Locker swap (2 Viewers)

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rusty_tlc

Dain Bramaged Member
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If I replace one type of locker with a different type in the same third member it shouldn't affect the pinion depth set-up right?

The only adjustment needed would be the side to side.

Of course I would measure the pre-load before I tore the locker out.
 
You are correct Rusty.
 
@srgould41
ARB out Detroit in, in one third.

Detroit out ARB in, in the other third.
 
why not just swap whole thirds? Or are they different R&P's?
 
So I'm thinking I could pull the lockers out of both third members and have a shop press the ring gears off/on. Probably an hour of shop labor.
 
why not just swap whole thirds? Or are they different R&P's?
4.56 gears in the FJ60 with 33" tires and Detroits F&R
4.11 gears in the FJ40 with 37" tires and ARB's F&R

I want the 4.11 gears in the FJ60, with an ARB in the rear, Detroit front. This truck sees a lot of pavement. In the winter I can run the front axle with one hub un-locked and the ARB open. That should be a lot better on snow/ice in 4WD than the Detroits. The 4.11 gears will be much better on the road than the 4.56's.

The 4.56 gears go in the FJ40 with a Detroit in the rear ARB front. This truck is mostly a trail rig. The 4.56 gears will be a much better match to the 37" tires. I can deal with the Detroit on the trail since the ARB is locked much of the time anyway.

As I see it I can do a straight swap of the rear thirds, then just swap front lockers. With a little help the whole thing could be done in one day. The knuckles on the 40 are fine but I'd have to go through the knuckles on the 60. I want to make sure the Birf's are centered on that truck. That would be the most time consuming thing.

Now I just need to find a free weekend to do it. :frown:
 
Darn, and here I was thinking I could make an offer on a locker coming out... ;)

Could you swap the 60 thirds into your 40 and the 40 thirds into your 60? since the 60 isn't a trail rig the strength loss shouldn't matter much, right? Might save you a little work.
 
pretty easy to take the R&P's off yourself with a plastic mallet...
 
Darn, and here I was thinking I could make an offer on a locker coming out... ;)

Could you swap the 60 thirds into your 40 and the 40 thirds into your 60? since the 60 isn't a trail rig the strength loss shouldn't matter much, right? Might save you a little work.
The main point is to get the gearing right for the tires. The ARB's have been on the FJ40 for 15 years or more, over Rubicon and Fordyce more than a few times, they are plenty strong for a trail rig with my gearing.

pretty easy to take the R&P's off yourself with a plastic mallet...
How about replacing them? I've heard of people cooking the ring gear and freezing the planetary to get them together. If I can throw $70 shop labor at it that sounds much easier.
 
getting them back on is easy as well.

But, $70 for labor is pretty easy as well. :)

BTW, I'd run the ARB in the back in both rigs. It'll turn tighter.
 
Stopped at the gear shop, the guy said they could do it for $45. :grinpimp:

I was worried about the Detroit getting bound up, I know from experience they DO NOT unlock easy once they are locked under load. Even when I shift into 2WD drive low the front on the 60 stays locked until I back up or hit flat ground for a while. The ARB's unlock pretty much as soon as you put it in reverse and take up the backlash in the diff.

I have time to think about it, my summer is booked up pretty full already.
 
Rear wheels locked will "push" you through a corner more than locked turned wheels.

Add a cutting brake and you can positively spin around corners:D
 
Maybe I'll just swap the gears over on both diffs. The 40 is set up pretty well and I hate to screw with it.
 
Does the ring gear fit that tightly on the Detroit locker case? As long as the ring gear is free of burrs, it should go on most of the way itself, then a plastic mallet or deadblow should get it the rest of the way pretty easily.

IMO it's take longer to get the differentials out of the axle than it would to swap the carriers over.
 
I'll probably give it a try and see how it goes.

I installed the locker in my kids Detroit, shouldn't be much harder.
 
Whatever the case...I like the sound of some work on your rigs happening!!!
Jes sayin!!
 
Whatever the case...I like the sound of some work on your rigs happening!!!
Jes sayin!!
Read post #14 :frown:

I'd like to get it in good enough shape to do Rubicon, and maybe Fordyce, once before the end of summer though.
 

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