Do you know if any of the electronic locker makers have put out an electrac or elocker for a Dana 30?
Though expensive, I figure they would help keep the weight down.

(Not a good time to bash the Dana 30, I've heard it all )

Probably old news now, but in late 2005 Eaton Corp. bought Tractech, who made an elocker. Eaton eliminted the Tractech (or incorporated it into their own). Last I heard from Scott Frary at Eaton, the ELocker for the D30 would be available in Febuary '07, so they may be available. Eaton's website has a distributor list.

I thought about setting up my DANA 44 with an elocker but "THE" shop out here in SoCAl suggested I stay away from them. Can't find parts for one and the other is they are not that strong???? I think I will be going to an ARB at this point. The ARB is proven and offers fully open or fully locked which suites my needs best.

For those that don't agree with the elockers reputation, lets hear it! I am not saying I am right but that's what I heard from someone I trust....

While anything can break, I have never heard of an Elocker busting during my year and a half of research and now my additional two and a half of ownership. They just quietly go about the job of locking your diff. No air lines to get caught on the trail...if the wires do get hung up it's easier to repair then air hose. No solenoids to fail, no seals to leak, and the actuator is all internal unlike some other electric or air lockers. It's an electromagnet like your A/C clutch...when have you ever heard of one of those going bad? No complaints at all with my front/rear setup. My wife will get the same thing as we build up her Jeep.

As far as availability, I had heard Eaton was moving the factory...don't know if they've caught up yet or not. When I did mine, we had a hard time finding the Elocker for the numerically higher gears, so we just used the one for numerically lower gears and a set of 4.88 thick gears. (Thick 4.56's are available now also if that's your desired ratio.) Setup like a champ and no troubles since in over 40k miles. I'm loyal to my shop also, but I seek alternatives before I make a move, try calling Randy's ring and pinion and ask them about availability and product returns.

Good luck,
Mark

Same deal about the actuators - they are easier to setup and repair - the only ones out here that we have seen that are damaged are ones where the axle has been damaged - bent - twisted - and the locker and gears die because of the alignment problems or lubrication failure.

Don't think they are as strong as the ARBs but they are cheaper. We had no problem putting them in D-30 front ends ourselfs so we saved money on the install.

I would not be in the field without a compressor but that still means you have to pay for the setup and lines - so this makes them way cheaper than ARBS - I ended up with two compresors and a tank with control stuff so I must have another $800 in the whole air thing.

I'm looking at the Auburn for my D30 front - although I will probably upgrade the axles. But I don't know if they're making one for the D44 yet:

http://www.auburngear.com/