Eaton E-Locker: Who? Where? or DIY? (3 Viewers)

[greentruck]

While ARB seems to be the most popular aftermarket locker, my use case has pointed me towards the Eaton E-Locker. I feel the need for only a rear locker and like having the lock-up at the flip of a switch - without the need to also maintain an on-board air system that the ARB requires.

Tracking down someone who can install one in the Midwest has so far come up empty. The Eaton site pointed me towards one distributor as an installer, but they could only offer a connection with a local transmission shop. I'm running an LX450 and likely need the ring and pinion renewed because I get a nasty grind from the rear differential when backing up and happen to hit the sore spot. Might as well fix that while I'm in there. After a week of discussion the owner still wasn't convinced he could get the parts to do it and declined my business. He mentioned he was working from the Summit Racing catalog, which has 4 pages of Toyota R&P kits, etc, but not a single listing for such under Lexus. I think he thought I was pulling his leg that a 96 450 was the same under the skin as an 80 series.

An Illinois high performance house handles lots of Eaton, but when called - " sorry we don't do E-Lockers."

I'm going to reach out further, but now I'm wondering how hard is this to DIY? Anyone know of a shop that can handle this install or should I just give up and throw in my towel with ARB? Is there some secret deficiency to the E-Locker I haven't stumbled across that is seen as problematic?

 

[DivByZero]

The licensed Harrop versions are commonly used here in Australia. You can see and play around with working versions of them in display cases found in a lot of OppositeLock stores. It's what I plan on using for similar reasons as you, but they're more common and familiar here than in the states it sounds like.

I don't see an elocker install as particularly difficult, but it really depends on your existing experience doing drive-train work on your vehicle. If you know how to rebuild your knuckles, this isn't too hard IMO, just make sure you read up/watch some videos on how to do your preload, but it's the same kind of thing as knowing how to do your wheel bearings. Can this be a DIY job? Absolutely. That doesn't mean you HAVE to go DIY though, and if you're just more comfortable paying for it to be done, or you don't have the time, tools, inclination, paying someone to do it is perfectly reasonable. It might limit your options though if it's hard to find someone willing to take it on in your area. An ARB Locker is still a solid choice too. I prefer elockers, but if it was a choice between an air locker or no locker, air is better.

 

[Broski]

Pull your third and send it to Kurt @cruiseroutfit
He can do the rebuild with the E-locker then you can reinstall.
Probably the most cost effective way to do this.
He may even a have a core to rebuild for you and charge you a core charge until you send yours back to save you down time.
Then of course you will need to wire it up.

 

[greentruck]

Thanks for your support, fellows. I do a lot of my own work, but less and less as I'm pushing 70 - the spirit is wiling, but the flesh is increasingly weak. Then again, I just finished installing a Cruiser Company rear bar and swingouts and a Long Range America auxiliary tank, so handling a diff should not be a problem physically.

Broski,
I hadn't thought of Kurt for this, but something like that may just work.

 

[alia176]

Another resource is to ship your 3rd to Zuk. He freshened up my rear 3rd with ARB few years back. I wanted all new bearings, and new set of 4.56 R&P at the same time. The previous pinion bearing race spun on the pinion shaft so that made that r&p set unuseable. He is crazy OCD when it comes to building diffs and will no longer touch ARBs

i think this is a DIY all the way up until dealing with pinion depth. I don't enjoy that part of the process. Changing out the carrier bearing, and the actual carrier then adjusting the R&P lash so that the paint marks match the marks before the disassembly isn't too difficult IMHO.

Toyota Gear Install Eaton - http://www.gearinstalls.com/

 

[MikePL]

Zuk is the go-to person but he no longer accepts shipping. Only in person. He's been doing it for decades so I understand that he is probably tired of the post office.

 

[80t0ylc]

Several years ago, what ended up being my my axle rebuild started as a rear pinion seal replacement. It was expensive because I did both axles. I had Zuk do both the Harrops install and gear change to 5.29. From what I know about Kurt, I would entirely trust him to get the job done so you’re only into the axle once. @Broski has an excellent point that you’ll have to wire it up. Stay away from the exhaust, I mean run the wires on the other side of your rig. I thought I had given enough room and ended up having to move the wiring because it melted in some spots. Good luck, Mike!

 

[alia176]

Zuk is the go-to person but he no longer accepts shipping. Only in person. He's been doing it for decades so I understand that he is probably tired of the post office.

Oh yeah, that is correct, and he also only accepts envelope full of cash due to new IRS ruling that went into affect couple of years ago. Bummer all around.

 

[EWheeler]

Zuk is the go-to person but he no longer accepts shipping. Only in person. He's been doing it for decades so I understand that he is probably tired of the post office.

Do you have a SoCal based person you'd recommend for landcruiser diffs? I'm aware of YotaMasters.

 

[alia176]

Do you have a SoCal based person you'd recommend for landcruiser diffs? I'm aware of YotaMasters.

doesn't Marlin crawler do this type of work? They're in Fresno so not SoCal per se.

East Coast Differentials is another resource for mailing in your diffs or do an exchange.

 

[Broski]

I’m very lucky to have American gear right here in San Luis Obispo.
They’ve done a great job on my differentials
If I didn’t have them here local, I would send them to Kurt without thinking twice

 

[reklund5]

Another vote for @cruiseroutfit

 

[MikePL]

Do you have a SoCal based person you'd recommend for landcruiser diffs? I'm aware of YotaMasters.

No. I am in San Diego and my son needs to regear his diffs so I figured that instead of looking for someone nearby I will simply have an excuse to make a trip to Arizona and wait 3 days, visiting nearby parks and campgrounds, and then go back home. But if you don't have time for that I would probably check 'cruiser tech' in OC and maybe they can help you or point you to someone.