JL & JT Air Locker info

The JL/JT Air Locker application information below can be a bit confusing as there are many  variables.  I’ll try to make sense of it.

JL- all models except Rubicon and diesel models.

The M186 (27 spline D30) axle is used in the front of all models.  This will always use our RD100 regardless of the gear ratio.  The vehicle usually has a 3.45 gear ratio but despite it being in the range of the 3.54 down RD101, it uses an ‘Ultra Thin’ gear and must be used with our 3.73 up RD100.

All Diesel models use the M210 and M220 and would use the RD245.  See notes below regarding Rubicon models.

In the rear there are 2 available options, the M200 and M220.  There may be exceptions to the notes below but at this point, the information is accurate to the best of our knowledge.

The M200 (29 spline) is used in all Automatic transmission equipped rigs that DO NOT have the LSD option.  Our RD244 fits all gear ratios, stock and aftermarket.

The M220 (32 spline) is used in all rigs with manual transmissions and Automatic transmissions with the LSD option.  With stock 32 spline shafts our RD245 fits with all gear ratios, stock and aftermarket.

JL Rubicon (32 spline shafts front and rear)-

No Air Locker we build is a direct fit for a Rubicon.  While our RD245 will bolt into the Rubicon housing, due to the electric actuation of the stock electric locker, the axle shafts are not a standard length will not work with our Air Locker (one shaft would be too long, the other too short).  Axle shafts for a MAX TOW JT Gladiator (non-rubicon) are a direct fit front or rear. 

RCV offers a 32 spline front option that would use our RD245 and a 35 spline option that would use our RD246.

Dutchman Motorsports (503-257-6604) has a custom 35 spline rear axle shaft for the M220 and the RD246 is the correct Air Locker for the 35 spline shaft.

JT Gladiator- All models except Rubicon

All Gladiators are produced with the M210 32 spline front and M220 32 spline rear axle.  There are 2 track widths available, standard and Max Tow.  Regardless of track width, our RD245 is a direct fit both front and rear.

JT Gladiator Rubicon-

Like the JL, the JT Rubicon, due to the electric actuation of the stock electric locker, the axle shafts are not a standard length will not work with our Air Locker (one shaft would be too long, the other too short).  Axle shafts for a MAX TOW JT Gladiator (non-Rubicon) are a direct fit front or rear. 

RCV offers a 32 spline front option that would use our RD245 and a 35 spline option that would use our RD246.

Dutchman Motorsports (503-257-6604) has a custom 35 spline rear axle shaft for the M220 and the RD246 is the correct Air Locker for the 35 spline shaft.

Custom Axle shafts-

RCV offers a custom 27 spline axle shaft for the M186 front axle as well as 32 and 35 spline shafts for the M210 (JL Rubicon/JT all models).  

Dutchman Motorsports (503-257-6604) has custom 35 spline axle shafts for any version of the M220 rear axle assembly and the RD246 is the correct Air Locker for the 35 spline shaft.

Rubicon Air Locker wiring harness-

Z Automotive, the company that makes the Tazer for the JL/JT platform, now has a harness that plugs into the factory Rubicon locker harness that allows the factory switches to operate our Air Lockers.  Contact them for more information. https://www.zautomotive.com/product/tazer/

Additional information on axle shafts and Rubicon models:

Jeep  Rubicons, JL Wrangler or JT Gladiator, can cause application questions when a customer wants to use our Air Lockers.  While our RD245 or RD246 will easily bolt in, the factory axles shafts must be replaced.

Looking below, it is the ‘C’ measurement that is causing the problem.  On the factory electric locker, the electronic locking mechanism is built into the right side of the differential case (see the yellow shaded area below).  This modification requires the internal gear assembly to be moved over closer to the ring gear.  With this change, the ‘C’ measurement is shortened by prox 22mm (.875”).  Due to the internal space limitations of our Air Locker design, we cannot build an Air Locker to copy these dimensions.   

The change in the ‘C’ dimension is what requires the axle shaft swap.  Using factory Rubicon axles with our RD245 would leave one axle too long and one too short.

To remedy this issue there are 2 options, use our RD246 with 35 spline axle shafts or use the RD245 with factory Gladiator Max Tow ( Non-Rubicon) 32 spline axle shafts.

Using the RD245 (32 spline)-

The part numbers for the factory Gladiator Max Tow axle shafts are shown below.

Rear shaft- 68474094AA (2 ea.- both shafts are the same length)

Front left shaft- 68477013AA

Front right intermediate shaft- 68400379AA (the outer axle and stub are retained)

Using the RD246 (35 spline)-

Rear shafts- Contact Dutchman Axles (503-253-6564)

Front shafts- Contact RCV Performance (815-877-7473)

Also-  Z Automotive builds a wiring harness that allows the JL/JT Rubicon customer to retain their factory switches when using our Air Lockers.  See Below.