issue but I'd prefer not to invest that much if I didn't have to  (at that point start looking at upgrading axles) but I just do light wheeling and am looking for just a little more capability than stock...but not if it's going to cause any problems.  How big a deal is it for the front driveshaft to be spinning all the time?  Unfortunately most of my driving is on the road and it is a long trip to any wheeling so road manners and reliabilty are pretty important.

Thanks for your help and advice.

Rob  

Not have lock out hub or ability to have front diff at "rest" in 2wd is a big deal. Not so much from a wear point but from a MPG point. Figure on about a 10% MPG loss and more in cold weather from added drag. I would not buy a 4x4 that could not disengaged front diff unless it was strictly a off road vehicle or was a true fulltime 4x4.(full time Tcase)  

Thanks for the info and advice.  Nothing's ever easy, eh?

Rob