Traction Improvement Devices

[mach1mustang351]

Team AMC,

Have you guys added any traction improvement devices to their rear axles??  I was looking into doing something this summer when I do my axle ratio change.  I drive the car everyday on the street.

I am running a 4.0 with an AX15 and a 242 case.  I was thinking about going 3.07 gears for economy but was also contemplating 3.55s and using 5th gear more.  Any thoughts??

[Sunny]

Edited for sleepiness. 

[mach1mustang351]

Sorry all.  By traction improvement I meant, posi, detroit, air locker etc.  I thought it was a given Eagles weren't over powered

[Sunny]

Sorry all.  By traction improvement I meant, posi, detroit, air locker etc.  I thought it was a given Eagles weren't over powered

Haha, okay. Sorry. It's late, and for some reason I thought you meant something different.
I'm not sure what would fit with an Eagle axle, but that would be a great investment. Open differentials suck .

[mach1mustang351]

Sorry all.  By traction improvement I meant, posi, detroit, air locker etc.  I thought it was a given Eagles weren't over powered

Haha, okay. Sorry. It's late, and for some reason I thought you meant something different.
I'm not sure what would fit with an Eagle axle, but that would be a great investment. Open differentials suck .

Haha this made my night.  I guess it was kind of a confusing wording.  Open differentials are good going around corners... here in Alaska with glare ice roads I would love something in the back of that car locking the two wheels together.  Just checking if someone already did it. 

[GRONK]

I can't imagine it would be any different than doing it on a Jeep.

[eaglefreek]

I installed a Chrysler 8.25" axle from a 98 Cherokee. For $150 and my time, I gained an axle nearly as strong as a Dana 44, the gear ratio I wanted to switch to and Trac Lok differential. The Trak Lok is an OEM limited slip option on Jeeps. It's not the same as a locker but will do fine unless you are planning on doing some serious off roading with large tires. I have yet to spin one tire plus they are rebuildable. If you want to keep your AMC 15 rear axle I believe a locker for a Dana 35 will work.
http://www.jpmagazine.com/techarticles/drivetrain/154_0910_jeep_locker_overview/viewall.html

[captspillane]

My 1992 Jeep Cherokee is a 4.0 AX15 NP231 with 3.55 gears and 235/75R15 tires. Thats the same tire size I use for all my Eagles. It requires slight changes inside the fender flares, but its the largest size you can put on without any external changes. I had two identical automatic station wagons with different axle ratios and there was a 4 mpg difference, but I do not think you will see that significant of a difference with a manual vehicle.

I found the gearing to be perfect. I got about 25 MPG on the highway at 75 mph, which is quite respectable for a Cherokee at that speed. At 75 mph I would have to often downshift into 4th to maintain my speed up hills. If I was to change it, I would actually go a next size lower 3.73s. If you go with 3.07s, your 5th gear will become useless and your first gear will be less desireable in traffic. I often start in second in that Jeep but appreciate the low first there when I need it. Your engine needs to be turning at higher RPMs to put out enough power to maintain highway speeds. My opinion is to stick with the 3.55s.

I personally call them limited slips if they have a smooth clutch action, soft lockers if they are centrifugal units like the popular powertraxx models, and hard lockers if they are cable shifted or otherwise fully engaging lockers. A factory installed limited slip differential is the best option for most Eagles. A Ford Explorer axle is the best choice to get a limited slip and rear disc brakes. I'm using a Jeep Cherokee Dana 44 with factory limited slip and Jeep Grand Cherokee disc brakes, but thats hard and expensive to find in comparison to the Ford axles. The easiest axles to find are Chrysler 8.25" but I haven't seen many with a limited slip. They are much stronger than the Eagle axles because of the stiffer axle tubes. I still avoid them, since I won't buy a C clip axle after having three wheels fall off in the rear of an Eagle. The biggest advantage to the Dana 44 is that the wheel remains attached even if the axle shaft breaks.

I have a centrifugal unit in my Jeep Scrambler. Its effective, but it has a noticeable effect in curves. My sister refuses to drive it because of the soft locker. Their biggest advantage is that they can be installed quickly and easily. No change to the carrier is necessary. As a wheel loses traction and the wheel begins to spin much faster relative to the other, the centrifugal force locks the two halves together. It clunks together and often causes an audible tire screech. The clutches in a limited slip differential are much smoother and less likely to scare the driver, but in some ways that makes them less effective than a soft locker.

A hard locker is much more expensive and harder to install. The one I want to buy for my 401 5 speed SX4 is electric. Its a limited slip until you push the button and then the axles are fully locked together. My Rubicon has this option front and rear and I absolutely love them. Most of us would never install one since they're worth more than the average Eagle. I think a soft locker costs about 300 dollars and a hard locker 1200 to 2000 dollars. A limited slip differential is expensive unless you buy a whole axle with a factory unit already installed.

[n9xvt]

i do contract work on vehicles  had a jeep guy wanted one of these "powertrax lockright lockers" installed in his warngler,, was not hard to install,, parts were reasonable,, looks verry well made he's been running it for around 3 years and had NO issues to report,, his daily driver with light to moderate trail use,,

http://www.richmondgear.com/powertrax/lockright.html

they list one for most ALL AMC vehicles,,

[mach1mustang351]

i do contract work on vehicles  had a jeep guy wanted one of these "powertrax lockright lockers" installed in his warngler,, was not hard to install,, parts were reasonable,, looks verry well made he's been running it for around 3 years and had NO issues to report,, his daily driver with light to moderate trail use,,

http://www.richmondgear.com/powertrax/lockright.html

they list one for most ALL AMC vehicles,,

Good information, thanks a lot.  This sounds liek it works a lot like the Detroit style locker.  I am not planning on any off roading but I do like in AK where i deal with Ice.  The car works well in 4wd but I plan on changing gears this summer and I can't ever stop myself from the "while I'm in there" thinking. 

[Whuntmore]

I would also go limited slip.  better for normal driving and ice and snow driving.

[milliard431]

I thought my Eagle WAS A  Traction Improving Device!

[mach1mustang351]

I thought my Eagle WAS A  Traction Improving Device!

I have had no issues either when in Full Time 4 wheel but it's that darn "while I'm in there" mindset...

[Sunny]

but it's that darn "while I'm in there" mindset...

That's the best mindset to have. 

[AMCKen]

A few people like these ones too. I asked them a long time ago if their Dana 35 would fit an AMC 15 but never got a reply.

http://www.aussielocker.com/index.php/