How strong is the differential carrier?

[marks69cruiser]

Hey guys just doing some locker research and was wondering about how strong the carrier is in a fj40? I'm back and forth between a Aussie locker and a Detroit. I'm leaning towards the Aussie locker because of price and ease of installation, just wondering if the carrier is going to be a weak link? Have any of you guys experienced any failures? I see Woody ran a Detroit EZ locker in his "40 hd".(featured in toyota trails sept-oct 2004) Seems like he has faith in the carriers strength. What do you guys think? Aussie? Detroit? Thanks. Mark

 

[Poser]

What engine do you have in your truck?


What size tire are you going to run?


How are you going to use your truck?

 

[marks69cruiser]

I have a Chevy 350, Sm420, currently running 35" mtr's. I may go with 36 Iroks or 37" mtr's in the future. On the wheelin, I will be doing mostly snow and mud. I am hoping to make a couple trips to the rubicon and moab. Those two have been dreams of mine for years. It wont be my daily driver, however I will be driving it as much as possible. Thanks. Mark

 

[Poser]

Unless you plan on beating the hell out of it, you should not have any issues, provide you install the valu-lok properly.

 

[Mark W]

The carrier wpuld be the last part of the drivetrain I would worry about... over the years I have btoken or witness the breakage og everything BUT the carrier. FWIW, we HAVE broken ARB carriers!



Mark...

 

[dgangle]

I'd be more concerned about broken a transfercase housing, birf, u-joint or pinion.

 

[pb4ugo]

I've had a couple of lunchbox lockers and I only seemed to get about 10 yrs out of each B4 they started having problems w/pin breakage & such. They are noisy and there operation is adequate for the money. I could have replaced the pins on the 2nd 1, but I decided to go w/a true detriot locker. It's like night and day. It is much quieter,smoother operateing and has better road manners, to the point that I forget it is in there. My FJ40 is probably 85-90% trail and the bal blacktop. It does get used & abused alot. FYI

 

[marks69cruiser]

Thanks for the response guys. I will be running Aussie's. Seems like too good of a deal to pass on. Ten years is a long time for any locker! Come to think about it I have never owned a rig for that long! The other weak links will be addressed as follows: Longfields, t-case saver, and poly performance chrome-moly's in the rear. (i have a fine spline pinion) Mark.

 

[flow2311]

I don't foresee any problems with the carrier running a lunchbox. I run an aussie in the rear and ARB in the front with a Chevy 350 on 37's. Once you upgrade driveshaft's, etc., the weakest link appears to be the pinion gear.

 

[Isotel]

Ive got an Aussie in the rear of my rig, 37's and a v8.. So far no issues with the locker, other than some minor noise.. 2-3 years of Driving it on the street (during the summer) and wheeling it pretty regularly