Locker install

[Car Jack]

I think I've settled on getting myself a rear e locker for the upcoming season. I'm in Hopkinton, MA, so Ratchets is a hike as would be Abington. Any recommendations for the install closer? Worcester area is fine.

[Trailwalker+1]

Mitchell’s differential shrewsbury.

[Hoodoo Man]

A few members here had awful luck with Mitchells. they threw away my lube locker and when I drained the fluid from my axle there was a lot of metal flakes in it despite being properly broken in. In the end the gearset and new locker were fine, but they have a shady past and don't stand by the work in my opinion.

[NotThePainter]

Which e-locker? I had an Aburn ECTED, piece of junk.

[MDSRACING398]

Mitchell's has come a long way. They did have major issues, but they have there poop together now. Still wouldn't be my first choice but they are reputable.
Support those that support the sport.

[Car Jack]

Is there another shop that's closer than an hour away from me that's a supporter....especially of NEA? That would be my preference. It's why I'm posting in here rather than finding some random driveline place nearby. I'm considering an Eaton eLocker.

[MDSRACING398]

There are 3 shops that fully support the NEA.
Barrette Fabrication/Ocean State Offroad.
Offroad Elements
Ratchet's Offroad
In any order they are all awesome.
Walker Motors in Western MA do what they can to support the NEA as well.

[MDSRACING398]

Electric lockers engage and disengage going from forward to reverse if you are a little to happy on the skinny pedal they have issues but if you are just normal wheeling seem fine.
Ox makes a locker that can be electric, air or cable and if any break there is a bolt you can put in to engage and get you home. No idea cost wise but I know a lot of buggy guys beating the hell out of them without issues.

[Frank]

Ive run Loc-Rite auto lockers for 11/12 yrs with no problems. Even on the road they were never that bad. There were a lot of times on a trail I would like to have been able to shut off the front to help with turn radius. So I twin sticked the T-Case instead. A good auto locker in the rear and the Detroit "True-Trac" in front might be the way to go for a daily. FjR68

[RandyCarol]

I’ve run auto lockers before and they were fine but they don’t play nice with the ABS in a JK

[ZAEDOCK]

Elias 4wd in Townsend was an NEA supporter for many many years.
I have known the owner Lou, before there was an Elias 4WD (30 years) and he is an awesome Jeep guy.
https://elias4wdcenter.com/

Other than that, an hour drive in the Boston area to a shop is nothing, IMO. Actually, with Covid, there is virtually no traffic, so it's just a few extra songs on the radio.

[Car Jack]

Thanks for all the inputs. I did stop in Mitchell's to talk about what I'm looking for. Gave me good explanations. I'm leaning towards an Ox locker with a mechanical engagement. Had one open on the counter.

I don't mind driving an hour but obviously, this isn't just an oil change. It'll be there a day so I need to get a ride back and back down and with everyone in my house working, I can't do that easily. Mitchell's is a 15 minute ride that my wife could do with me at lunchtime. We both work from home.

I did go out looking at used Rubicons as an alternate. I've followed prices for years. They've all gone way up. 2 years ago, I could buy a 2 or 4 door one year old 18 for $30k all day long (18 JK). Now 16's are going for over $30k. It's cheaper (duh) to spend a couple grand on a locker and I do like spending it on labor that's local.