To front auto, or not?

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chicago

chicago

Joined
Jan 18, 2006
Threads
434
Messages
9,610
Location
Reno, Nevada
I have a similar thing running on the 60 serires forum....
With the Rubicon trip fast approaching, I have to tear into the front axel to replace an inner axel seal. So in typical Cruiser head fashion, things began to snowball...
I now have a set of 30 spline longs en route, and Im kicking around the idea of throwing an aussie locker in the mix as well.
Ive heard from others that steering bind isnt all that bad with the Aussie units, but I was wondering what you all here think? People DO report difficulty turning when bound up occasionally, and the preferrence is for the Aussie vs. lock rite or detroit.
Would it be a benefit on the Con, or a hinderence secondary to the lack of turning. I DO plan on RAM assist, but i dont think I can pull it all together in time for the run.
Additionally, this is the long term route that I plan on going for a front locker...I will NOT be doing the ARB.

Thanks all,

K
 
If you have Longs, go for it. It will be tough steering on the slabs, but once you get your hydro assist, you'll be good to go.

The only thing you will have to stay on top of is keeping your hubs and other bolts tight, that is where your breakage will move to if you don't stay on top of them. Also your steering knuckle bolts/nuts. Your pre-flight and post-flight maintenence schedule is more important and neccessary. Auto lockers are rough on front axles.

Jack
 
locrwln1 said:
If you have Longs, go for it. It will be tough steering on the slabs, but once you get your hydro assist, you'll be good to go.

The only thing you will have to stay on top of is keeping your hubs and other bolts tight, that is where your breakage will move to if you don't stay on top of them. Also your steering knuckle bolts/nuts. Your pre-flight and post-flight maintenence schedule is more important and neccessary. Auto lockers are rough on front axles.

Jack
Click to expand...
What about the 2low mod? If he could disengage the front it would unload the locker and let him turn, the he could put the front back in.

This is the only reasonable justification I can see for the 2-low mod.
 
rusty_tlc said:
What about the 2low mod? If he could disengage the front it would unload the locker and let him turn, the he could put the front back in.

This is the only reasonable justification I can see for the 2-low mod.
Click to expand...

Apparently the 62 with the vac. switch is not as simple as the manual t case for the mod..
Apparntly you could d/c one of the switches on the t case and that would have the same effect. Im getting some input on the 60 serires board on this very topic.

K
 
locrwln1 said:
If you have Longs, go for it. It will be tough steering on the slabs, but once you get your hydro assist, you'll be good to go.

The only thing you will have to stay on top of is keeping your hubs and other bolts tight, that is where your breakage will move to if you don't stay on top of them. Also your steering knuckle bolts/nuts. Your pre-flight and post-flight maintenence schedule is more important and neccessary. Auto lockers are rough on front axles.

Jack
Click to expand...

Thanks Jack!
Im learning the maint. stuff from Rusty's issue on fourdice.
Sooooo, you think Ill be okay on the con with it, without ram?
General concesus is that its not as bad as you'd think...


K
 
chicago said:
Thanks Jack!
Im learning the maint. stuff from Rusty's issue on fourdice.
Sooooo, you think Ill be okay on the con with it, without ram?
General concesus is that its not as bad as you'd think...


K
Click to expand...

You should be fine, just remember that Mike D runs his 40 with manual steering and a front auto locker across the Rubicon/Fordyce. So I think you will be fine. Plus there are a ton of rigs that run auto lockers.

Jack
 
The locker is on its way!
CHRIST ON A BIKE I spent a LOT of frickin money on this rig this week that I wasnt expecting to....:bang::bang::bang::bang::bang:

Im starting to feel pretty guilty!:o

K
 
chicago said:
The locker is on its way!
CHRIST ON A BIKE I spent a LOT of frickin money on this rig this week that I wasnt expecting to....:bang::bang::bang::bang::bang:

Im starting to feel pretty guilty!:o

K
Click to expand...

Just remember, there are no cheap hobbies...

Besides, what else are you going to do with your money?:grinpimp:

Jack
 
locrwln1 said:
Just remember, there are no cheap hobbies...

Besides, what else are you going to do with your money?:grinpimp:

Jack
Click to expand...

True...
Julie had to buy a "posing suit" for her show last weekend...new, those things run anywhere from 800.00 to 1500.00!:eek::eek::eek::eek:
The rhinestones on them FALL OFF to boot! She ended up having to buy a used ONCE suit and it still cost 500.00.
I bought an ENGINE for 800.00.
What I SHOULD be doing is SAVING my money...but what fun would that be! Now I have to work more to pay for the cruiser AAAAAAAND save money. Hell, I could DIE tomorrow...who knows.

I HATE the waiting for parts part of this gig!:bang:

K
 
rusty_tlc said:
Hookers and Gin? :lol:
Click to expand...

home remodel supplies and Jack Daniels!:D

Dont want anything to do with hookers!

Actually...After the engine tranny and t case install...EVERYTHING that I really WANT will have been DONE.
I guess Ill have to sell it at that point...:p

Well see!

K
 
chicago said:
home remodel supplies and Jack Daniels!:D

Dont want anything to do with hookers!

Actually...After the engine tranny and t case install...EVERYTHING that I really WANT will have been DONE.
I guess Ill have to sell it at that point...:p

Well see!

K
Click to expand...
I was joking. :lol:
 
locrwln1 said:
Famous last words...;p

Jack
Click to expand...

Yeah...tell me about it!:lol:
Seriously though...the only other plans are front winch and bumper, and an internal roll cage.
I WAS gonna do the winch and bumper AFTER the rear bumper, but the power draw from the weight with the 3FE halted that plan. The last thing it needs right now is more to bog it down MORE!

K
 
Front end is torn down, axels are out, diff is out, everything is clean and ready for assembly, but I dont have all the pieces yet. Still waiting on a rebuild kit and HD seals from Marlin, and the Aussie is en route.
I do have one question...the center pin (for the spider gears) wont come out cuz the RING GEAR is in the way...WHAT THE EFFFFFFF am I going to do about that?
Any ideas?

K
 
chicago said:
I do have one question...the center pin (for the spider gears) wont come out cuz the RING GEAR is in the way...WHAT THE EFFFFFFF am I going to do about that?
Any ideas?

K
Click to expand...

Time to remove the ring gear. You have to do the same thing to some d44's when installing an auto locker. Sorry.

At least the pinion is set up, so you don't have to worry about that. Get some gear marking compound, do a test run, take pictures. Now you know what the pattern should be. Take everything apart and take the ring gear off, install the locker, put ring gear back on, put everything together, adjust the diff to match the pattern you had before and you should be good to go.

ORRRR, you get to take it back to the gear guy and let him re-set the gear pattern. You could take it apart, install the locker, re-assemble it and take it back to the gear guy for the final adjustments. Just a thought.

Jack
 
locrwln1 said:
Time to remove the ring gear. You have to do the same thing to some d44's when installing an auto locker. Sorry.

At least the pinion is set up, so you don't have to worry about that. Get some gear marking compound, do a test run, take pictures. Now you know what the pattern should be. Take everything apart and take the ring gear off, install the locker, put ring gear back on, put everything together, adjust the diff to match the pattern you had before and you should be good to go.

ORRRR, you get to take it back to the gear guy and let him re-set the gear pattern. You could take it apart, install the locker, re-assemble it and take it back to the gear guy for the final adjustments. Just a thought.

Jack
Click to expand...

AHHHHH CRAP!
That is what I thought...Not as simple as i wanted it to be.
I got on the horn today and called "totally off road"..."totally getting SCREWED" is more like it. They wanted 350.00 to throw that motha in. Then I called Driveline service of Reno...250.00...BETTER. Then i called my guy down in Carson who set up the diffs in the first place...150.00.
I didnt think about doing the install myself and then bringing it down to have him re set everything. Thats a good idea! Then I could TRY it, and if I screw it up, Im not at a huge loss...

Thanks,


K
 
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