Why So Many Bad Reviews On Lunchbox Lockers

I installed a spartan in my rear diff, my jeep is a 1971 cj5 and so far I cant figure out why so many people say bad things about them especially on the road. I can barely hear it when iam trying to make the locker loud

 

I’m not sure. I have an Aussie locker in the front of my JK and it’s been excellent. The only time I hear it is when I’m pulling into a tight parking spot. Because of the way it distributes power, I’ve actually been able to get up some obstacles that my buddies with “real” lockers struggle on.

 

A lunchbox isn't usually going to be capable of withstanding higher power levels, vs something like a Detroit Locker, or ARB. That being said, in something lightweight, like a CJ5, without a bunch of horsepower, and not running hugely oversized tires? They work great and are quite cost effective.

 

I have 33 inch tires and rebuilt my 225. I bored it 60 over and a 252h comp cam I run 4.88 gears a dana 18 coupled to a sm465 the spartan locker has opened windows for me crazy the spartan along with my original 1965 power loc in front my jeep feels almost as if it is unstoppable I held back on the spartan cause of the reviews but iam glad I did it

 

i run an F134, stock gears, and stock tires. i think mine will hold up.

 

It should

 

You cant beat the price

 

yup. i want one in the rear as well. probably not money for that right now, but in the future.

 

Aussie in the D30 front works great off-road. Unlock the front hubs and you’ll never know it’s there.
I have a Spartan Locker for the rear that I’ll be installing in the next few weeks. Hopefully have similar experience as Montgomery.

 

I have never heard my spartan locker click or pop in my D30.

 

Mine does. First time I drove a small section of road then turned hard left I thought it was going to break something in there.

 

A front lunchbox has been my go to budget setup for a long time. All my XJs have had them. I plan on putting one in the front of the Cj5 as well. But I don't run larger tires either. 235s on both my current XJ and my CJ. I've ran front locked, rear locked, and both ends locked and I've found that if you only want one locker the front is a great place for it. IMO the front is better at pulling you over obstacles most times than the rear is at pushing you over. Like driving a front wheel drive car in the snow vs a rear.

It also has the advantage of having better street manners as even in the Jeeps without locking hubs with no torque going to the front diff the locker will unlock and just ratchet which is where most of the noise comes from in that setup. On CJs with locking hubs it should be nearly invisible.

 

My Zuk had a pair in the front and rear and I heard them clatter all the time so I know what the sound is. Just never heard mine make noise yet.

 

I have tried to have a heavy foot with my spartan and leaned out while turning sharp still barely hear it

 

or, the even cheaper option, a lincoln locker.

 

Other than the sm465 and front powerloc the spartan in the rear is up their in my top 3 best modifications

 

I was wondering about that. Seems like a nice way to get free traction, especially in the front with locking hubs.

 

unfortunately, budget is a limiting factor, and those are not exactly cheap. i would love a set of selectables, but simply don't have the money.

 

there's a wrong way to do it, and a better way to do it. i'm sure someone here could explain the process in depth.