Dana 35 Lunchbox Locker
Aussie or Powertrax Lock-Right for the D35 — cheap drop-in locker. Less obnoxious in the rear than the front, but rear power steering of any locker stresses weak D35 shafts.
A rear lunchbox locker on the D35 is the cheap path to having a locker in the rear. Powertrax Lock-Right ($280) and Aussie Locker ($260) both drop into the stock D35 carrier with no setup required. The locker is automatic — locked under power, ratchets open in corners.
In the rear, lunchbox lockers are much less obnoxious than in the front. There's no steering load to worry about, and the slight clunk on cornering is barely noticeable from the cabin. For a daily-driven XJ that occasionally sees trail use, a rear lunchbox is the right answer.
Caveat: a locker increases the load on the axle shafts because both wheels are driven equally. On the weak D35, this accelerates shaft failure. NAXJA wisdom: "if you put a locker in a D35, plan for chromoly shafts soon after, or be ready to break it."
For a budget XJ build going 31-32s, a D35 lunchbox is fine. For 33s+, swap to the 8.8 and put a locker in that.
Install: same as the D30 lunchbox — pull axles, remove spider gears, drop in locker, reassemble. ~4 hours.
Why it works
- Cheap rear locker
- Drop-in install
- Less obnoxious than front lunchbox
Trade-offs
- Increases D35 shaft load
- Will hasten shaft failure on 33s+
- Limits the D35
Tools required
- metric sockets
- torque wrench
- drain pan
Parts
| Part | Vendor | Est. price |
|---|---|---|
| Powertrax Lock-Right D35 27-spline | Powertrax | ~$280 |
| Aussie Locker D35 | Aussie Locker | ~$260 |
Sources
Related
- Dana 35 ARB Air Locker
- Ford 8.8 Explorer Rear Axle Swap (Full Guide)
- All Jeep Cherokee XJ guides & tools
- Browse the full DIY database
Written and maintained by an AZ wheeler and driveway wrencher. How we source guides. Always cross-reference your factory service manual — modifications affect vehicle safety and warranty. Work at your own risk.