Adding front locker to Willys?

[agentdr8]

Am I correct the newer Willys comes with a Rubicon type rear locker? And no FAD?

That's what my notes show, and should be the case with the axles I'm looking at getting.

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[dan_k]

Great discussion, guys.

For Utah, NH, and any other winter states, IMO a limited slip rear is better than an open dif with a rear locker if your Jeep is also a daily driver. Just throwing that into the mix...haha.

Valid but I don't believe there are any Wranglers right now that offer an LSD rear. Am I wrong?

Buy a Sport or Sport S, add a winch and a ground anchor. You'd save thousands and it will exceed what you described doing. A stock Jeep Sport will go more places than people who buy Rubicons ever do.

Yes but it's not an either or. I'm likely not going to carry around a ground anchor with me unless I know I'm going somewhere rough. In that case, I'd rather have both the locker and the anchor. It would save money for sure though...

I would also point you to the Rubicon. You can still easily save that $6k by buying used or traveling out of state.

Used, definitely but I don't see too many 2door manuals coming up for prices that are significantly lower than new, factoring in the lack of warranty and lemon protection. How would I get lower cost than the online price when ordering a new car? If they have one on their lot, sure but I don't see many places having 2 door manuals on the lots.

Not to derail the thread toooo much, but make damn sure you're aware of the significant issues with the 6-speed manual. And be aware that the automatic receives lots of praise with very few issues being discussed.

I'm from Europe originally. I have no interest in driving anything with an automatic.
I've heard about the clutch recall but that would be fixed on a new order model.

rawling this Jeep. The 4:1 Rubicon transfer case to me would be too low, especially coupled to an automatic tranny.

2. With Rubicon lockers it is "all or nothing". Open or locked. Fully locked isn't the greatest in snow packed roads (I live in the PNW). With TrueTracs they're always on, work great, but invisible on pavement.

That's a good point. I'm also in the PNW and would be daily driving it. Maybe it would make more sense to add a TrueTrac to the front over a locker for my purposes. That way when there's a lot of snow on the ground, I switch into 4HI and have the LSD front. Not sure if that would mess up the driving mechanics though.

At this point, I'm pretty well convinced I don't need to the Rubicon. The only reason to get it would be 1) resale value and 2) since I will likely keep the car for 20+ years, the extra $6k amortized over 20 years isn't very much.

 

[kah.mun.rah]

Valid but I don't believe there are any Wranglers right now that offer an LSD rear. Am I wrong?

Correct. You would have to go with an older Willys.

 

[Bill_BCNtoNY]

23 JLU Willys XR 2.0T. Came with a clutch type limited slip rear, open front, and a FAD.

Money was not an issue, I could have easily bought a Rubicon. A few reasons I didn't:

1. I'm not rock crawling this Jeep. The 4:1 Rubicon transfer case to me would be too low, especially coupled to an automatic tranny.

2. With Rubicon lockers it is "all or nothing". Open or locked. Fully locked isn't the greatest in snow packed roads (I live in the PNW). With TrueTracs they're always on, work great, but invisible on pavement.

3. No wires or anything to make them (TrueTracs) work, no added complexity to fail.

4. The money well spent was the XR package. HD axles, mild lift, 4.56 gears, 35" tires, etc. That was the foundation.

Am I correct the newer Willys comes with a Rubicon type rear locker? And no FAD?

In my 23, I swapped in TrueTracs front and rear. Did a Mopar FAD delete plate, and a Tazer so the Jeep doesn't recognize the FAD is missing.

Anyways, to the OP, I would recommend a TrueTrac up front. Much better than an open diff, it is always on, and is invisible driving on pavement.

this is exactly what I was thinking. Get the Willys and add a truetrac upfront if you want (much better than the clutch-based limited slip diff you’d get in a Sahara or a factory-optioned Sport).

Take it the Willys stock to an offroad class or course first to see if you’d even need it anything in the front axle. Any money in training will be much better invested than in the Rubicon trim, in my opinion…

 

[dan_k]

this is exactly what I was thinking. Get the Willys and add a truetrac upfront if you want (much better than the clutch-based limited slip diff you’d get in a Sahara or a factory-optioned Sport).

Take it the Willys stock to an offroad class or course first to see if you’d even need it anything in the front axle. Any money in training will be much better invested than in the Rubicon trim, in my opinion…

Would a front TrueTrac mess with steering?

 

[Bill_BCNtoNY]

Would a front TrueTrac mess with steering?

not at all - why would it? Maybe I’m missing sth.

FWIW, I’ve had mine for a few thousand miles (mostly street, and also a couple offroad classes at NORA in NY).

 

[kah.mun.rah]

We put a Truetrac in the front axle of our JKU Sport and it has worked great.

 

[SlickRicksWilly]

Am I correct the newer Willys comes with a Rubicon type rear locker? And no FAD?

Yes and Yes, which was one of the selling points for me.

 

[dan_k]

not at all - why would it? Maybe I’m missing sth.

FWIW, I’ve had mine for a few thousand miles (mostly street, and also a couple offroad classes at NORA in NY).

It sounds like it would be great for driving in the snow. I was just wondering if the dynamics of having traction in the front and an open diff in the back (effectively MORE traction up front than in the back) would somehow make for a problematic driving experience?

Sounds like it doesn't though.

 

[Jeep Wick]

Great discussion, guys.



Valid but I don't believe there are any Wranglers right now that offer an LSD rear. Am I wrong?



Yes but it's not an either or. I'm likely not going to carry around a ground anchor with me unless I know I'm going somewhere rough. In that case, I'd rather have both the locker and the anchor. It would save money for sure though...



Used, definitely but I don't see too many 2door manuals coming up for prices that are significantly lower than new, factoring in the lack of warranty and lemon protection. How would I get lower cost than the online price when ordering a new car? If they have one on their lot, sure but I don't see many places having 2 door manuals on the lots.



I'm from Europe originally. I have no interest in driving anything with an automatic.
I've heard about the clutch recall but that would be fixed on a new order model.



That's a good point. I'm also in the PNW and would be daily driving it. Maybe it would make more sense to add a TrueTrac to the front over a locker for my purposes. That way when there's a lot of snow on the ground, I switch into 4HI and have the LSD front. Not sure if that would mess up the driving mechanics though.

At this point, I'm pretty well convinced I don't need to the Rubicon. The only reason to get it would be 1) resale value and 2) since I will likely keep the car for 20+ years, the extra $6k amortized over 20 years isn't very much.

Look on autotrader. I think you're seeing Willys for $45k ish, I found a new one for $33k across the country. New Rubicon for $42k. Get you in a low mileage used one for $32k. I would say those are significant savings!

 

[Zandcwhite]

The brake lock dif (Jeep traction control) works pretty well aside from legit rock crawling. I agree with the others, a winch is a much better insurance policy than a front locker. I would definitely go willys for the Dana 44s and 4.10 gears over a sport.

 

[dan_k]

Look on autotrader. I think you're seeing Willys for $45k ish, I found a new one for $33k across the country. New Rubicon for $42k. Get you in a low mileage used one for $32k. I would say those are significant savings!

Autotrader is great, looking there now.

Willys comes out to $39k with the hard top when factoring in employee pricing and cash bonus. My dealership has said they would offer that on a new order as well. Rubicon comes to $45k. Used are definitely a good option too...

 

[Jeep Wick]

Now you've got me thinking about a second Jeep... I don't need, but I do want.

 

[ArmyRN]

Would a front TrueTrac mess with steering?

It hasn't so far.

 

[kah.mun.rah]

It sounds like it would be great for driving in the snow. I was just wondering if the dynamics of having traction in the front and an open diff in the back (effectively MORE traction up front than in the back) would somehow make for a problematic driving experience?

Sounds like it doesn't though.

The picture I have above of the JKU with the Truetrac has an open dif in the rear. Highway speed, around town, off-roading,, no issues. Going on 5 years with it.

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