| Author | Message | ||
     Jack Quinlan (Jsq) Senior Member Username: Jsq Post Number: 348 Registered: 10-2002 |
So yesterday I picked up a detroit and a pair of GBR HD axles for the rear. And yes, I did get the axles with those slick shiny new caps. Now I wants it all in the truck and propelling me forward. I've never done this before, but i'm moderately proficient in the mechanical arena and I'm reading up on it. I'm feeling like I'd like to do it myself so that at the very least I know how it all works in the unlikely event I have to do some sort of trail repair. There is a very well known place in San Diego (MIT drivetrain specialists) who will put everything in for $220. That seems pretty cheap to me. My question is this. If I put it all together myself, what kind of damage could I do if I screwed something up? What might I be likely to mess up? Setting the proper backlash sounds like the only variable, but I'm not real sure there isn't something else to go wrong. thoughts? TIA | ||
| Perrone Ford (Perroneford) Member Username: Perroneford Post Number: 125 Registered: 02-2003 |
If you screw something up, you could trash the locker. I sent mine to GBR to have it done. Glad I did. It was inexpensive, and done properly. If you have someone near you with the experience, I'd take that route. I would have loved to do it myself with assistance, but I wasn't about to risk blowing up a $500 diff "learning". -P | ||
| Perrone Ford (Perroneford) Member Username: Perroneford Post Number: 126 Registered: 02-2003 |
If you screw something up, you could trash the locker. I sent mine to GBR to have it done. Glad I did. It was inexpensive, and done properly. If you have someone near you with the experience, I'd take that route. I would have loved to do it myself with assistance, but I wasn't about to risk blowing up a $500 diff "learning". -P | ||
| Jack Quinlan (Jsq) Senior Member Username: Jsq Post Number: 349 Registered: 10-2002 |
do you happen to know exactly what I might do that would result in "trashing" the locker? I'm just curious. I think you have a good argument for not learning on something so expensive. I'm curious what would happen if something were too tight/lose and it functioned, but just not properly. How would I know? I have nothing to compare it to. If it were too tight I suppose it would wear out quickly? I asked the shop if they would check my third member for me when I had it together for a fee, but they said no. If I knew someone near by who had done it and would give it a look I would certainly do it myself. certainly, just having a shop do it isn't expensive and is guaranteed, but I feel so defeated going to them. | ||
| Rob Davison (Nosivad_bor) Senior Member Username: Nosivad_bor Post Number: 453 Registered: 02-2003 |
jack, if you want to go half way, see what the price is if you deliver the 3rd member and have them set just that up. locally i have a guy that does it for $120. i've witnessed a few detroit installations and i have the tools but i am still not ready to put one in MY truck  rd | ||
| Axel Haakonsen (Axel) Moderator Username: Axel Post Number: 107 Registered: 02-2003 |
I think you will be more likely to blow the gears than the locker, actually. Getting the right backlash is key. If you don't, the gears will wear down quickly and fail. I would go with Rob's suggestion of bringing the third member to someone and have them set it up, if possible. Once the setup is done, reinstalling the third member is easy. - Axel | ||
| James (Jimmyg) Senior Member Username: Jimmyg Post Number: 307 Registered: 10-2002 |
I agree with Rob and Axel, but do the axles yourself. The axles take about 15 minutes to swap out, I'm doing it tomorrow morn with the HD GBR Shafts. The 3rd member install was very easy with my ARB and it can't be any harder with the detroit. It is very worth having someone set the locker up correctly. | ||
| James Moy (Jmoy97) New Member Username: Jmoy97 Post Number: 36 Registered: 02-2003 |
Jimmyg did you get my email? Hopefully you will get my jumpseats shipped out before you start your axles. jim | ||
| Scott Hayes (Scott_h) Member Username: Scott_h Post Number: 57 Registered: 02-2002 |
when you install the axels watch out, there is a seal in there that you can catch and screw up, its about 6" in ish. Just push the axels in straight and level and you will be ok. the axels are easy, just pay attention to hittin the seal. | ||
| thom mathie (Muskyman) Senior Member Username: Muskyman Post Number: 298 Registered: 11-2002 |
if you are just doing a locker and not the gears as well then its not that tricky. what you need to do is get some patern paste and the proper dial indicator. then check the backlash the gears are currently living at. then apply the paste to the gears and check the patern they produce . they key is to return the gears to the same patern and backlash as they are currently at. because the pinion does not have to come out the pinion depth will not change. so the side to side location of the locker carrier itself is the only variable. there are a couple good videos out on doing gears. if all what I have said is greek...then take the above aforementioned advice and seek qualified assistance. | ||
| Mike Rupp (Mike_rupp) Member Username: Mike_rupp Post Number: 201 Registered: 02-2002 |
thom, what do you for pattern paste? I put my TT in a couple weeks ago and just used the same backlash as before and making sure that the runout on the ring gear stays less than .002" I'll be putting the Detroit in the rear today. I'll probably do the same process. | ||
| Keith Kreutzer (Revor) Member Username: Revor Post Number: 200 Registered: 11-2002 |
I've used paste lead, toothpaste, prussian blue, gease, wax paper and all sorts of twisted stuff in a pinch. Go to napa and get the right pattern paste and look at Randy ring and Pinion's website... They have a good decription of how to do it and why... | ||
| Jack Quinlan (Jsq) Senior Member Username: Jsq Post Number: 350 Registered: 10-2002 |
Done and done. Just didn't seem that complicated so I decided to have at it. Luckily Derek Reed was installing his first true trac in the rear of his D2 and kyle offered to give technical consultation so we went for it. Didn't have any problems at all and everything was really straightforward. Other than setting backlash it's all just wrench turning and fluid work. Derek got a slick magnetic dial micrometer and it worked really well. I was amazed at how relatively easy it is to get a feel for thousands of an inch. We both managed to set the backlash at .0055, which, from what we read is optimal. In terms of adjusting the spanners it sort of seemed like luck and I was just taking it apart bolting it down and doing it all over again till I got what I wanted. Generally, I would adjust the backlash to roughly 8 or 9 with no bolts tightened and when I cranked everything down it was close to where I wanted. When I finally got five and a half I carefully took out one bolt at a time and loctited it back. The only other tricky part was guiding the third member back on to the bolts. Man that sucker is heavy. Definitely need a jack of some sort to position it. Oh and I definitely wouldn't want to do this install without an impact gun to get out all those bolts in the beginning! Took it out to test it and everything operates perfectly. It is almost completely inaudible even with the windows down, yet it definitely locks and unlocks as it should!!! I can only hear it in the tightest parking lot turn if it's really quiet. Can't wait to take it out to a climb I couldn't make before or maybe try to go up the diablo drop off in Borrego. | ||
| Jack Quinlan (Jsq) Senior Member Username: Jsq Post Number: 352 Registered: 10-2002 |
So should I keep my stocker axles as spares or not even bother since I have GBRs? Is it worth the weight to carry them around? |
