Whats a fair used price for a Trac Lok?

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sparky27

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I am talking to a guy who has a Trac- Lok hes pulling out a 2002 Liberty w off-road package. I know next to nothing about this parts vehicle so I was wondering if the 02 unit would fit into my 06 and what a fair asking price would be for the used unit?
 

HoosierJeeper

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He could pay you $800 and that'd be fair. Then you could get something better. :D

Wouldn't bother. Unless it has 15k miles on it, anything past 50k miles is probably shot and would be no better than an open diff. Get a Detroit True Track or an ARB air locker.
 

sparky27

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He could pay you $800 and that'd be fair. Then you could get something better. :D

Wouldn't bother. Unless it has 15k miles on it, anything past 50k miles is probably shot and would be no better than an open diff. Get a Detroit True Track or an ARB air locker.

I think they can be rebuilt with a $70 kit. I live in Michigan and we have lots of days where the roads are very slick. I was thinking a lighter limited slip (like Trac Lok) would make daily winter driving less "precarious" (versus stronger LSD's). When I offroad it's generally light to moderate type stuff (I'm easily amused). I do not climb rocks and I try not to drop it into large mud holes if I can help it.

I have only ever wheeled stock vehicles so I was thinking the Trac Lok would be an improvement over an open diff (as long as it's up in maintenance).

Maybe I could just offer like $50 to $80 and if he bites w a rebuild kit I'd be in for like $150 for the whole unit. I know that the alternatives you listed are much better...just kinda out of my price range..
 
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HoosierJeeper

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Actually I think an LSD on slick roads can make it a little twitchier. My XJ has one and it's a little skidish on slick roads. Better off with better tires. Off road one helps.

Are you doing the install yourself?
 

nnote

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your 06 has the ESP right? ( Electronic Stability Program)
 

tommudd

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I would buy better tires instead of buying a trash loc
Lived in the Northwest part of Ohio for 10 years with my 04 KJ, never , ever wished for a locker of any kind. Good tires and common sense, hardly ever needed 4 wheel drive until snow was 6-8 inches on the roads
Buying a used / unknown trac loc would be like marrying a ******
 

sparky27

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Actually I think an LSD on slick roads can make it a little twitchier. My XJ has one and it's a little skidish on slick roads. Better off with better tires. Off road one helps.

Are you doing the install yourself?

I probably wouldn't do the install myself...I'd probably have a shop do it...I'd have to review the DIY materials out there before I took it in to a shop.

I am a bit curious as to how much twitchier on the roads it wold be. that's why I was considering going with a weaker one like trac lok...thought maybe it wouldn't be as bad as a stronger lsd but still offer some benefit.

Tires are Def on the horizon...just they cost a lot more than a used Ole lsd out of someone's jeep...and I'm all about that instant gratification!
 
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sparky27

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I would buy better tires instead of buying a trash loc
Lived in the Northwest part of Ohio for 10 years with my 04 KJ, never , ever wished for a locker of any kind. Good tires and common sense, hardly ever needed 4 wheel drive until snow was 6-8 inches on the roads
Buying a used / unknown trac loc would be like marrying a ******

Lol at trash loc! Yeach I'm Def getting tires...I just thought for the right price it might be cool to add a lil something extra to my lady! Totally agree about not needing 4wd in the snow! I rocked several winters in a Toyota echo..that's smaller than a prius and still got around...except out at my parents house..they live way out in the country and the roads drift like crazy.
 

rjkj2005

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I replaced my trac lok differential at 198,000 miles. The LSD was still working perfectly. The pinion bearing was going and the spider gears were toast.
You can not buy the spider gears separately. The ONLY way to get them is to buy a new trac lok spool. I replaced mine with one with 95,000 miles. Got it for $400 out of an 05 renegade. Works perfectly.
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JasonJ

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... I live in Michigan and we have lots of days where the roads are very slick. I was thinking a lighter limited slip (like Trac Lok) would make daily winter driving less "precarious". ...

...

Maybe I could just offer like $50 to $80 and if he bites w a rebuild kit I'd be in for like $150 for the whole unit. I know that the alternatives you listed are much better...just kinda out of my price range..

I also live in Michigan, am one year older than you, and have similar driving/off-roading uses. My 03 does not have a locker, and I have not found in 8 years of ownership to ever need one. NOT ONCE. Better tires and skilled driving are as good in my experience. I'm willing to bet you only need one of those things.

$150 for parts, what's labor going to run you? Most shops in MI charge between $70-$90/hr nowadays.. the days of a $60/hr shop are mostly gone. So if it takes them 4 hours to install this thing, you're out another $350 ish. Total spent, roughly $500.

For that... you're close to or at a good set of tires. I'd do that before a locker, since you need them sooner or later anyhow.

I'd put 4.10 gears in my KL before I dropped all that cash on a locker that you really don't need in 99% of driving scenarios.
 

Dave

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I would buy better tires instead of buying a trash loc
Lived in the Northwest part of Ohio for 10 years with my 04 KJ, never , ever wished for a locker of any kind. Good tires and common sense, hardly ever needed 4 wheel drive until snow was 6-8 inches on the roads
Buying a used / unknown trac loc would be like marrying a ******

Agree. Better tires and no trash-loc. .....But if you already have trash-loc just learn to drive with it.....

Disagree with driving on snow if under 6" without using 4 wheel drive. I got 4 wheel drive and believe in using it. I am old so back in the day the second thing I did on a snowing morning was to go outside and lock my Warn Hubs so I could shift as needed without getting out. (the first was to get a cup of coffee) I have even used 4 wheel drive on flat gravel roads and there are a few around here, where I certainly did not need it.....just because I got it and to keep the t-case and 4wd parts in use.....just because. My opinion.

If I really, really, really, wanted to get rid of an open diff I would get a Detroit True-Track. Had one , liked it, works good, and like anything else you need to learn to drive with it. (especially on-road) Off road it works a lot better than an open diff. My opinion.

Past all that a locker is best, but no matter what you have, you always need good tires. My opinion.

Marrying a ******.....I never did that so can't comment....:happy175:

Dave
 

HoosierJeeper

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x2 on what Dave said:signs75::gr_grin::gr_grin::gr_grin:

I pretty much leave mine in 4 full time all winter. That way I'm not shifting 4 times a day to get up my street or to get through the parking lot at the local ski hill.
 

sparky27

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I also live in Michigan, am one year older than you, and have similar driving/off-roading uses. My 03 does not have a locker, and I have not found in 8 years of ownership to ever need one. NOT ONCE. Better tires and skilled driving are as good in my experience. I'm willing to bet you only need one of those things.

$150 for parts, what's labor going to run you? Most shops in MI charge between $70-$90/hr nowadays.. the days of a $60/hr shop are mostly gone. So if it takes them 4 hours to install this thing, you're out another $350 ish. Total spent, roughly $500.

For that... you're close to or at a good set of tires. I'd do that before a locker, since you need them sooner or later anyhow.

I'd put 4.10 gears in my KL before I dropped all that cash on a locker that you really don't need in 99% of driving scenarios.

Yeah I Def want to get new tires, even though the ones have on there now did fine last winter. The whole notion of adding a lsd was not to improve my winter driving...but for offroad use. I just thought trac lok would behave better than the more aggressive lsd on the winter. But yeah need for an lsd is probably not a necessity. Just thought it'd be neat to have...nice breakdown of the costs!
 

JasonJ

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Yeah I Def want to get new tires, even though the ones have on there now did fine last winter. The whole notion of adding a lsd was not to improve my winter driving...but for offroad use. I just thought trac lok would behave better than the more aggressive lsd on the winter. But yeah need for an lsd is probably not a necessity. Just thought it'd be neat to have...nice breakdown of the costs!

I hear ya.... offroad... really in my experience it's been the muddy areas where trac lock or any time of limited slip is helpful.. and even then, in some cases, there is just so much mud or loose gravel that it ends up being an issue of traction between tires and ground that is your limiting reagent. Not always.. and again this is my experience, as I more frequently off-road on two-track trails, dirt, gravel, forest paths, and light sand. I don't rock crawl, go through mud deeper than an inch or two, or go up hill climbs.

Whatever you settle on, good luck and let us know how it works out!
 

tjkj2002

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I think they can be rebuilt with a $70 kit. I live in Michigan and we have lots of days where the roads are very slick. I was thinking a lighter limited slip (like Trac Lok) would make daily winter driving less "precarious" (versus stronger LSD's). When I offroad it's generally light to moderate type stuff (I'm easily amused). I do not climb rocks and I try not to drop it into large mud holes if I can help it.

I have only ever wheeled stock vehicles so I was thinking the Trac Lok would be an improvement over an open diff (as long as it's up in maintenance).

Maybe I could just offer like $50 to $80 and if he bites w a rebuild kit I'd be in for like $150 for the whole unit. I know that the alternatives you listed are much better...just kinda out of my price range..
Any LSD is not much help in the rear diff on slick roads but offroad the better placement for a LSD is actually the front diff for light wheeling.A Detroit TrueTrac works wonders in the front,awesome on road also when in 4wd on snow covered streets.

Lol at trash loc! Yeach I'm Def getting tires...I just thought for the right price it might be cool to add a lil something extra to my lady! Totally agree about not needing 4wd in the snow! I rocked several winters in a Toyota echo..that's smaller than a prius and still got around...except out at my parents house..they live way out in the country and the roads drift like crazy.
FWD really can't be compared to RWD when talking about snowy streets since a FWD car has over 60% of the weight on the drive wheels.Plus the smaller and lighter vehicle will of course be easier to drive in light snow with good tires.


It's sad I now drive my Town Car when the weather turns bad here in Colorado instead of driving my KJ,I get in to much trouble with the KJ.Granted if it get's above 8" or so I take the KJ instead but still to lazy to lock the front hubs in for 4wd,just engage the rear ARB.
 

sparky27

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I replaced my trac lok differential at 198,000 miles. The LSD was still working perfectly. The pinion bearing was going and the spider gears were toast.
You can not buy the spider gears separately. The ONLY way to get them is to buy a new trac lok spool. I replaced mine with one with 95,000 miles. Got it for $400 out of an 05 renegade. Works perfectly.
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Great information!! If a used spool costs 400$ why not just buy a whole new trac lok unit for 400 bucks?
 

sparky27

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I more frequently off-road on two-track trails, dirt, gravel, forest paths, and light sand. I don't rock crawl, go through mud deeper than an inch or two, or go up hill climbs.

Whatever you settle on, good luck and let us know how it works out!

Sounds like we off road in very similar ways. I'm not completely averse to mud, but I worry about breaking stuff and high centering my diff where the guys that drive monster trucks rut mud pits out. I actually get out and use sticks to measure the depth and try to locate ruts and soft spots lol...some people like to just slam into them n go...not me lol.

I will let yall know...I have just recently been looking for used trac loks...if I can get one for cheap I'll prolly pick it up and sit on it till I get the money to pUT it in (after bigger tires yall) or find someone I trust to help me install. I never worked on trucks before I put my lift on, but like working on dirtbikes it's actually kind of fun!
 
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