Yup I did all the searches and noone has addressed this exact question so no newbie flaming.

I got the 8.8. No I don't know what to do for the locker. I definitely want a full carrier locker but I need advice. My obvious choice is detroit. But I kind of like the idea of a selectable locker cause of possible snow and ice and offcamber muddy rock type stuff. I don't want an ARB. Do I wait a couple of months and see if the OX shows its face, or wait and see about the possibility of the two new electric lockers or do I just throw in the detroit? My problem is that I've had sh!tty brakes and a 35 for long enough now and I wanted to have the 8.8 in by a run the first weekend of April. None of these selectable lockers are due out until summer or fall.

Its a 93 YJ, SOA, 33 TSL's (almost like 35's), not a daily driver. The idea of wanting a selectable isn't cause of street driving. I would run spool if I could. What do I do....give me advice!!!!

Sounds like you've answered your own question.

You wouldn't mind running a spool if you could and the selectable lockers aren't due out until summer (and may not even offer anything for the 8.8"). Street driving doesn't bother you either.

So it's simple. You have two options.

1) Weld the spiders up for a spool since the spools avaiable for the 8.8" require a c-clip eliminator kit which is not capable of handling side loads like you find while wheeling.

or

2) Get a Detroit and forget about it.

I wouldn't mind welding the spiders, but I just don't want to do anything that relies on the strength of the stock carrier. I've read too many stories. My main concern is the effects of a locker over certain terrains, like muddy rocks, icy hills, etc. Does a locker make that type of terrain worse than it could be if I was able to turn the locker off?

I've been running an 8.8" for a couple of years now, and the last year and a half with a Loc-right no-slip, and 5:13's. I am running 36" tires, and I'm not a graceful driver.......so what is wrong with a stock carrier?? If it was gonna break, it would have done so by now.

Brian--