I'm sure this is a stupid question... if I regear my rear end do I need to re gear the front to match?

I'm also wondering about those "lunchbox" lockers.. My truck is my dd so I don't want to install something I'll regret when I spen 85% of my time on pavement.

 

yes, IF you plan on using 4wd.......you will destroy expensive parts if you don't....

 

Yeah thats what I thought, but none of the places I looked seemed to outright say it.

 

no not IF he plans to use 4wd... if he plans to drive the truck at all! The 07s have a live-axle front, which means if he has different gear ratios his wheels will be spinning at different speeds while he drives, which is very bad.

A lot of people like lunchbox lockers because of their affordability. I don't think they are bad in a daily driver, but you need to get used to having them in. Lots of people here run them in the front diff with very few problems on the street.

 

after putting in the aussie locker up front, aka a "lunch box locker" i wouldn't do it without manual hubs..

if you have the money i would get a selectable one.. make it easier to drive on the road, give your tires a little longer life. and from what i have heard a locker is bad in the snow so being able to disengage it would be nice

 

Why wouldn't you do it with a live axle?


I can't even tell mines there when I'm not in 4wd.....


BTW they don't make a selectable for the front....

 

I was thinking of running the box in the back. Most of the time I use 2wd, only really need 4x4 when it's muddy which isn't often lately and in winter to get moving through the nasty 4 or 5 foot drifts etc.

 

the newer rangers have live axles so the front end is always spinning and you can feel that the front tires are both locked when your on the street. it makes the steering wheel heavy to turn and you lose some turning radius I believe. If you had manual hubs then you can unlock the front axles and you wouldn't feel any of it. Plus your gas mileage might go up. (not much but I figure you'd get some)

 

You're wrong about that. The locker must have torque applied for it to lock. With a live axle the axle still spins but there is not power applied to it. I have a live axle and I have the aussie and its completely invisible when in 2wd........


I'm going to assume that you've never actually driven a live axle vehicle with an automatic locker?

 

I'm not interested in manual hubs I like being able to flip the switch while moving. SURPRISE you're offroad. I just don't like the open differential. Never had one before and didn't think it was going to be too bad, but I miss the traction from a l/s.

 

the part about the locker was added after the original post....his orgional post was just on the gears....and yes if the front is different geared than the rear, it wont work...

 

i must have done something wrong with my aussie, because if i have the hubs locked in. on dry ground.. i KNOW its there, ask anyone who has seen me do it..

but Ox does make one, i think
27 spline D35? correct?

 

You must've done something wrong then because the locker is designed to unlock when there is no power applied to it. Did you not measure the tolerances specified in the installation instructions with a feeler gauge when you installed yours? If its out of the tolerance range it might not be disengaging all the way.


The OX selectable is not for the 98-up model D35. There are other 27-spline D35 axles that do not share the same carrier as the 98-up ranger. A good example is the D35 TTB from the older rangers. You do not have the option of a selectable locker for the 98-up ranger.