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Jeep Project CJ-7

An ongoing Budgeted Rebuild/Build up of a Rock
Crawling Machine.

Offroaders Guide to Gearing up for Offroad
From Basic Equipment to Well Equipped.  An extensive list guide to help you prepare your vehicle for the offroad.


Trailering Safety and Trailer Hitch Information


Off-Road Truck Driving Techniques and Safety

25 Top To Do Tips Before Going Offroad
 

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Rausch Creek
Off-Road Park

 

Jeep Central
From Jeep History to Tech Specs and Projects.  This section is all about Jeeps.
Jeep Technical Info
Engines
Transmissions
Transfercases
Axles
Engine Swaps

Installing 23,000 Volt Offroad Lights


Onboard Air
Converting a York
AC Compressor
to Pump Air

What are HID Lights?

Onboard Air
Converting a York
AC Compressor
to Pump Air

Warn 9500i Winch Installation

Warn X8000i
Winch Installation

 

HEI Ignition
Installation & Review

Lockers, Limited Slips &
other Differentials Explained

 

 

 

Wheeling in the Valley of the Ferns

1.jpg (70086 bytes)
Tellico North Carolina


Paragon Adventure Park
Rock Krawl

Thousands more photos here..»

 
 

 

 

 

Lunchbox Locker - Automatic Lockers
Lockers, Limited Slips, Differentials
and the sport  of Offroading.

An Overview of Standard Carriers, Positraction & Limited Slips,
Locking Differentials, Spools and Mini-Spools

 
   

 

 

Lunchbox Locker - A "Lunchbox" locker (or drop-in locker) is a locker mechanism that is designed to fit into the stock differential carrier replacing the spider gear set and sometimes the side gears and pinion-shaft.  The nickname "Lunchbox" comes from the idea of packing your lunch in a reusable "lunchbox" where you use the same "lunchbox" and pack in a different lunch.  The stock carrier is the equivalent of the "lunchbox". 

Lunchbox lockers come with advantages and disadvantages.  An advantage that comes with these drop-in lockers are the fact that they are generally simple devices and are designed to fit into a stock open carrier or in some cases limited slip carrier, reusing stock parts.  Since the ring gear is connected to the carrier and the carrier is reused, the ring and pinion gears generally do not need to be setup again.  This makes it much easier for a backyard mechanic to install a drop-in "lunchbox" locker.  It also allows the locker to be removed and the stock carrier parts be re-installed putting it back to an open carrier (or Limited Slip).  Disadvantages of these types of lockers include the fact that their strength is limited to the carrier they are installed in, which can vary greatly.  Their strength is moderate to less than moderate and for the most part support what seems to be up to a 33" tires and a mild amount of abuse before encountering problems and damage.  Another disadvantage to a drop-in locker is that some have a more severe locking and unlocking feel over a full carrier locker.  For this reason some drop-in locker manufacturers incorporate dampening mechanisms to reduce the backlash and harsh engagement / disengagement creating a smoother operating locker.  For many people they are a good candidate for a first "economy" locker on vehicles that are mildly modified with slightly oversized tires.

Lunchbox Lockers operate in much the same manner as full carrier automatic lockers.  These locker are automatic locking differentials designed to lock both wheels of the axle automatically with power input, when forward or reverse torque is applied, so that both wheels are providing 100% power to the wheels and creating essentially a "spool" that solidly connects the axle shafts together.  When torque is not being applied, the locker is allowed to unlock, permitting a differentiation variance in wheel speed while negotiating turns.  As an automatic locking differential, the primary drawback is their characteristics when they engage such as accelerating out of a turn or going from torque to no to torque to torque again such as when a manual transmission vehicle is shifting gears.  In these situations, the driver must be aware of the characteristics that will affect the handling of the vehicle.  For example during a turn the inside axle will spin slower than the outside axle, which is the basic purpose of the differential.  If torque is applied to an automatic locker during the turn it will engage due to the torque engaging the locker gears.  When the locker engages, it will cause the vehicle to push towards straight ahead or possibly to the inside of the turn.  The net effect is somewhat un-predicable handling characteristics when compared to open differentials.  These effects are much more noticeable in shorter wheelbase vehicles and smaller lighter vehicles. The odd handling characteristics will also be more apparent if road traction is compromised such as in rain or when the road surface is ice or snow covered.  Further noticeable characteristics of automatic lockers can be a banging or clunking noise during engagement of disengagement, delayed engagement, and added significant backlash, also known as slop, in the driveline.  Disengagement can be abrupt and sometimes a ratcheting noise can be heard when cornering.  Most people who use automatic lockers become accustom to these handling characteristics and adjust their driving style accordingly to accommodate it or just simply just get used to it.

Some Lunchbox Lockers on the market are:
Lockright Locker by Richmond Gear
Detroit EZ Locker made by Eaton Corporation
Aussie Locker by Torq-Masters Technology, Inc.

 

 

 

        

 

Differential Differences
Overview of Standard Carriers, Positraction & Limited Slips, Locking Differentials, Spools and Mini-Spools

Teralow Installation in a Dana 20 Transfercase
Installing Tera-Low gears for better crawling

Other Lunchbox Locker Resources:

Detroit EZ Locker installation

Detroit EZ-locker installation into a CJ-7, Lock Right

How to install a ‘lunchbox’ locker

Lock Right vs EZ Locker Questions - JeepForum.com

Aussie Locker - Dana 30 Front Axle Installation

Lunchbox locker on Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Lock Right Installation Instructions

PowerTrax LockRight Install

Powertrax No Slip Install - Lock and Rock

Lockright Locker install

Aussie Locker: First Impression

Aussie Locker Reviews

The Difference between Lockers, LSD's and open Diffs

Jeep Horizons on the Lunchbox Locker

POWERTRAX® LOCK-RIGHT LOCKER - INSTALLATION

 

Jeep Project CJ-7

An ongoing Budgeted Rebuild/Build up of a Rock Crawling Machine.

All Terrain 
Mud Terrain
Tire Reviews & Info

All Terrain
AT Tire Reviews


Mud Terrain
MT Tire Reviews

 

 

Ramp Travel Index
RTI / Ramp Travel Index What it is and how to calculate it, with and without the ramp.

Offroad Tire Info
P-Metric Tire Sizes Conversion to Inches
Tire Terminology
Wheel Terminology
How to Pick the Right
Tires for your Truck
Truck Tire Info
Tires - What Hits What Fits
  
All Terrain  Mud Terrain
Tire Reviews & Info
Mud Terrain MT Tire Reviews
All Terrain AT Tire Reviews
Super Swamper Bogger
Super Swamper SSR
Super Swamper SX
Super Swamper Vortrac
Interco IROK TSL
Super Swamper LTB
Super Swamper TSL
Super Swamper TSL Radial
Super Swamper Narrow
Interco SS-M16 Swamper
Thornbird TSl Radial
Thornbird TSl Bias
Thornbird TSL
Parnelli Jone Dirt Grip
BFGoodrich Krawler
BFGoodrich MT T/A KM
BFGoodrich MT T/A KM2
BFGoodrich AT TA KO
BFGoodrich Mud King XT
Bridgestone Dueler MT
Cooper Discoverer ST
Cooper Discoverer STT
Cooper Discoverer ST/C
Federal Couragia MT
Firestone Destination AT
Firestone Destination MT
General Grabber MT
General Grabber AT2
Green Diamond Icelander
Ground Hawg Mud Tire
Hankook Dynapro MT
Hankook Dynamic MT RT01
Hercules Terra Trac MT
Hercules Trail Digger MT
Kelly-Springfield Safari DTR
Kelly-Springfield Safari MSR
Kumho Road Venture MT
Kumho Road Venture KL71
Kumho Road Venture AT
Dick Cepek Mud Country
Dick Cepek F-C II
Dick Cepek Fun Country II
Dick Cepek Fun Country Nylon
Dick Cepek Fun Country Kevlar
Mastercraft Courser MT
Mastercraft Courser HTR
Mastercraft Courser HTR Plus
Maxxis BigHorn Radial
Maxxis Creepy Crawler
Maxxis Trepador
Maxxis Buckshot Mudder
Maxxis MA-SW
Maxxis M-8080 Mudzilla
Maxxis MT-754 Buckshot
Maxxis MT-753 Bravo
Maxxis MA-751 Bravo
Maxxis MA-S2 Marauder II
Maxxis MA-S1 Marauder
Maxxis MT-762 BigHorn
Nitto Mud Grappler
Nitto Terra Grappler
Nitto Dura Grappler
Nitto Dune Grappler
Nokian Vatiiva MT
Pit Bull Rocker Extreme
Pit Bull Maddog
Pit Bull Growler
Goodyear Wrangler MT/R
Pro Comp Xterrain
Pro Comp All Terrain
Pro Comp Mud Terrain
Pro Comp Xtreme AT
Pro Comp Xtreme MT
Toyo Open Country MT
TrXus Mud Terrain
TrXus STS All Terrain
Michelin LTX A/T²
Michelin LTX AT2 Press
Michelin LTX AT2
Mickey Thompson MTZ
Mickey Thompson MTX
Mickey Thompson Baja Claw Radial
Mickey Thompson Baja Claw Bias
Mickey Thompson Baja Crusher
Mickey Thompson Baja ATZ Radial SLT
Competition Claw
Dunlop Mud Rover
Federal Couragia M/T
Nitto Dura Grappler
Yokohama Geolandar
  
Dick Cepek's 2008 F-250 Super Duty Project Vehicle – Project CRUSHER
 
Mud Tire Reviews
Product Reviews
Tire Reviews
 
  
 
ATV Tire Index
Carlisle 489 Titan
Dunlop Quadmax
Dunlop Quadmax Sport
Quadmax Sport Development
Highlifter Outlaw
ITP Holeshot
ITP Holeshot MX
ITP Holeshot ATR
ITP Holeshot XC
ITP Holeshot XCR
ITP Holeshot MXR
ITP Holeshot XCT
ITP Mud Lite
ITP Mud Lite XTR
ITP Sandstar
Kenda K538 Executioner
Tubeless Bearclaw K299
Kenda Klaw K532
Kenda Klaw K533
Kenda K534 Sand Gecko
Maxxis M961/M962 Mud Bug
Maxxis Rooster Paddle Tire
Maxxis M917/M918 Bighorn
Maxxis M966 Mudzilla
Super Swamper TSL ATV
Super Swamper TSL Vampire
Super Swamper Vampire EDL
Swamp Lite ATV Tires
 
ATV Tire FAQs
ATV Tire Mounting
ATV / Quad Links
 
Quad Tire Reviews Index

 


Off-Road Lights
by LightForce Product Review / Installation.
from Off-Road Lights

 


Jeep Dana 300 TeraLow - 4:1 Gearset for the Dana 300 Transfer Case

Jeep Trans Swap
T-18A Transmission Rebuild & Short Shaft Conversion
  


Black Diamond Suspension Lift install for CJ-7

 

From the
Department of Cheap   Tricks and Useful Tips

  
Ultra-Cool Hand Throttle for Free!

Jeep V8 Swap Tips

The Exploding Clutch

Radiator Protection using 6 bucks worth of material

Cracked Under Pressure - Fixing a smashed fingernail

A Cheap, effective alternative to undercoating

Home-built Saginaw Gearbox Brace for the cost of lunch!

Ammo Box Storage - Mounting Them for Quick Disconnect

Home-built Serious Skid-Plate protection for the Oil Pan for under 20 bucks!